Trombone is made of brass with a metal cup-shaped mouthpiece. The contemporary trombone utilizes a slide, but piston trombones are still used by for example brass bands. The sound of the piston trombone is not as clear in comparison.

Trombone is practically two separate instruments with different tonal ranges together, but tenor and bass trombones are also used separately.

The lowest notes on the trombone are not powerful. The high notes depend upon the performer, but b1 is usually in everyone's reach. The higher notes often sound forced.

The trombone is a very mobile by nature, but does not perform very well in legato style. It is a superb glissando instrument, though the slide position cannot be moved during glissando. Quick and wide movements may be achieved by moving the slide and by changing the blowing technique.

The slide is usable for glissando not wider than tritone. In the orchestra trombone is used sparingly in the traditional sense, it is often spared for the climax.

As other brass instruments, the performer may sing into the trumpet while playing and change the tone with the slide.

Of all available different mutes three are used most: cup, peak and wah-wah (harmon).

Recommended combinations:

Trombone with contrabass
Trombone with timpani
Trombone with marimba
Muted trombone with a woodwind or a combination of woodwinds

Problematic combinations:

Trombone with tuba (esp. in close positions)
Trombone with French horn (esp. in close positions)