LET% PLAY BASS TROMBONE - ROBERTSeTANNER

PREFACE

The bass trombone has gainedin importance in the last few years to the point
where it has taken its place with the tenor trombone. This instrument is no longer
considered to be merely an accompanying instrument; it is being used to great
advantage both melodically and rhythmically.

This book is written for not only the young player but also the advanced play-
e r desiring to change from tenor trombone to bass trombone.

The authors a r e two of the busiest trombonists in Los Angeles. They a r e both
members of the musical staff of the American Broadcasting Company and a r e con-
tinually recording for movies, record companies, and other television studios.
George Roberts is the most in-demand performer in the bass trombone field. He
has undoubtedly furthered the use of the bass trombone and extended its musical
possibilities more than any other player. Paul Tanner, a s a member of the facul-
ty of UCLA, is one of the foremost trombone teachers of today.

This book, a s a combined effort of these two fine musicians, is constructed

in such a way as to develop coordination, tone, intonation, and technique.
PAUL TANNER GEORGE ROBERTS
 NOTES FROM THE AUTHORS

The authors a r e extremely concerned about the correct sound of the bass
trombone. Its sound should take its proper place in the trombone family and not
be an imitation of either the tuba o r the tenor trombone. The player should at-
tempt to emulate the sound a s well a s the articulation of the exercises on the ac-
companying record.

This publication is not primarily intended to introduce the beginning elements

of music, but the exercises of this bookaregraded from those planned to acquaint
the player with the F attachment (or valve) to works involving advanced tech-
niques. These exercises most certainly can and should be practiced with vari-
ous 'styles of tonguing.

Trombone playing, especially in the middle and low registers, can be made
much easier by the use of the F valve because by depressing this valve, extra
tubing is brought into use. There a r e distinct advantages of this extra tubing,

such a s the fact that the notes ordinarily found in 6th and 7th positions can now
be played in 1st and 2nd positions, and the notes between low E and pedal B flat
can now be used with ease. Other advantages a r e examined and demonstrated a s
the book progresses.

The positions on a trombone a r e never indicated at an exact point on a slide;

the true placement of the slide must bedictated by the player's ear. The follow-
ing chart approximates the correct positions and shows the relationship between
the regular slide positions and those used when the valve is depressed.
 CHART OF SLIDE POSITIONS

REGULAR
POSITIONS
F VALVE
POSITIONS

HAB 67
 3 8.6
er!
tl'V" indicates u s e of the valve on a specific note.

Y '
V (flat 3rd pos. ) V V V

H
1 I
I I
I h n I h n
-- w- ,

Match the sound and intonation.

\

n. L
v v ' v v
-
I 1 1 I 1 I I

3 I
I
h- I
I
h n I
I
h n I
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h n 1
I
h- I
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h n
I

,- V (1st pos.) v v v
:j4 ?:d t1
1
I c>
1
I c>
I
1 c3
a

(flat 2nd pos.)

.0'( v v v v v ' v v v V

HAB 67
 uat the elide for correrct intonation between " ~ b " and " ~ with
b the valve1'.
E &r- y- - 888 the chart. - .
- . . .
L- -
.- n

v 9 v
--

v v V V ' V

n v v V V ' V V v v V '

HAB 67
/
HAB 67
w
v v v

HAB 67
 2
vvv vvv vv v VVV' v v

v v v v v v v v v v v v

32

vv v vvv vvv vvv

 VVVV VVVV VVVV vvvv' VVVV VVVV v v

I
1 (flat 3rd)
v v v v v v ' v v v
38 / ?i
I 1 I I I I I
I 1 I I I I
I I I I I I I I
I I . I l I . 1 1 1
u 8 b e v 943 b e

I vvvvvvvv vvvv vvvv'vvvv vvvvv v v

I v v v v v v v V ' V V V V

v v v
I 411
I
 v v v ' v v v v v

(sharp 5th)
v v v v v v' vvvv vv vv 'V v

vv vv v v v v vvvvvvvv V'V v

HAB 67
v v v v v v 9
v v v v
 v v v v v v v V '

v v v v v v v v v v v v '

v v v v v v v v v v v v '

77 77 7T v v v v

v v v v v v

(flat 6th)
v v v v v v v v v v vvvv' v v

v v v v v V V V v v v v v v v v
55
HAB 67
 Low C is in a long 7th position (reach). Listen to the pitch.
(flat 7th) (flat 7th)
6th V V 1st V v v v
60 7$ cl
I
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-
I
I
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I,
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- 1 61 - -
8 8 8 8

vvv vvv VVV' vvv V

~
~
I
HAB 67
HAB 67
 v v v v v v v v
74

75
v v v' v v v v v v v.' vvv
 v v v v V V V
99

-- 9 v v v v V V V J

v v v v v v v

v v v v 9 v v v v v v v

v v v v v

vvv v
v'v v v v v v v

v v v v v v
n V
 v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
113
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

1 HAB 67
 There is equal importance in using the valve with and without the E pull ex-

tended, both situations should be practiced.

All exercises from this point throughout the book a r e to be played with the E

pull extended. This means that with the valve depressed, the notes E

-cf. chromatically down to B will be sounded instead of

8 -
w

F down to C
0 -
6

If the manufacturer of your padticular bass trombone did not mark the exact

spot to which the E pull should be extended, tune it in the following manner: pull

out the E pull approximately 5 inches. Next, play E 7 " in regular 2nd

position. Then match the E in first position with the valve depressed to the E in

second position. If the 1st position E is flat, push the E pull in a little; if the 1st

position E is sharp, extend the E pull further.

If a double valve bass trombone is used, disregard --

all other markings on the

following pages, and play all extended range notes on the F valve a s previously

learned. The notes indicated by V a r e to be played on the second o r E valve.

HAB 67
 CHART OF SLIDE POSITIONS

F VALVE
POSITIONS
WITH
REGULAR E PULL
POSITIONS EXTENDED
F VALVE OR
POSITIONS SECOND OR E
VALVE

HAB 67
 Low B i s in a long 7th position (reach). Listen to the pitch.

(flat (flat (sharp (flat (flat

(1st) 2nd) ' 3rd)' 5th)
'

v v v v v v
117
(flat

123
HAB 67
 'V" indicates F Valve without the E pull extended in the following melodies.
I

i ASLEEP IN THE DEEP

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fl
/.& "

LONDONDERRY AIR \

HAB 67
 CHROMATIC POSITION CHART

Regular
Slide
Positions

With F Valve - Flat 7 Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3

With E Pull Extended Flat Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2
or With E Valve

Flat 2 1 - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - Flat 7

Flat 7 Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2 1

Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2

- Flat 7 Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2

Flat 7 Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2 -

1 Flat 7
HAB 67
 1-Flat 7 Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2 1

Flat 6 Sharp 5 Flat 3 Flat 2 1 -

I -
HAB 67