About The tube trombone is similar to a real trombone because it is played by buzzing the lips and it has a form of a slide. Although the sound of the tube trombone isn't pleasant and melodic, it is fun to play with and a great introduction to brass-type instruments. If you want to hear a sound byte of the tube trombone, click here.

How to Make It

To make your trombone, you will need two cardboard tubes, each about a foot long. One should be able to fit in another. I recommend using a paper towel tube and a wrapping paper tube. You will also need a pair of scissors and two rubber bands.

To start, cut the bigger tube straight across from one end to another. Place the smaller tube inside of it. Now fasten the rubber bands around the larger tube, making sure that the smaller tube can still move around inside of it. The fit shouldn't be too roomy. Look up at the above picture to see what your instrument should look like. To play, buzz your lips inside the larger tube. Move the smaller tube (the "slide") around to obtain different tones. Have fun!