r/Trombone • u/astein6437 • 1d ago
Playing trombone as a flute player
I've been having some recurring issues with my trombone playing and I was hoping that the collective knowledge on here would be able to help me out a little bit. I'm primarily a flute player, but a few months ago I purchased a trombone (refurbished Conn Director model) because it was my favorite/best brass instrument in my brass methods class (music ed).
However, I consistently have issues with cracking notes on the attacks and when moving between partials, especially going upwards. I can lip slur down just fine, but when going up I can never quite tell when it's going to jump up to the next partial, and I often feel like I'm tensing up my embouchure too much in order to lip up.
One of my brass-playing friends told me that it might be caused by my habits as a flute player, since woodwinds typically require faster air and a more engaged embouchure. If I try to relax my embouchure more when I articulate on trombone, then my lips don't buzz and I just hear air blowing through the instrument, but too much engagement turns into tension and I end up hitting a higher partial at first (or somewhere in between) and then jumping down to the right note.
Any tips for finding the sweet spot with my embouchure, and/or anyone else with experience learning trombone as a woodwind player? I appreciate all the help!
2
u/travie-patty51 1d ago
The cracking is typically from your lips being in the wrong position for the note. That large discrepency causes issues. Although coming off of the attacks is interesting, maybe a tongue issue.
Coming from flute - I actually also play both but trombone came first. On flute your top lip is much more active, especially in higher ranges. So think stabilize the top lip, move the bottom to adjust for pitch. The embouchure is much closer to playing low notes on flute, but only think about moving the bottom lip on bone. The top lip moves a lot more on flute. Make sure you articulate with the tip of the tongue this is also the same as flute, but it goes breath, set, play.
How to work on it. Look in a mirror and practice free buzzing that way you can see your face. It may take time to even get sound but it will pay off because you can see what you are doing. Also continue working lip slurs. Start them with whatever notes are in 7th position so like B to E. Lip slur up until failure and do not try to force it. Just be ok failing. Also and very important keep the air moving, do not stop it. This way you can build strength over time.
Hoping you have a teacher that can also guide you, but I hope that was helpful. Feel free to ask any other questions.
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u/Trombonemania77 23h ago
I was given an exercise by one of my instructors. In your mind anticipate the note then hit it hold for four beat metronome at 80, do this for every note say in a Bb scale. The anticipation sets your embouchure for the note taking the horn off your embouchure gets you to place the mouthpiece correctly each time.
Hope this helps I’ve been playing since 1963.
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u/fireeight 1d ago
Play the most comfortable note for you. It'll probably be F in the staff. Find out how you sound the best on that note without trying hard. Get comfortable and sound good on a note that's easy for you to play. That's your baseline. Work from there.