How to Play “Uptown Funk” on Trombone

Learn how to play “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars on your trombone! This step-by-step guide will walk you through the different parts of the song so you can jam out with the best of them.

Introduction

“Uptown Funk” is a song recorded by English producer Mark Ronson featuring American singer Bruno Mars, for Ronson’s fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015). The song was released as the album’s lead single on November 10, 2014. Mars, Jeff Bhasker, Philip Lawrence, and Dillon Francis were additional songwriters on the track. “Uptown Funk” is a funk and soul revivalist song. Its lyrics deal with having a good time in uptown Manhattan. The video features Ronson, Mars, and several other background dancers performing choreographed dance routines. Critics lauded the song’s production and called it an enthralling groove. Commercially, the single topped charts in over 20 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand as well as the US Billboard Hot 100 for 14 non-consecutive weeks. In February 2015 it became internationally the most streamed song of all time with 486 million streams globally according to Spotify.

What You’ll Need

In order to play “Uptown Funk” on trombone, you’ll need a few things:
-Trombone
– sheet music for “Uptown Funk”
-a metronome (or some other kind of rhythm keeper)
-a tuning device (optional, but recommended)

Step 1: Learn the Notes

Learning the notes for “Uptown Funk” is the first step in being able to play the song on trombone. The melody for the verse is mostly made up of 8th notes, with a few quarter notes and 16th notes thrown in. The chorus is mostly made up of quarter notes, with a few 8th notes thrown in. Here are the notes for the verse:

G, A, Bb, G, A, Bb, G, F, D, Eb, D, C

And here are the notes for the chorus:

C, Db, C, Bb, Ab

Step 2: Learn the Rhythm

Now that you know the melody, it’s time to learn the rhythm. The rhythm of “Uptown Funk” is relentless, so it’s important to get comfortable with it before you try to play along with the track. Here’s how it goes:

[PLAY RHYTHM TRACK]

If you’re having trouble hearing the rhythm, or if you want to see how it’s written out, here’s a transcription:

[VIEW RHYTHM TRANSCRIPTION]

Once you’ve got the hang of the rhythm, try playing along with the track. Remember, the key to playing this song is being able to keep the groove going even when you’re not playing your part. It might help to practice just the rhythm first, without worrying about the notes. When you’re ready, add in your melody:

[PLAY MELODY AND RHYTHM TRACK]

Step 3: Put It All Together

Now that you know the melody and the accompaniment, it’s time to put it all together. You can start by playing the melody with your right hand while you play the accompaniment with your left. Or you can play the melody with your left hand and the accompaniment with your right. It’s up to you!

Once you’re comfortable playing the melody and accompaniment together, you can add in the trombone solo. Start by playing along with a recording of the song, and then gradually increase the speed until you’re comfortable playing at the original tempo.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to play “Uptown Funk” on trombone, impress your friends at your next jam session! This catchy tune is sure to get everyone moving and grooving. Don’t forget to practice your new skills so you can play the song flawlessly. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be a pro in no time.