Unleash your inner virtuoso! Are you a trombone player looking to expand your repertoire with some truly unforgettable pieces? Then you've come to the right place. This list of the best songs for trombone will take you on a journey through diverse genres and styles, from classic standards that will challenge your skills to modern hits that will get your audience moving. Whether you're a seasoned professional preparing for a performance or a budding musician seeking inspiring melodies, finding the perfect song to showcase your talent is crucial. This carefully curated selection considers technical proficiency, musical expressiveness, and overall audience appeal, ensuring that each piece offers a rewarding experience for both the player and the listener. So, grab your instrument and prepare to be inspired by our definitive guide to the best songs for trombone – your next favorite piece might just be waiting for you.
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Let Her Go | Passenger | 4B+ | |
| 2. Love Yourself | Justin Bieber | Purpose (Deluxe) | 2B+ |
| 3. Never Gonna Give You Up | Rick Astley | Whenever You Need Somebody | 2B+ |
| 4. Photograph | Ed Sheeran | x (Deluxe Edition) | 1B+ |
| 5. Happy | Pharrell Williams | G I R L | 1B+ |
| 6. The Scientist | Coldplay | A Rush of Blood to the Head | 1B+ |
| 7. I Gotta Feeling | Black Eyed Peas | THE E.N.D. (THE ENERGY NEVER DIES) | 766M+ |
1. Let Her Go (Passenger)
Melodic Simplicity: "Let Her Go" features a deceptively simple melody that translates beautifully to the trombone, offering ample opportunity for expressive phrasing and dynamics.
Emotional Depth: The song's melancholic tone and relatable lyrics provide a strong foundation for a moving trombone interpretation, allowing for exploration of a wide emotional range.
Technical Considerations: The song's moderate tempo and accessible key signature make it a relatively straightforward yet rewarding piece for trombone players of various skill levels, providing opportunities for showcasing both technical proficiency and musicality.
2. Love Yourself - Purpose (Deluxe)
Melodic Contour: "Love Yourself" offers a surprisingly adaptable melodic line, well-suited to the trombone's expressive range. The song's emotional arc translates beautifully into a powerful trombone solo.
Harmonies: The rich harmonies in the chorus provide ample opportunity for interesting countermelodies and harmonies when arranged for trombone. Experiment with layering different trombone parts to create a full and resonant sound.
Emotional Depth: The song's introspective nature allows for a nuanced performance, where the trombone can convey the vulnerability and strength within the lyrics. Consider emphasizing the melancholic sections for a captivating performance.
3. Never Gonna Give You Up
Melodic Contour: "Never Gonna Give You Up" features a memorable, easily-transcribed melody ideal for showcasing trombone range and expressive capabilities.
Rhythm and Groove: The song's steady beat and catchy rhythm provide a solid foundation for rhythmic trombone playing, allowing for both sustained notes and rhythmic punctuations.
Harmonization: The relatively simple chord progression offers opportunities for creative harmonization and improvisation, making it a great piece for exploring different trombone voicings and styles.
4. Photograph (Ed Sheeran - 2025)
Melodic Range: Photograph's melody sits comfortably within a trombone's range, offering ample opportunities for expressive phrasing and smooth transitions between registers.
Emotional Depth: The song's nostalgic and heartfelt lyrics lend themselves well to a melancholic yet hopeful interpretation, allowing for a nuanced trombone performance.
Technical Challenges/Rewards: The song's chord progressions and dynamic shifts provide a satisfying challenge for trombonists, rewarding them with opportunities to showcase their technical skills and musicality.
5. Happy (2013)
Melody: Happy's instantly recognizable melody provides a strong foundation for a trombone arrangement, offering ample opportunities for improvisation and melodic embellishment.
Rhythm: The song's upbeat tempo and driving rhythm translate well to the trombone's ability to deliver powerful and resonant notes, making it dynamic and engaging.
Range: Happy's relatively wide melodic range allows for exploration of the trombone's register, showcasing both its lower and higher notes effectively.
6. The Scientist (A Rush of Blood to the Head - 2025)
Melodic Contour: "The Scientist" features a memorable, descending melody that is easily adaptable to the trombone's range, offering ample opportunities for expressive phrasing.
Harmonies: The song's rich harmonies provide a solid foundation for layering trombone parts, creating a full and resonant sound.
Emotional Depth: The melancholic yet hopeful tone lends itself well to introspective and emotionally resonant trombone solos, allowing for nuanced interpretation.
7. I Gotta Feeling
Vocal Range: The song features a dynamic vocal range, perfect for showcasing a trombone's versatility across different registers.
Groove-Oriented Rhythm: "I Gotta Feeling" boasts a strong, infectious rhythm that translates beautifully to trombone; its repetitive, memorable riffs are easily adaptable to the instrument.
Improvisation Potential: The melody lends itself well to improvisation, allowing for expressive trombone solos that capture the upbeat energy of the original.
8. Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes)
Iconic riff: Seven Nation Army's instantly recognizable bass line, created using a distorted guitar, provides a powerful and resonant foundation perfect for trombone transcription; its repetitive nature makes it relatively easy to learn, while allowing for creative embellishments.
Dynamic range: The song's progression from a quiet, hypnotic verse to a powerful, anthemic chorus offers ample opportunity to showcase dynamic control and range on the trombone.
Adaptability: The simple yet effective melody lends itself well to both solo and ensemble arrangements, providing a versatile piece for showcasing trombone skills in various settings.
9. We Will Rock You
Powerful Rhythm: We Will Rock You's iconic stomp-clap rhythm provides a strong, easily adaptable foundation for trombone players, offering opportunities for rhythmic variations and impactful punctuations.
Memorability & Range: The song's simple yet memorable melody allows for creative interpretation across different trombone registers, from low, resonant notes to higher, more agile passages.
Dynamic Potential: Experiment with different articulations and mutes to explore the song's dynamic range; the inherent power of the piece translates beautifully to the trombone's expressive capabilities.
10. Wherever You Will Go (The Calling)
Melodic Contour: "Wherever You Will Go" features a soaring, emotive melody perfectly suited to the trombone's expressive capabilities; its range allows for a dramatic and resonant performance.
Harmonic Structure: The song's rich harmonies provide ample opportunity for layering and counterpoint, creating a full and satisfying sound for a trombone arrangement.
Technical Challenges/Rewards: While accessible to intermediate players, the song offers opportunities for advanced techniques like legato phrasing and expressive vibrato, rewarding players with a beautiful and powerful rendition.
11Hotel California
Eagles
1976
Hotel California (2013 Remaster)
12Watermelon Sugar
Harry Styles
2020
Fine Line
13California Dreamin'
The Mamas and the Papas
1965
14Carry on Wayward Son
Kansas
1976
Leftoverture (Expanded Edition)
15The Sound of Silence
Simon , Garfunkel
1964
16Bruises
Lewis Capaldi
2017
Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent
17Born in the U.S.A
Bruce Springsteen
1984
Born In The U.S.A.
18Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
1977
Rumours (Super Deluxe)
19Yesterday
The Beatles
1965
Help! (Remastered)
20Part-Time Lover
Stevie Wonder
1985
21Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne
1980
Blizzard Of Ozz (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition)
22My Heart Will Go On
Celine Dion
1997
23Ain't No Sunshine
Bill Withers
1971
Just As I Am
24Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
1973
Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (Soundtrack From The Motion Picture)
25Master Of Puppets
Metallica
1986
Master of Puppets (Remastered Deluxe Box Set)
26Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond
1969
Sweet Caroline
27Smoke On The Water
Deep Purple
1972
Machine Head
28Iron Man
Black Sabbath
1970
Paranoid (Remaster)
29Big Yellow Taxi
Joni Mitchell
1970