Trombone Tuner
This trombone tuner shows the note you are playing and whether it is flat or sharp. Trombone reads at concert pitch, so the letter on the tuner matches your music. Tune the slide, then use it to check your positions.
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.
Trombone tuning notes
The 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♭3 | 233.08 Hz |
| F3 | 174.61 Hz |
Not sure of a fingering? The trombone fingering chart shows every note and plays it at the right pitch.
How to tune a trombone
- Warm up, then bring the slide all the way into 1st position. Tuning with the slide slightly out makes every other position wrong.
- Play concert B♭ (B♭3) with a full, relaxed sound.
- Move the main tuning slide at the back of the bell section. Flat: push in. Sharp: pull out.
- Check F in 1st position. If B♭ is in tune and F is far off, check your sound and air before moving the slide again.
Using the tuner to learn your positions
The trombone is the one band instrument where you decide every note’s pitch. Play a slow scale and watch the needle: if a note is flat, bring the slide in slightly; if it is sharp, move it out. Notes on the 5th partial (D4 in 1st position, C♯4 in 2nd, C4 in 3rd) sit naturally flat, so bring the slide in a little for them (in 1st position you can’t, which is why D4 is often played in 4th), and 6th and 7th positions are further apart than you might expect.
F attachment
If your trombone has an F trigger, it has its own tuning slide. Tune it after the main slide by matching F3 with the trigger in 1st position against the open F in 1st position. The trombone slide chart shows the trigger positions.
Trombone Tuner FAQ
What note does a trombone tune to?
Concert B♭ in 1st position (B♭3, just above the bass clef staff) is the usual band tuning note. F in 1st position (F3) is a good second check.
How do I tune a trombone?
Play B♭ in 1st position with the slide all the way in. If the needle is left (flat), push the tuning slide in; if it is right (sharp), pull it out. Always tune with the slide fully in 1st position.
Why are my slide positions out of tune?
Positions aren't fixed points. Some notes need the slide a little in or out, for example D4 in 1st position is naturally flat and the slide can't go further in, so many players use 4th. Use the tuner on long notes to learn where each position really is on your trombone.
How do I tune the F attachment?
Tune the main slide first. Then play F (F3) with the trigger in 1st position and move the F-attachment tuning slide until it matches the open F in 1st position.
Related
Last updated .