Trombone
D4 on the Trombone
Written D4. Tap the diagram to hear it.
D4 is 1st position on the 5th partial. The slide is all the way in — closed, but not slammed against the stops. The 5th partial sits flat and 1st position cannot get any shorter, so lip it up or use the alternate. This is the heart of the trombone's range, where most band parts sit.
About this note
D4 is 1st position on the 5th partial. The slide is all the way in — closed, but not slammed against the stops. The 5th partial sits flat and 1st position cannot get any shorter, so lip it up or use the alternate. This is the heart of the trombone's range, where most band parts sit.
- Primary fingering: 1st position
- Written pitch: D4
- Sounding frequency: 293.66 Hz
- Harmonic partial: 5 — the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure select the partial.
Alternate fingerings for D4
- 4th position (6th partial): 4th position. Same pitch on the 6th partial; use it when it keeps the slide close to the notes around it, or for a smoother slur. Both positions are standard.
- 7th position (7th partial): 7th position. On the 7th partial, which sits well flat: bring the slide in noticeably from the normal 7th position. Used for smooth slurs in fast passages.
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.