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The Facts About Trombone Triggers

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Detailed Record
Title:
The Facts About Trombone Triggers.
Authors:
Criswell, Chad
Source:
Teaching Music. Oct2010, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p48-49. 2p.
Document Type:
Article
Subject Terms:
TROMBONE -- Instruction & study
MUSICAL instruments -- Equipment & supplies
MUSICAL pitch
BASS trombone
MUSIC -- Performance
Abstract:
The article discusses using an F attachment on a trombone to create a trigger trombone and how
this affects the instrument's performance. According to the article, the trigger changes the pitch
of tenor trombones from B-flat to F while triggers on bass trombones add the ability to play
notes typically used by tubas. Other topics include the difficulties of teaching trigger
trombones, resources for teachers, and different trigger models.
Full Text Word Count:
500
ISSN:
1069-7446
Accession Number:
76580675

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BRASS AND WOODWINDS

Upgrading a trombonist's instrument to one with an F attachment (often known as a trigger trombone)
is a big step in any student's development. But what exactly does the trigger do and why is it such an
important device?

On tenor trombones, the trigger opens a valve that diverts air into an extra length of tubing,
effectively changing the instrument's pitch from B-flat to F. This makes it much more convenient to
play notes such as low C by using the trigger and keeping the slide all the way up in 1st position. This
easy access to an alternate 6th position is the most common use of the trigger, but the valve also opens
up a new range of notes moving nearly all the way down to the trombone's fundamental.

Many bass trombones use a dual trigger system. The first trigger functions just as the tenor trombone's
does; the second adds another set of tubing to pitch the instrument in G-flat. If both triggers are used
together, the result is an instrument pitched in D. These two independent valves add the ability to play
notes normally reached only by tubas, while also providing access to the low B natural, which is
unavailable to single-trigger horns.

Grady McGrannahan, assistant professor of trombone at Drake University, says that "while there are
many different styles of trigger trombones, there is no perfect valve for a high school-age trombonist."
He suggests that, for both tenor and bass trombones, most students will be fine at first with a standard
rotor valve instrument. If the budget allows for it, more advanced axial-flow models such as the
Thayer or Hagmann valve, together with an open wrap of tubing, can also be considered.

Using a trigger opens up many new possibilities for trombonists, but it also presents a great deal of
confusion to those not familiar with brass instrument physics. As the notes descend toward the
instrument's fundamental, the placement of each note begins to depart from standard slide positions.
For example, since low F is playable in 6th or T+1, many people assume that E-flat would be T+3,
but in reality the slide must be pushed much farther out than normal to play the low E-flat in tune.

Because of the major effect that triggers have on intonation, McGrannahan suggests that all teachers
invest in the book New Method for the Modern Bass Trombone by Eliezer Aharoni. Its exercises and
fingering charts show how tenor and bass trombonists should approach lower notes when using the
trigger. He also recommends that teachers not move students to a trigger trombone until they are
accurately and confidently using sixth position: "A problem with having students use the valve too
soon is that they often stop using C or low F in 6th. Those notes simply sound better when played on
the open horn than when the trigger is engaged."

F Trigger

~~~~~~~~

By Chad Criswell
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