Best grips for small hands?

C
ChadA
Posts: 150
Joined: Dec 04, 2018

by ChadA »

Hello all,

My daughter recently started playing trombone. She's using an old Holton student model that's been in the family a while. Her hands are very small and it's hard for her to hold it. What kind of things can we put on that horn that will help? Wise grip? Neotech? Etc...

My issue has always been fitting my big gorilla mitts on a horn. Her size clearly comes from my wife's side of the family. :)
S
sacfxdx
Posts: 406
Joined: Apr 11, 2018

by sacfxdx »

I use this. You can support the whole trombone on the back of your hand. If she cannot hold up the weight like that then maybe a ergo bone would be best until she gets a little older.

https://www.neotechstraps.com/trombone-grip.html
K
Kdanielsen
Posts: 609
Joined: Jul 28, 2019

by Kdanielsen »

[quote="ChadA"]Hello all,

My daughter recently started playing trombone. She's using an old Holton student model that's been in the family a while. Her hands are very small and it's hard for her to hold it. What kind of things can we put on that horn that will help? Wise grip? Neotech? Etc...

My issue has always been fitting my big gorilla mitts on a horn. Her size clearly comes from my wife's side of the family. :)[/quote]

A lot of little kids find putting the left thumb UNDER the neckpipe helps. It’s fine for kids. They can hold the horn correctly when they get a bit older.
D
Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

"Correctly" LOL

I have to hold some horns that way
K
Kdanielsen
Posts: 609
Joined: Jul 28, 2019

by Kdanielsen »

[quote="Doug Elliott"]"Correctly" LOL

I have to hold some horns that way[/quote]

I hold my bass that way if my left hand gets tired sometimes. I guess “traditionally” or something would have been a better word.
P
Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

When I started playing as a youngster with my small hands, the finger ring on my Olds Ambassador A-20 w/ F Attachment was a godsend!
O
OneTon
Posts: 757
Joined: Nov 02, 2021

by OneTon » (edited 2022-06-01 4:06 p.m.)

I usually hold straight horns with the left thumb in the gooseneck, more or less pointed at my left ear. This allows the oppositional thumb to leverage efficiently against the fingers wrapped around the gooseneck.

Try grabbing someone’s forefinger with your thumb and fingers wrapped around their forefinger. If they pull their forefinger away, you most probably won’t be able to retain your grip on their forefinger. Now try grabbing the same forefinger with your fingers wrapped around their forefinger and your thumb laying on top of their forefinger, pointing up their arm. As your volunteer tries to take his forefinger back, you should be able to retain the forefinger.
O
OneTon
Posts: 757
Joined: Nov 02, 2021

by OneTon »

I usually hold straight horns with the left thumb in the gooseneck, more or less pointed at my left ear. This allows the oppositional thumb to leverage efficiently against the fingers wrapped around the gooseneck.

Try grabbing someone’s forefinger with your thumb and fingers wrapped around their forefinger. If they pull their forefinger away, you most probably won’t be able to retain your grip on their forefinger. Now try grabbing the same forefinger with your fingers wrapped around their forefinger and your thumb laying on top of their forefinger, pointing up their arm. As your volunteer tries to take his forefinger back, you should be able to retain the forefinger.
P
PaKETaZ
Posts: 72
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by PaKETaZ »

Chad: is it a straight trombone or an F attachement one?
C
ChadA
Posts: 150
Joined: Dec 04, 2018

by ChadA »

[quote="PaKETaZ"]Chad: is it a straight trombone or an F attachement one?[/quote]

Straight.
B
Burgerbob
Posts: 6327
Joined: Apr 23, 2018

by Burgerbob »

Neotech is my vote.
M
Mamaposaune
Posts: 657
Joined: Sep 22, 2018

by Mamaposaune »

Make sure she is holding it correctly - I see a lot of beginners try to hold it with just their fingers, their palm is in mid-air and their elbow is pressed against their body, so their wrist is bent at a 90-degree angle. Even the ones with small hands seem to do OK once they get the lower cork barrel resting on their palm.

Also, if the Holton is nose-heavy, of course that puts a lot of stress on the hand.
B
Bach5G
Posts: 2874
Joined: Apr 07, 2018

by Bach5G »

Straps are inexpensive but can be helpful. Leather Specialties/Hickey offer different sizes.

A Get A Grip or Jonathan Pippen’s grip may work.