Trombone
A♭4 on the Trombone
Written A♭4. Tap the diagram to hear it.
A♭4
8th partial
A♭4 is 3rd position on the 8th partial. Just before the bell. This partial sits in tune at the standard spot, so it is a good note to check your positions against. Upper register: the partials crowd together, so hear the pitch first and keep the air fast.
About this note
A♭4 is 3rd position on the 8th partial. Just before the bell. This partial sits in tune at the standard spot, so it is a good note to check your positions against. Upper register: the partials crowd together, so hear the pitch first and keep the air fast.
- Primary fingering: 3rd position
- Written pitch: A♭4
- Sounding frequency: 415.30 Hz
- Harmonic partial: 8 — the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure select the partial.
Alternate fingerings for A♭4
- 1st position (7th partial): 1st position. On the 7th partial, which sits well flat: bring the slide in noticeably from the normal 1st position. Used for smooth slurs in fast passages.
- 5th position (9th partial): 5th position. Same pitch on the 9th partial; use it when it keeps the slide close to the notes around it, or for a smoother slur. Both positions are standard.
Trombone fingering data last updated . Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.