Five Accessories You Need for the Trombone
In this blog post, we'll explore five must-have accessories that every trombone player should consider adding to their toolkit. From slide lubricants to cleaning tools, these accessories are designed to keep your trombone in good condition. Let's delve into the world of trombone maintenance and discover the key accessories that can make a significant difference in your playing experience.
1. Slide Cream/Lubricant
Slide cream/lubricant is a trombone player’s best friend! It allows you to keep the main slide moving quickly while playing. You should do this 1 to 2 times per week. There is a variety of formulas and application methods available from a number of brands, so you might like to experiment a bit to see what you like best.
2. Spray Bottle
It’s also important to spray water on your slide to keep it moist. You should pretty much do this every day to keep the slide moving smoothly after applying lubricant. This will allow you to grease your slide less often, as the water activates the lubricant that might have started to dry out.
3. Slide Grease
Slide grease is thicker than slide cream and is good for the main tuning slide, as you don’t need this to move freely while playing. Even if you don't move this slide much to tune, you should move it in and out occasionally to prevent it from seizing.
4. Cleaning Snake
Cleaning snakes are a long cable with small brushes on both ends. You can pull it through your leadpipe, main slide, and tuning slide to remove any accumulated build up. It's important to use a flexible brush designed especially for your instrument as other brushes may become stuck in your instrument or cause damage.
5. Mouthpiece Brush
The mouthpiece brush is shorter than your cleaning snake and the perfect size for leaving your mouthpiece spotless. The large size mouthpiece brush from Yamaha is suitable for trombone and comes in a case to keep it in good condition.