Introduction
The trombone is made up of a cylindrical tube shaped into a complex series of tapers, the narrowest near the mouthpiece and the widest towards the bell, (before the flare of the bell starts). The strongest characteristic of the trombone is that it has a telescopic slide by which the trombone player is able to vary the length of the tube and alter the pitch of the notes he or she produces. Like the trumpet, the trombone has a detachable cup-shaped mouthpiece.

Although it is not always the case, the standard trombone section in a symphony orchestra consists of two tenor trombones and one bass. Other variations may occasionally be found in the form of the alto and contrabass trombones. The alto trombone would be in the place of the first tenor trombone but the contrabass trombone would require a fourth member being added to the section to play this instrument.

In the context of the wind instruments found in the orchestra, the trombones are exceptional in that they have two members of their family which are equally standard: that is to say that tenor trombone pitched in B-flat and the bass trombone. In orchestral scores, the trombone is often denoted using the German word: "Posaune" which actually helps greatly in locating the instrument on the page.