Background on me: I am a classically trained trombonist who struggles with music theory.
I know that a trombone is in the key of Bb, but what does that mean? The key is determined by the piece your playing? Additionally, a trombone with an F trigger is shifted into the key of F when the trigger is depressed (same with the G trigger on bass trombone). What does that mean? For me it just means that first position is now 6th.
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I’m not an expert and I have no idea how trombone works but I’ll give it a try:
>I know that a trombone is in the key of Bb, but what does that mean?
It means the instrument is capable of producing the notes in the Bb scale. Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, and A.
>The key is determined by the piece your playing?
Correct. Musics are written in a given key and if your instrument can’t produce the notes of that key you will need to transpose the song’s key to what your instrument can do.
A good example is harmonicas. Harmonica players usually carry around a case of harmonicas each one in a different key. If the song is in the key of C major they will use the Harmonica in C to play it. If the song is in the key of Bb and all they have is a harmonica in C major they won’t be able to play Bb and Eb(the instrument simply won’t produce those notes)
> Additionally, a trombone with an F trigger is shifted into the key of F when the trigger is depressed (same with the G trigger on bass trombone). What does that mean?
I believe that’s just modifying the instrument’s pitch so now it can produce all the notes in the key of F.
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