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
1. 2 20-inch lengths of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
2. 2 20-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
3. 2 3-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
4. 1 3-inch length of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
5. 1 30-inch length of 1-inch PVC pipe
6. 1 1-inch length of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
7. 1 2-inch length of 1-inch PVC pipe
8. 2 PVC 90-degree sweep elbows, 1/2 inch
9. 2 PVC 90-degree sweep elbows, 1 inch
10. 4 PVC slip Ts, 1 inch
11. 2 PVC slip Ts, 1/2 inch
12. PVC 1-1/2 inch by 1 inch reducing bell
13. 1 garden hose connector fitting
14. 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.