PVC Trombone: Step-By-Step Construction Guide
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Time to read 4 min
Table of contents
A trombone is part of the brass wind instrument family. It consists of three sections with a bell end over the player's left shoulder. Its forward extending slide allows it to make notes at different pitches. A PVC trombone is the exact same as a regular trombone, just made of PVC pipe and fittings. We’re going to show you how to make your own DIY PVC Trombone, so you can get familiar with how a trombone works and practice in places where you wouldn’t want to take your brass trombone.
Gather Your Materials
- 2 20-inch lengths of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
- 2 20-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
- 2 3-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
- 1 3-inch length of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
- 1 30-inch length of 1-inch PVC pipe
- 1 1-inch length of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
- 1 2-inch length of 1-inch PVC pipe
- 2 PVC 90-degree sweep elbows, 1/2 inch
- 2 PVC 90-degree sweep elbows, 1 inch
- 4 PVC slip Ts, 1 inch
- 2 PVC slip Ts, 1/2 inch
- PVC 1-1/2 inch by 1 inch reducing bell
- 1 garden hose connector fitting
- PVC Primer & Solvent Cement
Tools Needed
- Pipe Cutter or Saw
- Tape Measure
Step 1
Make U-shape bends. Take the 2, 1” 90-degree elbows and connect them with a 1 inch long piece of pipe. Repeat this with the ½ inch 90-degree elbows.
Step 2
Insert the 20” lengths of 1/2” pipe into open sockets of the ½” u-bend.
Step 3
Take 2 of the ½” slip tees and slide over the 20” lengths. Slide them about 10” from the end of the U-bend. Make sure the open socket of each Tee is facing each other and glue them in place. Connect the 2 open sockets with a 3” length of ½” PVC pipe. The slide of the trombone is complete.
Step 4
Insert a 30” length of 1” pipe into one open socket of the 1” u-bend. Then insert a 20” length of 1” pipe into the remaining open socket.
Step 5
Take 2 of the 1” slip tees and slide them over the 30” & 20” lengths. Slide them about 8” from the end of the U-bend. Face the open sockets of the tees and connect them with a 3” length of PVC pipe. Glue in place.
Step 6
Take 2 of the 1” slip tees and slide them over the 30” & 20” lengths. Face the open sockets of the tees and connect them with a 3” length of PVC pipe. Position the tees where about 18” remain on the 30” pipe and about 6” remain on the 20” pipe and glue in place.
Step 7
On the 20” length side, glue a 1” reducing bell connecting the 1” side of the bell with the 1” PVC pipe. (This is the bell of the trombone, you can use a larger bell if desired, the reducing end will need to be 1”.)
Step 8
On the open end closest to the Tee Slips of the 20” length PVC pipe, insert the garden hose adapter. (This is going to be your mouthpiece.)
Step 9
Assemble the trombone by inserting one of the open ends of the slide into the pipe with the mouthpiece and the other end into the 30” length of 1” pipe.
Play Some Tunes
Now that you’ve assembled your PVC trombone, you’re ready to play. Unless you have a brass trombone close by, tuning your PVC trombone will likely be impossible. This trombone will be great for learning movements and for practicing outdoors.
Materials & Prep: Requires basic PVC pipes (½" and 1"), elbows, slip tees, a reducing bell (for the instrument bell), and a garden hose adapter (for the mouthpiece).
Assembly Process: Build two primary components—a ½" inner sliding mechanism and a 1" outer body with cross-bracing tees, then attach the bell and mouthpiece.
Purpose: Serves as a low-cost, durable instrument alternative for practicing slide movements and understanding trombone mechanics outdoors or on the go.
FAQs
Can a homemade PVC trombone be properly tuned like a real brass instrument?
No, tuning a homemade PVC trombone to standard musical pitch is generally not possible without professional brass comparison tools and exact physical calibration. However, it functions effectively for practicing slide movements, understanding wind instrument mechanics, and playing casual or educational music outdoors.
What serves as the mouthpiece and bell for the PVC trombone?
The guide uses a garden hose connector fitting inserted into the open end as a functional mouthpiece. For the bell, a 1-1/2" x 1" PVC reducing bell is attached to the 20-inch pipe end to amplify and project the sound—though larger bell options can also be used if preferred.
Why are two different PVC pipe sizes (1/2-inch and 1-inch) needed?
The inner slide assembly uses 1/2-inch PVC pipe, while the outer body and main structure use 1-inch PVC pipe. The 1/2-inch slide components nest inside the 1-inch outer piping, allowing the slide mechanism to move freely back and forth to alter pitch just like a real trombone.
Mark Ligon
Mark Ligon is the marketing manager at PVC Fittings Online, a supplier of commercial PVC and CPVC pipe, fittings and valves. Ligon enjoys educating businesses on the parts of piping systems so managers can make informed decisions. He can be reached at webmaster@commercial-industrial-supply.com.
