What Accessories Do I Need for My Trombone?
In addition to an instrument, a trombonist often needs a number of other items that help with making music or just make a musician's life a little easier. Below, we have listed some of these accessories for you. Here you will find tips about mouthpieces, mutes, trombone stands, cases, oil, grease, and swabs.
Mouthpiece
To complete your sound, you need a mouthpiece that suits you. The mouthpiece works with your lips and tongue to produce the sound. You should be able to play comfortably on your mouthpiece. With trombone mouthpieces, you need to pay close attention to whether you need a small or large shank; otherwise, the mouthpiece won't fit your instrument. Want to learn how a mouthpiece works? Then read our article about mouthpieces.
More information about mouthpieces All our trombone mouthpieces
Mutes
Especially as a soloist or in light music, you will encounter mutes to dampen or modify the sound of your trombone. Initially, you can usually manage well without a mute, but after a while, it is nice to purchase a straight mute to experiment with sound effects. Practice mutes dampen the sound so you can practice without disturbing your housemates or neighbors.
Stand
A trombone has a somewhat awkward shape if you want to set the instrument down outside of its case. That's why trombone stands have existed for many years. This way, you can let your instrument stand during a rehearsal while making notes or during a break.
Case
Usually, a trombone comes with a case. However, this case often only has space for the instrument and can only be carried by the handle. If you would like to carry the case as a backpack for short trips, we recommend a gig bag. If you want extra protection or if you are often on the go with your trombone, then a hard case is better suited for you. These cases can often also be equipped with an extra pair of backpack straps.
Oil & Grease
The most important thing for a trombone is that your slide runs smoothly. To ensure this, it's best to have a bottle of slide oil at home to apply a few drops to the slide before playing. Besides slide oil, you can also use a slightly thicker slide cream in combination with a water spray. Do not use tuning slide grease on your trombone slide. Tuning slide grease should only be used on the tuning slide. Lastly, it's handy to have valve oil at home to lubricate the quarter valve when it doesn't run as smoothly.
Swabs
Many problems with your trombone can be prevented by keeping the instrument dry and occasionally polishing it. Swabs are indispensable, especially for cleaning the inside of the tubes. On our maintenance page, you can read more about how to best use swabs.