How to Lubricate Your Trumpet Slides

Bach tuning slide grease has been positioned in front of a trumpet that is laying on its side.

The Parts of Your Trumpet

Trumpets and cornets have valve slides and a main tuning slide. The functions of these require them to move at different rates, which means that we need to use different types of lubricant on them.

A trumpet is lying on a mat with arrows pointing to the first valve slide, second valve slide, third valve slide, and main tuning slide.

Equipment

The 1^st and 3^rd valve slides need to move quickly whilst we are playing, so we need to use a relatively thin lubricant, usually referred to as called slide oil or slide cream. These are the products we would generally recommend for 1^st and 3^rd valve slides, but different instruments will suit certain lubricants more than others. Valve oil can also be used in emergencies, but it will evaporate quickly and will need to be reapplied more frequently than slide oils and creams.

Petrolium jelly is not suitable as it will become hard over time. Cooking oils and other household products should also not be used as they are not suited to the materials of your instrument.

Lubricating Trumpet Valve Slides

A hand pushes the trumpet's third valve down while the other hand pulls out the third valve slide.

1. Whilst depressing the 3rd valve, completely remove the 3rd valve slide and place your trumpet on a steady, flat surface.

Grease is being removed from the third valve slide with paper towel.

2. Remove any dirt and grime from the inner slides using a cloth or paper towel.

A finger is applying slide grease to the bottom of the valve slide.

3. Apply the slide lubricant/cream to the bottom of the inner slides.

One side of the slide is being inserted and twisted in the receiver on the trumpet.

4. Insert the outer slide, pulling it in and out whilst turning so that the lubricant spreads all over the slide.

Excess grease is being wiped away with paper towel.

5. Insert the whole slide back into the trumpet and wipe off any excess lubricant.

A hand is tightening a screw under the third valve slide.

Make sure to screw whichever slide stopping mechanism your trumpet or cornet has back into place so that the slide doesn’t fall and become dented.

A hand is pressing the trumpet's first valve down while the other hand pulls out the first valve slide.

6. Depress the 1^st valve to remove the slide.

Two images side by side. On the left, grease is being removed from the first valve slide with paper towel and on the right grease is being removed from the inner slide on the trumpet.

7. Remove the dirt, apply the lubricant, spread it over the slides and put the slide back into place.

Lubricating Cornet Valve Slides

The process of lubricating your cornet slides is slightly different to doing this on your trumpet because your valves move with the help of triggers, instead of pushing them out using valve rings.

A hand is pulling in the cornet's valve triggers so that they are pushed outwards.

1. Pull the valve triggers towards the valve casing.

A finger is applying oil to the exposed part of the valve slides

2. Apply lubricant to the inner slides.

Two images side by side. On the left, an arrow shows the slide being moved outwards, and on the right, an arrow in the opposite direction shows it being moved inward.s

3. Wiggle the slides back and forth to spread the lubricant.

Lubricating Tuning Slides - Trumpet & Cornet

Three tuning slide greases are positioned next to each other. The brands are Superslick, Hetman, and Bach.

The main tuning slide and 2^nd valve slide don’t need to move as quickly as the 1^st and 3^rd valve slide. For this reason, it is generally better to use a slide grease or gel, which is thicker than slide oils and creams. Otherwise these slides may fall out whilst you are playing.

The trumpet's tuning slide has been removed and the grease is being removed with paper towel.

1. To grease the main tuning slide, remove it completely from the trumpet or cornet and clean it in the same way you cleaned the 1^st and 3^rd valve slides.

Grease is being applied with a finger to the tuning slide.

2. Apply grease or gel to the bottom of the inner slides.

Each side of the tuning slide is being inserted and moved around inside the receiver on the trumpet.

3. Insert each side of the slide back into the outer slide one side at a time whilst pulling it in and out and rotating.

The tuning slide is being inserted back into the trumpet.

4. Insert the whole slide back into the instrument.

Greasing the 2^nd valve slide can be done using the same process.

Two images side by side. On the left, grease is being applied to the 2nd valve slide.

Now all of the slides on your trumpet or cornet should be moving smoothly!