Playing higher on Alto Vs Tenor trombone?

"Will I be able to play higher on Alto trombone than a tenor trombone with the same mouthpiece?" asked my student. Well, let us discuss that. Your buzz determines the note not the horn. The mouthpiece isolates muscle groups in your embouchure that optimize the frequency that you can build your strength to play at. If you don't have the strength to play high on a tenor trombone, then you won't find any distinguishable range increase on the Alto trombone. The range you currently poses will "slot" better and the sound will be cleaner which makes it easier to play but not easier to play higher than you already can.

[@timbattig6713]

Once you get beyond the 8th partial ... you get into French Horn territory ;)

[@DNKG669]

I think this applies to more than just alto and tenor trombones because it was explained so well

[@kurgonasmarius]

Legendary explanation

[@timbattig6713]

Btw, you are starting to resemble Lorne Marstellar a bit with that facial hair - it's great!

[@michaelcurtis1956]

Well spoken, Bryant!

[@mrbtadashi]

Thanks Mike. Hope all is well with you and yours!

[@7Tsmusic]

I love this guy

[@markgregory9238]

I have a question regarding your article on the Bach 36 w F attachment. Is this convertible model available at Bach or did you have it done by a 3rd party?Thanks Mark G

[@tadashibyers9377]

This Bach 36 convertible is a factory custom shop horn. It has a custom case to hold the straight neck pipe along side the slide so all of the parts can ride in the same horn case. The Bach 42 and the Bach 47 can be ordered from the factory this way, too. If you have a horn and want a conversion, look up Don Sawday or Brad Close through Brass Ark: they are both excellent craftsmen.

[@wolfwarren6376]

This is an old video, but I figured I’d put the question out there: is building range on the alto helpful for transferring the range onto the tenor? Personally, I’m interested in the alto for playing music in keys that lend themselves to the Eb horn, but I’d be curious to know if it would be helpful as a practice tool for range as well. Thank you!

[@tadashibyers9377]

Thank you for asking, as to your question of whether the alto is good for practicing high register? The short answer is yes. I feel that the reason is because there’s better accuracy to slot the note when you get above concert D in the high register. On tenor trombone, the slots become very narrow for E flat E and F. There are no solid slots once you really get above F#. The alto trombone has slots for those notes that can help you develop accuracy in the feel of those notes on your embouchure because the buzz to attain those notes is the same. To develop endurance on that register, you will need to play tenor trombone to be able to build strength in that register.

[@HarryVoyager]

So if you're looking for a sound in the trumpet register, but can do the trombone style slide scoops, one would probably be looking at an Alto Trombone, but with a more trumpet sized mouthpiece?
I've heard of the soprano trombone, but I gather the slide positions are too close together to be really controllable.

[@mrbtadashi]

Soprano trombone is also known as slide trumpet. It is played with a trumpet mouthpiece and slides around pretty good! Maynard Ferguson played one a few times is solos. But yes, the positions are very close together making it very hard to play well. Alto gets a trumpet kind of sound but even with a smaller mouthpiece it would still be identifiable as "not a trumpet." I played in a Moravian trombone choir and the soprano trombones (played by trumpet players) were very good so it is possible.

[@doronkanar5283]

Do you have any suggestions for good alto trombone mouthpieces?

[@mrbtadashi]

I’m sorry but I don’t have much info on alto mouthpieces. Steve Ferguson at Horn Guys would be the guy I’d ask. That said, I can say that I use an 11C or 61/2AL depending on how I feel. The important thing to remember is Alto has a sound we’re not accustomed to hearing. Most players I meet want it to sound like a small tenor. Try to avoid that quagmire. You will always be disappointed with your sound. If you’re starting out, use what is comfortable and acclimate your ear to this cool new sound. The Alto is an acoustic bridge between trumpets and tenor trombones. Think of the sound as a blend of both.

[@predomkevin3034]

Thanks would it be asking to much for u to get a better sounding mic set up with some reverb. Also also play something a sond what ever .