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Meet the Bass Trombone


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Meet the bass trombone! If you’re a trombone player of around Grade 5 standard or higher, you might be interested in expanding your performing opportunities and the range of music you can play. If so, whatever your style of music (from classical, jazz and big band, to brass band music), then this course is for you.

It is also useful if you’re a bass trombone player wanting to have a refresh of the fundamental principles and techniques.

About your teacher – Peter Richards

But first, let’s meet your teacher, Peter Richards. He grew up in Cornwall, and describes himself as “an avid pasty enthusiast”!

As well as being a brass teacher, he’s also a professional bass trombonist with a breadth and depth of experience in many different traditions. Whilst studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama he played in the band “Year of the Dog”. Their vibrant mix of funk and ska got them picked up by Netflix to provide the music for a major series with 40 million viewers! You can hear Peter’s bass trombone prominently in this track….

Whilst it’s not often a solo instrument, that big band sound wouldn’t be the same without the bass trombone. And it shows how the bass trombone can take a career in directions you might not expect!

Finding your niche can sometimes open things up and give you more opportunities. As there are fewer bass trombonists, they will be more in demand. Have a look below to see what this course offers you.

Course Information

Difficulty: Intermediate

In this course Peter Richards shows you:

  • the different kinds of bass trombone
  • how they are different from the tenor trombone
  • what techniques you’ll develop (and how they build on what you’ve learned on trombone)
  • demonstrations of key techniques that you can practise to improve your playing.
  • examples of some fantastic (and famous) pieces featuring the bass trombone
  • how the bass trombone features in orchestral, jazz, and brass band music.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a clear idea of what makes the bass trombone special, what is involved in learning it, and have heard it in action – played by a professional! This may inspire you to take up this instrument.


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If you are already a member login here.

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Course Instructor

Peter Richards Peter Richards Author

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Course Syllabus

  • Introduction – types of trombone
    • Introduction to the course and your teacher (2 mins)
    • Tenor vs. Bass Trombone (2 mins)
    • Bass vs. Bass Trombone (2 mins)
    • Identifying your bass trombone (2 mins)
  • Valves (10 mins)
    • Introduction (1 min)
    • Valve fundamentals (5 mins)
    • Valves in practice (2 mins)
    • Independent vs. Dependent valves (2 mins)
    • How valves affect playing (1 min)
  • All about that bass (7 mins)
    • The lower register (1 min)
    • Why is the lower register important? (2 mins)
    • Key aspects to the lower register (3 mins)
    • Valves and the low register (2 mins)
  • Bass trombone in action!
    • Where do bass trombonists play? (1 min)
    • Symphony orchestra – Wagner (1 mins)
    • Symphony orchestra – Wagner (1 min)
    • Symphony orchestra – Prokofiev (1 min)
    • Symphony orchestra – Beethoven (1 min)
    • Jazz band repertoire (2 mins)
    • Roles in a brass band (1 min)
  • Next steps (1 min)
    • Next steps (1 min)
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