Trivia
For trombones, why does sheet music notation differ from the fundamental tone of the instrument?
Although the trombone's fundamental tone is B♭, unlike for a trumpet, the instrument's sheet music is always written for C. This is likely due to how the trombone came about.
Until the valve was invented in the early 19th century, many brass instruments were generally played around the natural harmonic. Players would switch out instruments to match the pitch of the music, or would even switch out the tuning slide for one of a different length to change the pitch of the instrument itself. It was therefore practical to use transposed sheet music. It is likely for this reason that trombone music is written this way.
However, trombones were capable of playing chromatic scales since around the 15th century, so actual note notation quickly became the general standard.
By the way, trumpets in an orchestra also use notation other than "in B♭ notation." There is also trombone sheet music in England written "in B♭ notation."
Musical Instrument Guide:Trombone Contents
Structure
How to Play
How the Instrument is Made
Choosing an Instrument
Care and Maintenance
Trivia
- God is in the trombone
- The trombone was a bit of a problem for cavalries...
- A trombone that would scare even a snake!
- Two instruments, both tenor, but quite different!
- A trombone player walks into pawnshop...
- You can trill just by moving your mouth
- It is possible to increase the pitch even as you extend the slide
- Famous pieces from trombone concertos
- Orchestra pieces in which the trombone plays an important role
- The Yamaha quartet
- For trombones, why does sheet music notation differ from the fundamental tone of the instrument?
- A bass trombone-with an F attachment only