Bass Trombone Tuner
This bass trombone tuner shows the note you are playing and whether it is flat or sharp, down to the pedal register. Tune the main slide, then the F valve, then the second valve, all with the slide in 1st position.
Play a tuning note
The microphone is only used while the tuner runs. Sound is analysed on your device and never recorded or sent anywhere.
Bass Trombone tuning notes
The bass trombone reads at concert pitch, so the tuner shows the same note you play. These are the usual tuning notes, with the pitch the tuner listens for at A = 440 Hz.
| Concert pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|
| B♭2 | 116.54 Hz |
| F2 | 87.31 Hz |
Not sure of a fingering? The bass trombone fingering chart shows every note and plays it at the right pitch.
How to tune a bass trombone
- Warm up with long low notes, then bring the slide all the way into 1st position.
- Main slide: play B♭2 (or B♭3) and move the main tuning slide until the needle is centred.
- F valve: hold the F valve and play F2 in 1st position. Adjust the F valve’s tuning slide.
- Second valve: on a double-valve trombone, press both valves and play the note your second valve is set for (low D on an F/G♭ instrument). Adjust the second valve’s slide. On an independent instrument, check the G♭ valve on its own as well.
Low notes on the tuner
Low notes take longer to read because each vibration is slow: a pedal B♭ vibrates about 58 times a second. Start the note cleanly and hold it; the needle settles after a moment. If the reading jumps an octave, play a little louder and steadier.
Learning the valve positions
With a valve down, the positions spread further apart than you are used to, and with both valves there are only about five. Play slow chromatic scales in the valve register with the tuner on, and look at the bass trombone slide chart for where each note sits.
Bass Trombone Tuner FAQ
How do I tune the valves on a bass trombone?
Tune the main slide on B♭ in 1st position. Then press the F valve and tune its slide on F (F2) in 1st position. On a double-valve trombone, press both valves and tune the second valve's slide on low D (D2), or on the note your teacher uses.
Can the tuner hear pedal tones?
Yes. It listens down to the pedal register, below pedal B♭. Low notes need a moment to settle, so hold them for a second or two before reading the needle.
Why are my valve notes out of tune when the open notes are fine?
Each valve has its own tuning slide, and the positions with a valve are further apart than open positions. Tune each valve slide separately, then use the tuner to learn where the valve positions really sit.
Does the tuner show concert pitch for bass trombone?
Yes. The bass trombone reads bass clef at concert pitch, so the letter on the tuner matches the note in your music.
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