Play Ghostbusters with BrassTabs

October 2nd, 2023 | 1 min read

Brass player beware...you're in for a scare!

Halloween is on the horizon, which means lots of scary goings-on are afoot. If you are a beginner musician or have a dusty trumpet or trombone that's covered in cobwebs, there's one thing that could easily terrify you...reading music!

Traditional music notation can be, well, rather frightening. If you are starting your musical adventure then seeing lots of squiggly lines and spooky symbols can be the stuff of nightmares. If you used to read music but the thought of doing it again is truly terrifying, what are your options?

For brass players this Halloween, there's light at the end of that dark and dreary tunnel: BrassTabs.

BrassTabs is a whole new way of reading music. Using your ears and focusing on your positioning, trumpet and trombone players can jam with their favorite tunes without worrying about staves, staffs, and other ghoulish creations.

In a new series of books for trumpet and trombone, players are given everything they need to get started making a big brass sound. Learn to Play Rock & Pop is available in trumpet and trombone editions, written by Chris Fower and Grant Golding to introduce players to BrassTabs through some familiar tunes from the acts and artists you love.

You can scan the QR code and instantly get access to the licks featured in the book, played by trumpet and trombone session players.

The two books feature tracks by rock bands like Queen, Kaizer Chiefs, and Nirvana, as well as pop acts like BTS, Lady Gaga, and Maroon 5. There are also tips for basic brass playing, including buzzing techniques, breathing, posture, and more.

Want to try BrassTabs for free? Here's a trick that's most certainly a treat!

Co-author of the Learn to Play Rock & Pop books Grant Golding has produced a BrassTabs version of the theme tune to Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. You can download the trumpet and trombone BrassTabs using the buttons below:

You can play along with the original track, as heard in the official YouTube video:

There's even a bonus BrassTab included in the PDF...Spooky Scary Skeletons!

Have a happy Halloween and if you want to learn more about BrassTabs, head to the BrassTabs page on our website!

Adam McCulloch

Adam is the Content Manager at pBone Music. This should mean that he’s the ideal person to write about himself, but he finds boasting in the third person a little awkward. He honed his word wizardry with a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds. He has since written copy for clients and businesses across the land, from awards to something beginning with “z”. He also spent a number of years as a musician. He has written pop songs and even jingles for kids, performed more first dances at weddings than you could shake a pBuzz at, and once played a gig for a pie company at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester. When he’s not reminiscing about those good old days, you might find Adam enjoying the football (although as an Everton fan, that can be difficult). He also loves spending time with his partner, Jen, and his family and friends, and sincerely hopes they feel the same way.