Why is the 5th partial (D4, C4) flat on a trombone, and should you push in or pull out?

In the natural overtone series, the 5th partial (just major third, 5:4 ratio) sits 14 cents flatter than equal temperament. Because shortening the air column raises pitch, you must push the slide IN by ~1.5–2 cm (raised/sharp position) on 1st-position D4, 2nd-position C#4, and 3rd-position C4.

Home/Slide Positions 1–7 & Harmonics Studio

Practical Slide Position Reference · Just Intonation Cents

🖨️ Print A4 Wall Chart ⚡ F-Attachment Guide →

Trombone 1–7 Slide Positions & Harmonic Series Studio

Interactive B♭/F tenor trombone position chart: find primary & alternate positions by note, inspect 5th/7th partial pitch tendencies, and print the A4 music-stand wall chart.

Slide Kinematics HUD

1st Position (Closed)

Extension: +0 cm · Inner slide closed, ~20cm from bell rim

1st

Quick Slide Snap:Standard 7 Positions

Harmonic Partial Notes in Position:

Staff Notation & Tone Engine

98.00 Hz

0 Cents · Solid Foundation · Two fingers past bell

Full Chromatic Matrix

22 Notes

B♭1P1

1 Pos

C2P2

6 Pos

D2P2

4 Pos

E♭2P2

3 Pos

E2P2

7 Pos

F2P2

6 Pos

G2P2

4 Pos

A2P2

2 Pos

B♭2P2

1 Pos

C3P3

6 Pos

D3P3

4 Pos

E♭3P3

3 Pos

F3P3

1 Pos/ 6

G3P4

4 Pos

A3P4

2 Pos

B♭3P4

1 Pos/ 5

C4P5

3 Pos/ 6

D4P5

1 Pos/ 4

E♭4P6

3 Pos

F4P6

1 Pos/ 6

G4P8

4 Pos/ 2

B♭4P8

1 Pos/ 3

1200px High-Res Card & Printable Stand Sheet

Export crisp 1200x675 graphic showing kinematics, frequencies, partial indices and intonation rules.

1st

+0cm · P2

Complete 1–7 Positions & Harmonic Partial Reference

Physical slide extension distances, bell landmarks, and practical partial tuning adjustments.

Quick Answer (Trombone 1–7 Slide Positions): A standard 2.70m B♭ tenor trombone divides into 7 chromatic slide positions with exact extension distances: 1st (0 cm, B♭), 2nd (+8.5 cm, A), 3rd (+17.5 cm, A♭, collar flush with bell rim), 4th (+27.0 cm, G, two fingers past bell), 5th (+37.5 cm, G♭), 6th (+49.0 cm, F, replaceable by F-trigger T1), and 7th (+61.5 cm, E, replaceable by T2). All 5th-partial major thirds (e.g., D4 in 1st, C4 in 3rd) sit -14 cents flat and must be pushed IN ~1.5–2 cm.

Acoustic Slide Position & Partial Tuning Matrix

Physical acoustic tube length, slide extension distances, and P1–P8 harmonic intonation compensations.

ISO 16 / Equal Temp vs Just Intonation

Position	Extension	Bell Landmark	Fundamental & Tube	Harmonic Series (P1–P8)	Acoustic Action & Cents Compensation
1st (1st Position (Closed))	+0 cm	Inner slide closed, ~20cm from bell rim	58.3 Hz · 2.7m	B♭1 (58.3Hz) (P1), B♭2 (116.5Hz) (P2), F3 (174.6Hz) (P3), B♭3 (233.1Hz) (P4), D4 (293.7Hz) (P5), F4 (349.2Hz) (P6), A♭4 (415.3Hz) (P7)	Calibration root, leave 2-3mm leeway against sharp pitch
2nd (2nd Position)	+8.5 cm	Wrist ~1.5 finger widths from outer bell rim	55 Hz · 2.86m	A1 (55.0Hz) (P1), A2 (110.0Hz) (P2), E3 (164.8Hz) (P3), A3 (220.0Hz) (P4), C#4 (277.2Hz) (P5), E4 (329.6Hz) (P6), G4 (392.0Hz) (P7)	Slightly sharper than visual position, watch for flat 5th partial C#4
3rd (3rd Position)	+17.5 cm	Outer slide collar flush with bell rim	51.9 Hz · 3.03m	A♭1 (51.9Hz) (P1), A♭2 (103.8Hz) (P2), E♭3 (155.6Hz) (P3), A♭3 (207.7Hz) (P4), C4 (261.6Hz) (P5), E♭4 (311.1Hz) (P6), F#4 (370.0Hz) (P7)	Collar flush with bell rim, visual benchmark point
4th (4th Position)	+27 cm	Outer slide grip two finger widths past bell rim	49 Hz · 3.21m	G1 (49.0Hz) (P1), G2 (98.0Hz) (P2), D3 (146.8Hz) (P3), G3 (196.0Hz) (P4), B3 (246.9Hz) (P5), D4 (293.7Hz) (P6), F4 (349.2Hz) (P7)	Tube spacing widens in low register, widen slide interval physically
5th (5th Position)	+37.5 cm	Halfway along extension, forearm extended past 50%	46.3 Hz · 3.4m	G♭1 (46.2Hz) (P1), G♭2 (92.5Hz) (P2), D♭3 (138.6Hz) (P3), G♭3 (185.0Hz) (P4), B♭3 (233.1Hz) (P5), D♭4 (277.2Hz) (P6), E4 (329.6Hz) (P7)	Extend arm naturally, keep shoulders relaxed for breathing support
6th (6th Position)	+49 cm	Arm almost completely straight, near safety stop	43.7 Hz · 3.6m	F1 (43.6Hz) (P1), F2 (87.3Hz) (P2), C3 (130.8Hz) (P3), F3 (174.6Hz) (P4), A3 (220.0Hz) (P5), C4 (261.6Hz) (P6), E♭4 (311.1Hz) (P7)	F-attachment 1st position can replace to reduce long reach
7th (7th Position (Maximum))	+61.5 cm	Maximum arm extension, grip cross brace by fingertips	41.2 Hz · 3.82m	E1 (41.2Hz) (P1), E2 (82.4Hz) (P2), B2 (123.5Hz) (P3), E3 (164.8Hz) (P4), G#3 (207.7Hz) (P5), B3 (246.9Hz) (P6), D4 (293.7Hz) (P7)	Smaller players recommended to use F-valve 2nd position alternate

1st

1st Position (Closed)

Extension: +0 cm · Landmark: Inner slide closed, ~20cm from bell rim

7 Harmonic Notes

B♭1P1

58 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Pure Fundamental · Relax lower lip

B♭2P2

117 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Dead on Pitch · Closed slide lock

F3P3

175 Hz

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

B♭3P4

233 Hz

💡 0 Cents · True Pitch · Standard 1st position

D4P5

294 Hz

💡 -14 Cents · Inherently Flat · Push in ~2cm compensation

F4P6

349 Hz

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

B♭4P8

466 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Pure High Note · Standard 1st position

2nd

2nd Position

Extension: +8.5 cm · Landmark: Wrist ~1.5 finger widths from outer bell rim

3 Harmonic Notes

A2P2

110 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Pure Harmony · Standard 2nd pos

A3P4

220 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Warm Lyricism · Standard 2nd pos

G4P8

392 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 0 Cents · ISO 16 A4 · Standard 2nd pos

3rd

3rd Position

Extension: +17.5 cm · Landmark: Outer slide collar flush with bell rim

4 Harmonic Notes

E♭3P3

156 Hz

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

C4P5

262 Hz

💡 -14 Cents · Noticeably Flat · Push in ~2cm compensation

E♭4P6

311 Hz

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

B♭4P8

466 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 0 Cents · Clean Highs · Standard 3rd pos

4th

4th Position

Extension: +27 cm · Landmark: Outer slide grip two finger widths past bell rim

5 Harmonic Notes

G2P2

98 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Solid Foundation · Two fingers past bell

D3P3

147 Hz

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

G3P4

196 Hz

💡 0 Cents · True Pitch · Standard 4th pos

D4P5

294 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 -14 Cents · Flat 5th partial · Push in ~2cm compensation

G4P8

392 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Heroic High G · Standard 4th pos

5th

5th Position

Extension: +37.5 cm · Landmark: Halfway along extension, forearm extended past 50%

1 Harmonic Notes

B♭3P4

233 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 0 Cents · Pure Pitch · Standard 5th pos

6th

6th Position

Extension: +49 cm · Landmark: Arm almost completely straight, near safety stop

5 Harmonic Notes

F2P2

87 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Low Pillar · Full arm extension

C3P3

131 Hz

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

F3P3

175 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

C4P5

262 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 -14 Cents · Flat partial · Push in ~2cm compensation

F4P6

349 Hz

(Alternate Position)

💡 +2 Cents · Slightly Sharp · Micro-push ~2mm

7th

7th Position (Maximum)

Extension: +61.5 cm · Landmark: Maximum arm extension, grip cross brace by fingertips

1 Harmonic Notes

E2P2

82 Hz

💡 0 Cents · Full Extension · Full reach