trombone
Enable an agent to recognise a trombone, assess its playing condition and configuration, and determine appropriate performance, adjustment, and maintenance actions.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 17 findings · 29 questions
Trombone identity Establishes which trombone configuration is present and how its identity is supported.
Instrument boundary
Separates the trombone kind from related instruments and individual products.
Identification evidence
Record the observed construction and documentary evidence supporting identification as a trombone.
- Which observed features and maker or collection records identify this instrument as a trombone? definition
- For a valve-only or unusual example, what distinguishes it from a euphonium, trumpet, or another neighbouring brass instrument? boundary
Configuration and designation
Records register designation and pitch-control architecture without confusing them with product identity.
Variant evidence
Keep documented designation, observed mechanisms, and unresolved identification differences explicit.
- What supports the alto, tenor, bass, contrabass, or other designation for this configuration? provenance
- Does the instrument use a playing slide, valves, or both, and which controls are actually fitted? definition
Air column and components Describes the trombone's sound-producing pathway and component interfaces.
Acoustic path
Follows the air column from mouthpiece through tubing to bell.
Bore and bell profile
Record relevant dimensions and tubing changes with measurement locations rather than assuming a uniform bore.
- What are the internal diameters of the slide legs, or corresponding tubing in a valve-only instrument, and where were they measured? measurement
- What are the bell diameter and documented bore-profile features for this configuration? measurement
Component interfaces
Checks the mouthpiece receiver and detachable section connections.
Fit and assembly
Establish compatible mouthpiece and section connections through verified specifications or observed fit.
- Which mouthpiece shank fits the receiver correctly, and is any adapter present? boundary
- How should the slide and bell sections be joined, oriented, and secured on this instrument? action
Pitch controls and tuning Relates slide movement, valve combinations, and player-selected resonances to sounding pitch.
Length-changing controls
Distinguishes the playing slide, tuning slides, and valve-controlled tubing.
Slide and valve map
Record control functions and available tubing paths for the actual configuration.
- Which slides change pitch during performance, and which primarily adjust tuning? definition
- Which tubing paths become active for each valve combination, including any dependence between valves? definition
Intonation assessment
Evaluates sounding pitch with explicit reference and playing conditions.
Contextual pitch check
Treat slide-position guides as starting points and record measured pitch in its performance context.
- What pitch deviations occur for named sounding notes at recorded slide positions and valve settings under stated test conditions? measurement
- Which tuning-slide or playing-slide adjustments improve the tested notes, and what limitations remain? action
Playing interaction Captures the physical and acoustic requirements for using this trombone in a stated task.
Support and reach
Assesses how the instrument is held and whether controls can be reached without obstruction.
Slide access
Record usable travel, player reach, support needs, and clearance around the moving slide.
- What forward clearance is required for the intended slide movements, and can the player reach them while supporting the instrument? measurement
- What support or documented alternate slide-and-valve choices are appropriate when required positions cannot be reached? action
Task-dependent response
Assesses playable results without treating a player's current capability as the instrument's absolute limit.
Register and transitions
Record response and pitch-transition requirements for the intended musical task.
- Which required sounding notes and transitions have been demonstrated with this instrument, mouthpiece, and player? measurement
- Can a requested continuous glissando be produced within the available slide travel and a suitable resonance, or does it require a different execution? action
Condition and care Determines whether the trombone is ready to play and which care actions its mechanisms require.
Mechanical readiness
Inspects movement, sealing, and structural security before playing.
Movement and leaks
Locate slide drag, valve faults, insecure joints, and suspected leaks while preserving diagnostic uncertainty.
- Does the playing slide move freely throughout its intended travel, and where does any drag or binding occur? measurement
- Do fitted valves return reliably, and do water keys and section joints close and secure correctly? measurement
- Which observed defects require specialist assessment before further operation? action
Care and storage
Selects suitable lubrication, moisture removal, cleaning, and protection for the fitted components.
Configuration-specific care
Use verified care guidance for the playing slide, tuning slides, valve mechanisms, and finish.
- Which maker or repair guidance specifies lubricants and cleaning methods for this slide, valve type, and finish? provenance
- How should moisture be drained and the slide secured or separated for storage in the available case? action
- Which cleaning or maintenance operations can be performed without forcing precision tubing or disturbing valve alignment? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of trombone this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- flugabone, trombonium, bass trombone, soprano trombone, pBone, sopranino trombone, piccolino trombone, alto trombone, piccolo trombone, tenor trombone, valve trombone, contrabass trombone
What it is Filled
A trombone is a lip-excited brass wind instrument with a cup-shaped mouthpiece, predominantly cylindrical tubing and a flared bell, whose effective tube length is usually varied by a telescoping slide to change pitch.
In scope
- Sound production through the player's vibrating lips, mouthpiece, air column, and bell
- Slide, valve, and combined mechanisms for changing effective tubing length
- Instrument size, nominal pitch, bore profile, bell, and mouthpiece compatibility
- Playing readiness, tuning behaviour, response, and mechanical condition
- Instrument-specific handling, cleaning, lubrication, and repair decisions
Out of scope
- The performer's general musicianship, employment, or medical condition
- Musical compositions, arrangements, and performance events
- Brass instruments as a whole and neighbouring kinds such as trumpet, euphonium, and tuba
- Manufacturer product-line histories, sales listings, and ownership records except as identification evidence
- Room acoustics, microphones, amplification, and recording systems
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to recognise a trombone, assess its playing condition and configuration, and determine appropriate performance, adjustment, and maintenance actions.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Sound originates from lip vibration into a mouthpiece rather than a reed, a flute edge, or a mechanically driven sound generator.
- A conventional slide trombone has a telescoping U-shaped playing slide that changes tubing length continuously; distinguish this from a short tuning slide used only for setup.
- A playing slide permits continuous pitch movement while the player maintains an appropriate lip-vibration mode; valve-only trombones require a different mechanism description.
- Identification as a valve trombone requires evidence of trombone construction or documented instrument identity; valves and a brass bell alone do not distinguish it from other brass instruments.
- Tenor, bass, alto, and other trombone designations are configurations within this kind, not separate product identities.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Play at loud volumes close to others without hearing protection in long rehearsals.
- Share recordings of players without their consent.
- Misrepresent an instrument's maker, age or condition in a sale.
- Swing the slide where it can strike people nearby.
Only with a human decision
- Restoring or modifying a historic instrument.
May
- Describe the trombone, its types and repertoire.
- Help a player with practice plans, tuning and care when they ask.
Moral aspects Filled
- Musicians risk hearing loss and deserve protection.
- Brass bands and ensembles are cultural traditions in many communities.
Who is affected
- Players
- Players and audiences nearby
- Instrument owners
Owners Filled
Steward
The person who owns it.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q55738923 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.trombone
- Wikidata: Q8350 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8350)
Direct properties required Filled
- Trombone configuration: slide; valve; combined slide and valve; other documented configuration; unresolved
- Size and register designation: alto; tenor; bass; contrabass; other documented designation; unresolved
- Nominal pitch and valve configuration: documented unactuated instrument pitch, available valve combinations, and resulting tubing configurations
- Slide bore dimensions: mm internal diameter, with measurement location and both leg diameters where different
- Bell diameter: mm at bell rim
- Mouthpiece receiver compatibility: compatible mouthpiece shank specification or verified mouthpiece fit, including any adapter
- Playing-slide travel and clearance: mm usable travel and required unobstructed forward clearance; not applicable for valve-only configurations
- Slide mechanical condition: free-moving; dragging; binding; excessive play; visibly damaged; untested; not applicable
- Valve and linkage condition: responsive; sluggish; sticking; noisy; suspected leakage; untested; not fitted
- Tuning and response assessment: pitch deviation in cents for named sounding notes, with reference frequency in Hz, temperature in °C, and playing configuration
- Structural and sealing condition: observations of dents, cracks, joint security, corrosion, and leakage, with location and inspection method
Recognition required Filled
- A long brass instrument with a flared bell.
- A telescoping U-shaped slide moved in and out by the player.
- A cup-shaped mouthpiece.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Identify the trombone configuration and determine which slide and valve controls are available.
- Assess whether its register designation, mouthpiece fit, and physical reach suit a stated playing task.
- Check tuning and response under recorded conditions and identify adjustments for further evaluation.
- Inspect slide movement, valve operation, water-key sealing, and joint security before use.
- Select configuration-appropriate cleaning and lubrication using verified care instructions.
- Prepare the instrument for supported handling and transport, or route damage and binding mechanisms to a repair specialist.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Hearing damage from loud playing.
- Dents or a stuck slide spoiling the instrument.
- Germs in a shared mouthpiece.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- ISO 16, issued by the International Organization for Standardization, specifies standard musical tuning pitch and provides a reference when tuning a trombone for ensemble performance.
Context of use required Filled
- Trombones provide melodic, harmonic and rhythmic parts in orchestras, wind bands, brass bands, jazz groups and smaller ensembles.
- The slide supports continuous pitch adjustment as well as distinct notes, enabling characteristic glissandos and flexible intonation.
- They are also used in teaching and individual practice, where instrument size and configuration affect suitability.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q8350: trombone - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Trombone - general description of the item
Open questions
- Does an existing Vercy world model already cover trombone, requiring a registry link rather than a separate publication?
- Which authoritative organological sources establish the boundary for valve trombones, combined mechanisms, and historical or unusual trombone forms?
- Which sources support register designations, nominal pitches, and attachment configurations without imposing modern tenor conventions on the whole kind?
- Which inspection methods and tolerances reliably distinguish lubrication problems from slide misalignment, tubing damage, and valve leakage?
- Which manufacturer guidance or applicable standards govern component compatibility and care, and where are published specifications only product-specific?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q8350/spec.json