Trombone is a brass instrument that consists chiefly of an oblong tube expanded into a bell at one end. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and vibrating the lips. The player changes pitch by tightening the lips and by moving a slide attached to the tube back and forth. The trombone is the only brass instrument that can easily play all possible pitches. A valve trombone, used mainly in jazz groups, has three valves with an immovable slide. The player presses the valves to change the pitch. The tenor trombone is the most popular type of trombone. Many professionals use a tenor trombone with a thumb valve, which enables them to play lower pitches and to use more alternate slide positions. The bass trombone includes two rotary valves for extending the range downward.
A primitive type of trombone was used as early as 1495 in England. Today, the instrument is popular in concert, marching, and military bands, and in popular music and jazz.
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