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Subtly articulated or de-emphasized notes that give a feeling of presence without dominating. Trombonists can create these by playing notes more softly or with less force to add texture to their improvisations.

The individual notes that make up a chord. In improvisation, jazz trombonists aim to emphasize these tones on strong beats to outline the chord progression and create melodic solos that fit the harmony.

The variation in loudness or intensity of musical notes. Jazz trombonists use dynamic contrast to add expressiveness to their improvisations, shaping phrases with crescendos, decrescendos, and sudden changes in volume.

A collaborative improvisation technique where musicians alternate playing four-bar solos. Trombonists in a jazz setting might 'trade fours' with a drummer or other instrumentalists, promoting interaction and creativity.

Very low notes that are at the limit of the trombone's range. Jazz trombonists may use pedal tones to add depth to their improvisations or to establish a mood, especially in ballads or slower pieces.

The technique of creating new music by altering and developing a short musical idea or motif. Jazz trombonists will often take a motif and vary it in rhythm, pitch, or harmony to create interest and development in their solos.

A continuous slide upwards or downwards between two notes. On a trombone, this is achieved by moving the slide while blowing into the instrument, creating a smooth transition between pitches.

The notes in a scale that are altered or flattened to create a bluesy feel. For trombonists, this means adjusting intonation to flatten the 3rd, 5th, and 7th degrees of the major scale when playing.

A rhythm style where notes with equal written time values are performed with unequal durations, typically as alternating long and short. Trombonists accentuate this by articulating notes in a way that emphasizes the swing rhythm.

Scales or modes that serve as a basis for improvisation. Jazz trombonists will choose modes that fit the harmonic context of the music and use them to structure their solos.

A technique in which one musician plays a phrase and another musician (or group) answers with a complementary phrase. For jazz trombone, this may involve playing a phrase and mimicking or complementing it in a subsequent measure.