Editing Trombone (section)

=== Slide trombones ===
[[File:Trombone family composite 3.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|Trombones (''top'' to ''bottom''): [[piccolo trombone|piccolo]] in B{{Music|flat}}, [[soprano trombone|soprano]] in B{{Music|flat}}, [[alto trombone|alto]] in E{{Music|flat}}, [[tenor trombone|tenor]] in B{{Music|flat}}, [[bass trombone|bass]] in B{{Music|flat}} with F and G{{Music|flat}} valves, [[contrabass trombone|contrabass]] in F with D and B{{Music|flat}} valves. ]]

==== Contrabass trombone ====
{{Main|Contrabass trombone}}
The contrabass trombone is the lowest trombone, first appearing in BB{{Music|flat}} an octave below the tenor with a double slide. This design was commissioned by [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]] in the 1870s for his ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' opera cycle. Since the late 20th century however, it has largely been supplanted by a less cumbersome single-slide bass-contrabass instrument pitched in 12' F. With two valve attachments to provide the same full range as its predecessor, this design is effectively a modern bass trombone built down a [[perfect fourth]]. Although the contrabass has only appeared occasionally in orchestral repertoire and is not a permanent member of the modern orchestra, it has enjoyed a revival in the 21st century, particularly in film and video game soundtracks.

==== Bass trombone ====
{{Main|Bass trombone}}
Although early instruments were pitched in G, F or E{{Music|flat}} below the tenor trombone, the modern bass trombone is pitched in the same B{{music|flat}} as the tenor but with a wider bore, a larger bell, and a larger mouthpiece. These features facilitate playing in the lower register of the instrument. Modern bass trombones have valves that allow a fully chromatic range down to the pedal register (B{{music|flat}}{{sub|1}}). In Britain, the bass trombone in G was used in orchestras from the mid-19th century and survived into the 1950s, particularly in [[British brass band]]s.

==== Tenor trombone ====
The tenor trombone has a [[Fundamental frequency|fundamental]] [[Musical note|note]] of B{{music|flat}} and is usually treated as a [[nontransposing instrument|non-transposing instrument]] (see below). Tenor trombones with C as their fundamental note were almost equally popular in the mid-19th century in Britain and France. As the trombone in its simplest form has neither crooks, valves nor keys to lower the pitch by a specific interval, trombonists use seven chromatic ''slide positions''. Each position progressively increases the length of the air column, thus lowering the pitch.

Extending the slide from one position to the next lowers the pitch by one [[semitone]]. Thus, each note in the [[harmonic series (music)|harmonic series]] can be lowered by an [[interval (music)|interval]] of up to a [[tritone]].  The lowest note of the standard instrument is therefore an E{{music|natural}} – a tritone below B{{music|flat}}. Most experienced trombonists can play lower "[[falset (music)|falset]]" notes and much lower pedal notes (first partials or fundamentals, which have a peculiar metallic rumbling sound). Slide positions are subject to adjustment, compensating for imperfections in the tuning of different harmonics. The fifth partial is rather flat on most trombones and usually requires a minute shortening of the slide position to compensate; other small adjustments are also normally required throughout the range. Trombonists make frequent use of alternate positions to minimize slide movement in rapid passages; for instance, [[Scientific pitch notation|B{{music|flat}}<sub>3</sub>]] may be played in first or fifth position.  Alternate positions are also needed to allow a player to produce a [[glissando]] to or from a higher note on the same partial.

While the lowest note of the tenor trombone's range (excluding fundamentals or pedal notes) is E<sub>2</sub>, the trombone's upper range is theoretically open-ended. The practical top of the range is sometimes considered to be F<sub>5</sub>, or more conservatively D<sub>5</sub>. The range of the C tenor trombone is F{{sharp}}<sub>2</sub> to G<sub>5</sub>.

==== Alto trombone ====
{{Main|Alto trombone}}
The [[alto trombone]] is smaller than the tenor trombone and almost always pitched in E{{Music|flat}} a fourth higher than the tenor, although examples pitched in F are occasionally found. Modern instruments are sometimes fitted with a valve to lower the pitch, either by a semitone to D (known as a "trill" valve), or by a fourth into B{{Music|flat}}. The alto trombone was commonly used in the 16th to the 18th centuries in [[church music]] to strengthen the alto voice, particularly in the [[Mass (music)|Mass]]. Early 19th century composers such as [[Beethoven]], [[Brahms]], and [[Schumann]] began writing for alto trombone in their [[symphony|symphonies]], but the subsequent use and popularity of tenor trombones in the orchestra largely eclipsed their use until a modern revival that began in the late 20th century.

==== Soprano trombone ====
{{Main|Soprano trombone}}
The [[soprano trombone]] is usually pitched in B{{music|flat}} an octave above the tenor, and has seldom been used since its first known appearance in 1677 outside of trombone choirs in [[Moravian Church music]]. Built with mouthpiece, bore and bell dimensions similar to the B{{music|flat}} [[trumpet]], it tends to be played by trumpet players. During the 20th century some soprano trombones—dubbed ''slide cornets''—were made as novelties or for use by jazz players including [[Louis Armstrong]] and [[Dizzy Gillespie]]. A small number of contemporary proponents of the instrument include jazz artists [[Wycliffe Gordon]] and [[Christian Scott (musician)|Christian Scott]], and classical trumpeter Torbjörn Hultmark, who advocates for its use as an instrument for young children to learn music.

==== Sopranino and piccolo trombones ====
{{Main|Soprano trombone#Sopranino and piccolo trombones}}
The sopranino and piccolo trombones appeared in the 1950s as novelty instruments, and are even smaller and higher than the soprano. They are pitched in high E{{music|flat}} and B{{music|flat}} respectively, one octave above the alto and soprano trombones. Owing to being essentially a slide variant of the [[piccolo trumpet]], they are played primarily by trumpet players.