Poll: Do you know what a trombone is?

[Jonluw]

Hiya escapists.

I just remembered that I have encountered several people who don't know what a trombone is. I want to know if this is common or if I've just got uncultured friends.

So tell me: Without googling first, do you know what kind of an instrument the trombone is?
i.e. Do you know what makes a trombone a trombone?
If I asked you to draw one; could you?

For some extra discussion: What instruments do you play?

Spoiler: Some music for your enjoyment

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

Sure I do. I was in band all through my school years. I played the trumpet though.

 

[Keoul]

it's the thingy like a trumpet but with the thingy that you pull and push to change the sound of the thingy, I hear some trombones have another thingy to block the front of the trombone to make different sounds

right?

 

[Jonluw]

it's the thingy like a trumpet but with the thingy that you pull and push to change the sound of the thingy, I hear some trombones have another thingy to block the front of the trombone to make different sounds

right?

Correct.
The thingy for blocking the front that you're thinking of is probably a "mute".

 

[SckizoBoy]

Looked at the thread title... wondered 'is this a trick question... or troll?'

Brass instrument whose pitch is controlled by an extendable looped tube, the instrumentalist's mouth and perhaps a valve.

it's the thingy like a trumpet but with the thingy that you pull and push to change the sound of the thingy, I hear some trombones have another thingy to block the front of the trombone to make different sounds

... never really heard of trombones being muted... may be wrong, though...

Anyway, I used to play the violin/viola/piano/harpsichord/organ... probably still can, but badly.

 

[Jonluw]

... never really heard of trombones being muted... may be wrong, though...

They certainly are. Occasionally at least. There are many different types of mutes even.

[sub]He starts playing around the 0:35 mark.[/sub]​

Indeed, when my friends asked me what a trombone was I thought they were joking as well. But they apparently didn't know.
I always thought it was a really well known instrument.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Odd, thought it'd be well known, maybe it's a cultural thing.

It's that curved horn with the sliding bits that allow you to change the length of the curvy bit.

Mind you, the trombones I've seen are much the same, not sure if it counts it you stuck a bunch more curves in, or scaled it up or down.

 

[SckizoBoy]

They certainly are. Occasionally at least. There are many different types of mutes even.

That was pretty funky... though, I've never been big on the jazz scene. You never really see mutes used in classical orchestrations, so the most I new about brass muting was the trumpet. A friend would use a wine glass, and that was the extent of my 'improv muting' for brass instruments.

But that vid was cool... there's a much wider tonal and audio variation possible with the trombone based on that performance.

 

[Jonluw]

Mind you, the trombones I've seen are much the same, not sure if it counts it you stuck a bunch more curves in, or scaled it up or down.

The trombone most people are familiar with is the tenor trombone.
[img height= 300]http://www.maumusic.com.au/files/imagecache/product_full/209604-JUPITERJSL232L_0.jpg[/img]
You can get tenor trombones with a quart valve on them though. They have some extra tubing at the back and a button that opens the valve.

There's also bass trombones.

Extra tubing on the back and a wider bore.

But that vid was cool... there's a much wider tonal and audio variation possible with the trombone based on that performance.

I agree. I wish I knew how to play with a plunger mute.
Apparently, the adults in Peanuts were "voiced" using a trombone with a plunger mute.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Apparently, the adults in Peanuts were "voiced" using a trombone with a plunger mute.

LOL... that was the first thing that came to mind after finishing that Wycliffe Gordon vid... beause that 'wah-wah' sound is quite characteristic...

Random question - ever played a valve trombone?

 

[Jonluw]

Apparently, the adults in Peanuts were "voiced" using a trombone with a plunger mute.

LOL... that was the first thing that came to mind after finishing that Wycliffe Gordon vid... beause that 'wah-wah' sound is quite characteristic...

Random question - ever played a valve trombone?

Nope.
I've seen a couple of my teacher's students using them though. I think my teacher has a detachable valve system on his or something.

Captcha-edit: Lol, "obnoxious" was accepted as a description of Twitter.

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

How...how does anyone not know what a trombone is? I mean, I'm a little biased, since I used to play one in junior high and high school band, but it's not like it's an especially exotic instrument.

 

[omega 616]

snip

Only because of this advert


It always reminds me of lurpak, which is a rather odd connection ... butter and an instrument.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Huh, I thought the trombone was a very widely known instrument?

Pretty much everyone I've met knows what it is, or at least knows what it looks like.

 

[Jonluw]

snip

Only because of this advert


It always reminds me of lurpak, which is a rather odd connection ... butter and an instrument.

That's...
A weird ad.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Well uh, yeah. Tuba player here, I sit right next to the trombones during band class, and usually stand near them in marching band. I probably could play a trombone well without trying it out before.

 

[kurupt87]

Yeah, one of my better friends during secondary school played it; he was obviously called "Boner".

 

[Jezzascmezza]

I always assumed everyone knew what a trombone was, just like how everyone knows what a "tree" is.
Curious...

 

[imnot]

I used to play it!
Then I stopped!

 

[jimbob123432]

That chart has false advertising! I play the French Horn, but I hate beer!