The Beginning Trombonist: Equipment

Philosophy of Buying a Horn

The beginner trombone player doesn't need fancy equipment or the most expensive model off the shelf. What if the player doesn't stick with the instrument, what if they drop it? The beginner doesn't need a brand new $4000 Edwards trombone to learn on. These horns are often waaaay to big for the beginner and will only hurt, not help, their playing. The beginner wants to match themselves to a horn that will make their job easier.

With that said, the beginner doesn't want a trombone that is falling apart. A trombone that doesn't work right will be no fun to play and when they player isn't having fun, practicing goes by the wayside. The beginners best bet is to look for a used trombone from their local music store or in the area. Craigslist and Ebay are good options too but one has to know what to look for.

Ask the seller for lots of pictures of any dents or dings. Small dents and dings in the bell are okay, dents on the slide are not! Look for excessive wear on the slide and on the horns brass. With a little patience good deals present themselves and will make for a much more enjoyable experience!

What to look for in a horn!

A beginner doesn't need a massive horn with an F-attachment and large shank mouthpiece to learn to play. In-fact, this will most likely hurt the player.

The beginner should look for a small bore trombone, one that will accept a small shank mouthpiece. Second hand used Yamaha student models are a good starting point. If the beginner wants to spend a bit more money, they could look for a used professional level instrument. The small bore professional instruments will not be too hard for the beginner to play but will provide an enjoyable playing experience and leave room to go. 

For the beginner I'd recommend starting without the F-attachment, it will only add weight and one should master the straight slide before adding complexity. 

As to a mouthpiece, I would recommend something on the smaller side. Around a bach 12c is a good starting size. Even a 6 1/2AL isn't a bad place to start, especially for someone with larger lips. A huge mouthpiece probably wouldn't be a great bet, a person just starting out probably doesn't have the lip strength or breath support to play it. 

Feel free to ask in the comments about buying a horn, I'll be glad to give my opinion on it!!