Thumb Lever Position

[mbhalpern]

All:

I am an adult beginner currently playing on a '70s era Blessing Artist. It is doing fine except for a lack of clearance between my large hand and the thumb lever and actuating rod underneath the rotor. Getting lots of accidental misfires unless I really concentrate on my left hand position. Just wondering if there are any horns with more/adjustable clearance or should i eventually consider moving to a horn with a different valve system. Thanks!

Best,
Mitch

[BGuttman]

Ergonomics of F-attachment horns is a real problem. While "straight" tenor trombones have you wrap your thumb around the bell brace, most F-attachment instruments require you to have you thumb in front of the bell brace; holding the weight of the instrument with the heel of your left hand.

Some F-attachments are designed to be held like a "straight" tenor. The Bach TB-200/Omega, Holton TR-150, older King 4B and 5B, and some other older instruments allow you to hold them like a straight tenor.

Many others look at alternative grip aids. There are some that are clamped to the bell brace like the Ax Handle. Then there is the oddball grip called the Neotech which clamps to the lower slide cork barrel and has a handle that you can slip your left hand through.

You might also want to look at Doug Yeo's site (www.yeodoug.com) and see his way to hold an F-attachment (or bass) trombone. He has the fixed slide brace between middle and ring fingers, which moves the bulk of your hand a little more toward the slide.

I hope some others can show what the different grip aids look like.

[brassmedic]

The Blessing, and the Conn 88H it is a copy of, have the lever hinged on the right, so the rod going up to the rotor is very close to your hand. Other brands of trombone (and newer Conn trombones) have the lever hinged on the left. You may find that a different brand works better for you. Or you could always have a repair shop install a different kind of lever on your trombone.

[PaulT]

Yep to the above. Check with a good repair guy to see what adjustment options you have with your current horn. (and while you are in the shop, try out some different horns to see how they feel)

A couple threads on trombone grips:

https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8654

https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php? ... ips#p17420