bass vs tenor

Elow · by **Elow** » 2021-04-05 12:56 a.m.

Im just curious to see the amount of bass players compared to tenor, even though lots play both just choose whatever youre most comfortable on.

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2021-04-05 2:08 a.m.

I play whatever is needed. I started concentrating on bass, but now I also cover tenor, alto, euphonium, and tuba.

I should point out a couple of things:

1. A modern bass trombone is a wide bore tenor with one or two valves.

2. In an orchestra there is one bass chair for 2 tenor chairs. In a Jazz Band there is one bass chair for 3 tenor chairs.

boneagain · by **boneagain** » 2021-04-05 8:18 a.m.

You might get more value out of your poll if you ask about tenor, bass, euphonium, tuba, amateur-only, pro.

One of my favorite lead players started making money playing bass, and now augments lead gigs with just about everything else. Many, if not most, of the players in my trombone choir, play at least tenor and bass.

I don't think pro's today can afford to play just one. And even amateurs find that sometimes a group gets too many tenors or basses, and the group can't really go on until someone switches.

The term "false dichotomy" comes to mind :)

PhilTrombone · by **PhilTrombone** » 2021-04-05 9:31 a.m.

Oh man this is painful! You made me choose!!! it's like asking which kid is a parent's favorite child!!!!!!

bigbandbone · by **bigbandbone** » 2021-04-05 9:45 a.m.

Just last week I was asked to cover the (tenor) tbone chair in a Dixieland band rehearsal. Hadn't played my small bore in 18 months. It did not go well. I've been concentrating on bass for 2 years and going forward I will only be playing bass. I enjoy it so much more! So I guess I'm a bass trombonist now.

Kingfan · by **Kingfan** » 2021-04-05 1:26 p.m.

I would be more apt to answer if the survey was:

What do you play right now?

Primarily tenor _

Primarily bass _

Equally on both _

Bach5G · by **Bach5G** » 2021-04-05 3:02 p.m.

I’ve been working on my bass chops for the past year. Now my tenor needs a trip to the shop for a bit of TLC after sitting for so long.

dershem · by **dershem** » 2021-04-09 8:05 p.m.

I'm a brass player. Everything from tuba to piccolo trumpet. IMO, pigeonholes aren't even good for pigeons. (And, for those who say 'hobbyist' - no. I've played with serious symphony orchestras, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Louie Bellson, Sons of Champlin and many others.)

RConrad · by **RConrad** » 2021-04-10 12:58 p.m.

I think of myself as a trombone player but my University approaches me as a bass player, if they don't have a student in the music department that knows how to play bass they send me an email.

greenbean · by **greenbean** » 2021-04-10 4:11 p.m.

"Both" is not an option??...

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2021-04-10 9:49 p.m.

LoL. This just proves that a higher percentage of forum members are ... Past their prime ....

:lol:

MrHCinDE · by **MrHCinDE** » 2021-04-11 1:00 p.m.

How about the holy grail with the best of both worlds:

~~[url]~~ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSL6wghp5VQ

boneagain · by **boneagain** » 2021-04-12 7:55 a.m.

[quote="MrHCinDE"]How about the holy grail with the best of both worlds:

~~[url]~~ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSL6wghp5VQ[/quote]

Perfect :)

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2021-04-12 2:59 p.m.

[quote="MrHCinDE"]How about the holy grail with the best of both worlds:

~~[url]~~ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSL6wghp5VQ[/quote]

Hard to disagree with Jim Nova! Versatility is important, no matter what you want to play.

dershem · by **dershem** » 2021-04-16 10:59 p.m.

Get "The secret of Hoyt's garage" by Alan Kaplan.

Kevbach33 · by **Kevbach33** » 2021-04-16 11:27 p.m.

I too consider myself a trombonist, though I must say I haven't touched the bass in a long while. Maybe that will change in the future.

I chose not to vote simply because I feel the time will come when I'm needed on the big horn again, even though I'm playing (mostly small) tenor these days.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2021-04-16 11:55 p.m.

60% bass vs 40% tenor (to date). Interesting how our little trombone forum (or at least those who respond to such a survey) is rather unrepresentative of the trombone world at large (which surely is majority tenor)! :idk:

LeoInFL · by **LeoInFL** » 2021-04-19 7:13 a.m.

Amateur player here. Even though my practice time is evenly divided between bass/tenor/alto, my playing with the community orchestra has been 100% bass.

EOlson9 · by **EOlson9** » 2021-04-21 12:43 p.m.

Way more comfortable on bass, but finding myself having to play more tenor last few years prior to COVID due to needs in musical pits.

hyperbolica · by **hyperbolica** » 2021-04-21 4:33 p.m.

I'm a tenor player, but there are more opportunities on bass here (because there are fewer bass players). But I'm getting so that I prefer euph or even tuba to bass bone. I play bass in my quartet because nobody else does, and the music we can pick from is limited with just 4 tenors.

Thrawn22 · by **Thrawn22** » 2021-05-09 12:22 a.m.

I get equal time on both.

ArbanRubank · by **ArbanRubank** » 2021-05-09 7:16 a.m.

Both on both. King 3B/F in the morning as alternately a tenor and a "bass". Single-trigger bass at night as alternately a bass and a "tenor". Great for flexibility and range development!

Cotboneman · by **Cotboneman** » 2021-05-20 6:57 p.m.

I started out on tenor in my early days (late 60's to 70's), switched to bass in grad school and for nearly 30 years thereafter, but have rediscovered tenor (and some euphonium) in duets, trios and quartets in the last few years.

lupusargentus · by **lupusargentus** » 2021-05-22 2:13 p.m.

I clicked bass because that was the first horn I purchased after returning to playing. I have both now but the bass is my "go to" horn of choice.

LIBrassCo · by **LIBrassCo** » 2021-06-10 6:55 a.m.

Bass. What's a tenor? <EMOJI seq="1f602" tseq="1f602">😂</EMOJI>

LeTromboniste · by **LeTromboniste** » 2021-06-10 11:05 a.m.

Both. But real bass. It ain't a bass if the slide doesn't have a handle :twisted: (kidding of course)

Kbiggs · by **Kbiggs** » 2021-06-10 11:53 a.m.

[quote="LeTromboniste"]Both. But real bass. It ain't a bass if the slide doesn't have a handle :twisted: (kidding of course)[/quote]

:good:

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bass vs tenor