Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [tuba]

For questions related to the tuba, the largest and lowest pitched brass instrument. Questions may also include the brass tag.

Tubas have 3 or 4 valves that are used in combination to form different notes together with varying tension in the lips. The most common tunings are Bb and Eb. Bb tubas have generally lower range than Eb tuba, but with the addition of a 4th valve, Eb tuba can reach the lower range similar to the Bb tuba.

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Why is it common to write tuba sheet music in concert pitch?

I play E♭ tuba in a wind orchestra, and we always get the notes written in concert pitch, and we have to logically "transpose" to the instrument key on the fly. How common is this approach? Why is it done? Additional info to clarify: When I was…
awe
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What are good techniques to bend notes on brass instruments

I play Eb tuba, and sometimes I come across bending down in my notes - either as an effect at the end of a note, or sometimes as a slide between two notes. I find this difficult to achieve with a good result, even using some kind of half-valve…
awe
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Tuba, 4th valve extension?

I use a three valve tuba, but have been playing around with 3d printing an 'extension' to replace the main tuning slide with another valve that could direct the air flow through a longer pipe, just like in 4-valve tubas, but cheaper and lighter (so…
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Sousaphone for child

My grandson is in love with the Tuba. I wish everyone that loves that instrument could see him. He walks around air playing it all the time. He is a great big Georgia Bulldog fan and especially loves the Redcoats. I would love to buy him a youth…
Anita
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Switching Tubas During Solo

I'm a highschool tuba player and I have a solo performance coming up in a couple days. Unfortunately, my tuba has been in the repair shop for over a month and I just got it back, less than a week before my performance. (I've been using a school…
Wgw327
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One tuba for everything: CC or F?

I'd like to buy a single tuba which will last the rest of my life. I'm trying to decide on which key: CC, or F. I've only played BBb tubas before, and that was 15 years ago. I want to play orchestral and solo stuff at home, which tends to be…
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What instrument is this?

I thought it was a tuba, and it sounds like one, but looking around for pictures it seems the tuba is a smaller instrument. Is this an unusual type of tuba, or what?
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How to clean a tuba thoroughly

A tuba is quite large, and can be quite a challenge to clean thoroughly on both inside and outside. I need some good advice on how to do this properly without harming the mechanisms.
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How should I think when I arrange music for tuba AND electric bass?

I'm arranging a lot of music at the moment, and I find it difficult to combine tuba and electric bass. For most parts, I just make them equal with very few exceptions. For example, I do make them different when I want to reach a very low note that…
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Finger techniques when playing valve brass instrument

I am playing Eb tuba with 4 valves (4th at my right hand pinky). Usually I have my fingers more or less straight out over the valves, resulting in the tips for all other than the pinky is sticking out a bit on the other side. Sometimes when I am…
awe
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How to "bring together the band" when playing tuba?

I have been playing trombone for 1 year but recently my band teacher has been having me learn to play the tuba because we don't have a tuba player yet. He told me that its my job to "bring the band together" but I don't exactly know what he means. I…
helloImEddie
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What techniques improve general ability to play fast runs on a tuba?

I play Tuba, so I don't have very many fast runs in orchestra arrangements, but there are occasionally small passages that can be challenging. I want to improve my general ability to handle such technical runs, so when we get a piece that has some…
awe
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Why are we told to hold keys down while tuning?

While I tune my Tuba, on multiple occasions my sectional coach has called my section out becuase we do not hold down the keys aligned to the tunning slides of the key we are tuning. Is there a reason I have to hold the key down while I tune…
The Man
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How to disassemble a tuba for cleaning

When I remove the valves of a piston tuba, do I remove the spring also?
Damian Portela
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Trouble playing the tuba on the edge of the seat

I'm currently learning how to play the tuba in school, and I'm finding it extremely difficult to sit at the edge of the seat like I'm supposed to due to the weight of it. If I sit on the edge, I have to rest it on my lap, which gets painful very…
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