For trombones there are two types of slurs:
1. Lip Slurs
2. “Slide Slurs”
Lip slurs are two (or more) pitches that share the same positions. Tongue the first pitch only. Air speed, temperature and direction along with the texture of the embouchure create the slur(s). DO NOT TONGUE ANY PITCH AFTER THE INITIAL ATTACK OF A LIP SLUR.
There are two types of “Slide Slurs”. A “Slide Slur” is where two (or more) pitches are connected by a slur but do not share the same slide positions.
1. Natural Slur—This type of slur will require the slide to move positions for each sound. Each pitch is a member of different partials inside of the trombone. As the player moves the slide from one pitch to another, the partial series change that occurs will create what sounds like an attack from the tongue. Only tongue the first sound with a firm consonant syllable of your choice then DO NOT TONGUE any sounds after (as long as all other sounds are members of different partials). Move the slide LATE AND FAST to create clear, smooth and immediate natural slurs.
Example: Bb D Bb (Tongue Bb with a firm consonant, move the slide to 4th position without tonguing and buzz up to D at the same time you move the slide then move the slide back to first position Bb without tonguing, buzzing Bb at the same moment you move the slide)
2. Legato Tongue Slur—This type of slur will require the slide to move positions for each sound. Each pitch within the slur is within the SAME PARTIAL inside the trombone. Tongue the first pitch of the slur with a firm consonant then tongue ALL remaining pitches that share that same initial partial with a firm “D” syllable. Coordinate the slide and the tonguing of the firm “D” sylllable so that the legato tongue slur sounds like a natural slur. Move the slide LATE AND FAST to create smoother transitions from sound to sound.
Example: F Eb C (Tongue the F with a “two” syllable. Move the slide to 3rd position and simultaneously tongue with a firm “D” syllable then move the slide to 6th position and simultaneously tongue with a firm “D” syllable.
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