The first reason is so that you can play notes you might be expected to play from a tenor trombone part.
I do recommend that you learn to play those false tones between E and Ab for two reasons. Pedal Eb is in first position and low A is the next natural tone on the horn. In the above chart, I have identified the alternate positions after the “/”.īecause of the physics of the alto trombone, the lowest natural note just above the “false” tones is concert A. Especially if you are a tenor trombone player, you’ll want to learn the alto trombone using the same notation that you are used to.īelow is a comparison of the first position overtone series between alto and tenor. Unless you plan on being a symphonic player where those ancient parts for alto were written in alto clef, learn the instrument in bass clef. In fact, I think it is pretty silly to learn alto trombone in alto clef. Reading alto clef is NOT required for alto trombone. The second partial on a tenor is Bb at the bottom of the bass clef staff, and the corresponding partial for the alto is the Eb in the middle of the bass clef staff.īefore showing you the position chart, let me make one point. That tells you that the partials on the alto are a fourth higher than tenor.
The fundamental of a tenor trombone is concert Bb and the fundamental for an alto trombone is concert Eb. In case you may not be aware, the slide positions for alto trombone are completely different from tenor trombone.