Trombone slide positions
On a tenor trombone in B♭, first position, with the slide closed, gives B♭2, F3, B♭3, D4, F4 and B♭4, while low E2 needs seventh position with the slide stretched out as far as it goes. The chart covers E2 to B♭4 in bass clef at concert pitch, so the note on your band part is the note you see here.
Slide position chart
On a tenor trombone in B♭, B♭2, F3, B♭3, D4, F4 and B♭4 are played in 1st position, and the lowest note on the chart, E2, is in 7th position.
| Written note | Slide position |
|---|---|
| E2 | Slide position: 7 |
| F2 | Slide position: 6 |
| F♯2/G♭2 | Slide position: 5 |
| G2 | Slide position: 4 |
| G♯2/A♭2 | Slide position: 3 |
| A2 | Slide position: 2 |
| A♯2/B♭2 | Slide position: 1 |
| B2 | Slide position: 7 |
| C3 | Slide position: 6 |
| C♯3/D♭3 | Slide position: 5 |
| D3 | Slide position: 4 |
| D♯3/E♭3 | Slide position: 3 |
| E3 | Slide position: 2 |
| F3 | Slide position: 1 |
| F♯3/G♭3 | Slide position: 5 |
| G3 | Slide position: 4 |
| G♯3/A♭3 | Slide position: 3 |
| A3 | Slide position: 2 |
| A♯3/B♭3 | Slide position: 1 |
| B3 | Slide position: 4 |
| C4 | Slide position: 3 |
| C♯4/D♭4 | Slide position: 2 |
| D4 | Slide position: 1 |
| D♯4/E♭4 | Slide position: 3 |
| E4 | Slide position: 2 |
| F4 | Slide position: 1 |
| F♯4/G♭4 | Slide position: 3 |
| G4 | Slide position: 2 |
| G♯4/A♭4 | Slide position: 3 |
| A4 | Slide position: 2 |
| A♯4/B♭4 | Slide position: 1 |
How to use it
- Check that trombone is selected; the page opens with the tenor trombone chart named in the title.
- Choose a note on the staff, in the list or on the keyboard. The diagram marks the slide position, from 1st (closed) to 7th (fully extended).
- Use Hear the note to compare pitches; the microphone switches off before playback to avoid feedback.
- Enable the microphone, allow access and play one sustained note. Adjust the slide slightly until the reading settles in the centre.
- Set the A reference to 440 or 442 like your band or orchestra, then use Print / PDF to save the chart.
Help and explanations
Each position lowers the pitch by one semitone: moving from 1st to 2nd takes B♭2 down to A2, 3rd gives A♭2, and so on down to E2 in 7th. Higher up, the same note can often be played in more than one place. The chart shows one main slide position per note, the one most method books teach first.
How the seven slide positions work
The slide has no marks, so positions are learned by ear and by landmarks. On most tenor trombones 1st is closed, 3rd sits a little before the bell, 4th is near the edge of the bell and 7th uses the full reach of your arm. Every step outward adds tubing and lowers the note by a semitone. The distances grow slightly as you move out, so 6th and 7th are further apart than 1st and 2nd.
Within one position you play several notes by changing air and lips. First position, for example, gives B♭2, F3, B♭3, D4 and F4. That is why D4 and F4 are both listed in 1st: the slide stays put and your embouchure chooses the partial. If the microphone shows F4 when you aimed for D4, check the partial before moving the slide.
Alternate positions and what the chart leaves out
Players use alternate positions to avoid long slide jumps. Common ones are F3 in 6th as well as 1st, D4 in 4th and F4 in 4th. In a passage such as B♭3–F4–B♭3, staying near the bell can be smoother than going to 1st and back. The chart shows the main position only, so write the alternatives your teacher gives you on the printed sheet.
Pedal notes below E2 and trombones with an F attachment (a rotor or trigger that opens extra tubing) are not part of this chart. On a trigger trombone, the positions shown here still apply while the trigger is not pressed. For long tones and intonation, use the trombone tuner.
Tips
- Learn 1st, 4th and 6th first as landmarks, then find the others by ear.
- Hold the slide lightly with the thumb and two fingers; a tight grip makes small corrections harder.
- Keep the air moving while the slide travels and use a soft tongue to separate the notes.
- Practise long tones in each position with the long note trainer.
Frequently asked questions
How many slide positions does a trombone have?
Seven. Each one lowers the pitch by a semitone, from 1st with the slide closed to 7th with the slide fully extended.
Which notes are played in 1st position?
B♭2, F3, B♭3, D4, F4 and B♭4. The slide stays closed while your air and lips choose the note.
What is the lowest note on the chart?
E2 in 7th position. Pedal notes and notes that need an F attachment are not included.
Is the trombone a transposing instrument?
Not in bass clef. The tenor trombone reads concert pitch, so written C3 is C3 on the piano. Brass band parts written in treble clef in B♭ are the exception.
Can I print the trombone slide positions chart?
Yes. Use Print / PDF with trombone selected to save or print the chart.