In Western classical music the trombone can be both sinister and comic. It’s also popular in jazz, but like Simon Gunton many trombone players start out in brass bands.
What is a trombone slide and how does it produce different pitches? Simon Gunton explains how the slide works and how your muscles remember the different ‘positions’.
What effect does the trombone's bell and the mute have on the sound the instrument makes? Simon Gunton talks about bells and demonstrates how the mute is used.