From Brass to Bass: How to Switch to Another Musical Instrument
When I first started learning how to play the trombone in sixth grade, I really didn’t care that much for it.
I mean sure, playing glissandos endlessly and competing with my friends to see how much condensation we could build up in our horns was a blast (gross, right?), but investing in practice time and learning music theory was the last thing on my mind.
Luckily I snapped out of that stage. And it’s a good thing I did, because without the trombone I probably wouldn’t be playing the bass guitar today.
Are you wanting to switch to another instrument? Understanding the similarities between your current instrument and the one you’re wanting to learn can help you connect the dots and give you that “Aha!” moment you’ve been looking for. Some may be easy to spot, i.e. piano and acoustic guitar, while others may require more investigation.
Still curious? Here’s how I learned to play the bass based on my experience with the trombone.
Side note – this is a tricky topic to explain just through a blog post. Check out the video below for a more visual explanation.
How to Switch to Another Musical Instrument
- Know Your Music Theory
- Identify Similarities in Instrument Design
- Identify Similarities in Articulation and Attack
Know Your Music Theory
Ugh, yes, I know. Many musicians roll their eyes when they hear the phrase “music theory.” But I can assure you that knowing even the basics will make your transition smoother.
If you have no music theory knowledge at all, start small. Learn about notes, intervals, chords (start with major and minor triads), and major and minor scales.
Identify Similarities in Instrument Design
When I started playing electric bass I looked for any similarities to the trombone. Believe or not, there are several!
First, I compared the fretboard of the bass to the trombone slide. I knew that the distance between first position and second position on the slide is an interval of a half step (minor second) on the same partial (I’ll explain partials in the section below), and between second position and third position is also a half step, and so on. Just like the fretboard – each fret is the interval of a half step on a given string.
Second, I compared strings to partials. A partial on the trombone is a series of notes that can be played depending on the tightening of your lips (think of each partial as a different tier). In other words, you can move back and forth between partials just by adjusting your lips while keeping the slide in one position. This is the same concept as the strings on a bass – you can play different notes without changing frets by moving up and down the strings.
Identify Similarities in Articulation and Attack
Think about what you use to produce sound on your instrument. In this case we’re looking at the tongue for the trombone and the fingers for the bass.
On the trombone you can play multiple notes without having to attack every single note with your tongue by using the trigger, giving a more legato sound. This would be the equivalent of a hammer on for bass players- attacking only once with your plucking hand and using your fretting hand to play a second note.
Trombones can produce a glissando by pushing a constant stream of air through the horn while moving the slide up and down. Similarly, bassists can slide by playing a note and moving up and down the fretboard with the fretting hand.
Clear as mud?! Again, I encourage you to check out my latest video for a more visual explanation.
Comparing the trombone and bass guitar is just one example of how to switch instruments. As I said before, other comparisons may be more difficult to find but if you keep digging you are sure to find some connections that will help you learn your new instrument.
