TromboneChat

Hello everyone:
I would like to know if I can use a tenor 42 trombone to play passages of bass trombone. In the tenor I use an Alessi 5b mouthpiece which is like a 4g in the inner diameter. Could I use then a bach 4g mouthpiece since it is deeper than the Alessi 5b? Or should I use a bass trombone mouthpiece? (I know that the sound and volume will not be the same.)
I appreciate your comments.
Greetings....

I played bass trombone parts on a symphonic tenor with F-attachment. Most bass trombone parts do not go so low that you need the E pull to play low B natural, but that's what bass trombonists did back when we didn't have double valve bass trombones. If you want to be picky, you won't be able to sound like a real bass trombone, but you should be able to play all the notes. I assume you have a 42B (with an F-valve) because if you don't have a valve you will have to master playing falset tones to simulate the notes from Eb to C below the staff.

Most 3rd parts weren't really written for today's modern bass trombone, FWIW. The 42 dwarfs what used to be called a bass. So yeah, it's fine.

Thanks Bruce,
Yes I play a Conn 88h. The specifications of this trombone have a .547 and .562 on the bore f attachment, so I think it’s going to be able to play the passages of bass trombone.

There’s more to a bass trombone that just bore size. The bell size and shape are different, as are most of the conical or tapered sections (leadpipes, neckpipe, tuning slide, slide crook if applicable).

Can you play bass parts on a 42B or an 88H? Yes, you can play the notes.

Will you sound like a bass trombone? It depends on what other people are playing. I have played 3rd parts on my 42 when the 1st and 2nd players used smaller instruments, like an alto or 12 or 16 on 1st, and a 36 on 2nd. It can be very useful for Classical and early Romantic literature like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann. The contrast between the lighter and brighter instruments allows a 42B to sound like a bass.

Will you sound like a bass trombone when the rest of the section plays modern large-bore tenors? No. You will sound like a tenor trombonist playing a bass part.

In all fairness, Ken, most Concert Band 3rd trombone parts are written for a tenor trombone. Really old parts (pre 1960s) are written for 3 straight tenors.

Most common orchestral 3rd trombone parts can easily be played with an instrument with an F-attachment.

Sure, I played most of my orchestral work on a bass trombone with two triggers, but if the OP doesn't have one he doesn't have to have one. I would assume he's not auditioning for the Boston Symphony.

I understand, Bruce. When I’ve played the 3rd parts of Sousa marches and the like, I’ve sometimes wondered why I didn’t just bring my large tenor?

In the end, it’s up to the music director/conductor: If they want a TT+B sound, they’ll ask for it. Otherwise, yes: most concert band music and a majority of orchestral music can be played TTT.

BGuttman wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 5:46 pm
Really old parts (pre 1960s) are written for 3 straight tenors.

I know you didn’t mean it this way, but that’s funny! I was born in 1963, so I’m not really old yet—I’m just old!

Hello everyone!!!

I have another question. Can be helpful to play the tenor trombone (Conn 88H or Bach 42G) with a bass trombone mouthpiece (Yamaha 58) to obtain maybe the sound of the bass trombone? I try it and it’s sound pretty good but the tune was little affected.

Thanks for your avise.

The large mouthpiece will help the lower register, sometimes at the expense of the upper register (it gets flat).

Are you going to sound like a bass trombone? Not really.

If all you have is a symphonic tenor with F and you want to play bass trombone parts? Sure! You can play the parts. Will you win an audition for a major orchestra as a bass trombone? No.

Yamillh wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:49 am Hello everyone:
I would like to know if I can use a tenor 42 trombone to play passages of bass trombone. In the tenor I use an Alessi 5b mouthpiece which is like a 4g in the inner diameter. Could I use then a bach 4g mouthpiece since it is deeper than the Alessi 5b? Or should I use a bass trombone mouthpiece? (I know that the sound and volume will not be the same.)
I appreciate your comments.
Greetings....

Some context here as to what group/type of music you're planning to use this setup for can go a long way.

WGWTR180 wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 6:34 am Some context here as to what group/type of music you're planning to use this setup for can go a long way.

Very much this. Also, what is the rest of the section using?

I see bass trombone playing as much about attitude as kit (although more than happy to argue kit as well).

I will be playing bass trombone in a big band using a 42 trombone. That’s why I want to know if using a 4g or bass trombone trombone (Yamaha 58) mouthpiece will help me to do this job.

Thanks!!!

Again, it depends. If you’ll be playing hits from the 30’s and 40’s, then the you’ll be able to play the notes. It won’t be stylistically “correct” for the 4th part in a 40’s big band (you’d need a small tenor for that), but the notes aren’t a problem. If you’ll be playing bass parts for tunes from the 70’s onward, then you might get by with a 42, but a bass with two valves is highly recommended.