Sousaphones! Insight for educators.

Sousaphones, the phunny tuba with the phunny name! Learn about a sousaphone's versatility, it's purpose and what a sousaphone can sound like. Educators, take note, the sousaphone is still the dominant marching band bass player.
Buckeye Brass & Winds: buckeyebrassan...

[@BeLikeGumby]

I'm a tuba player, played in HS, College, and here and there. LOVE the sousaphone. So much fun to play. The 20k especially, which I marched with in college, was a dream to play. So lovely.

[@tonyhwang3888]

I played tuba and Sousaphone in high school. Music teacher often said I sounds like playing Contra bass. Offered a scholarship going to college but I chose engineering major in electronics. Spent ~40 years in IT field. At 82, I am beginning to learn acoustic accordion along side my grand son who plays trombone in Jr. high. Own vintage euphonium which I play with family members. Guitar, drum, organ piano, etc. Can't think of life without music.

[@VictorReyes-hk1ex]

6:53 that song was part of movement 2 for our marching show this year!!

[@Medieval3395]

Senior Sousa here, my director makes sure I fill up that horn with air, doing so I overpower everything. One of the bits split in half to the vibrations.

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

I seem to remember that the original sousaphones were bell-vertical, and that they were called raincatchers, and were only modified to bell-front later.

[@BoazKimMusic]

True. I think the term, “raincatcher,” came out later as a nickname. Sousa didn’t like the directional sound of the helicons.

[@bobjacobson858]

I'm a guy who bought a Conn 20J tuba (with the forwarding-facing recording bell) a week ago--a month before my 70th birthday, so I'm a 'nontraditional' student. Although I've played woodwinds since childhood as well as double bass, I started on brass a year ago, first with a Conn Director straight tenor trombone, then a Blessing B-125 trumpet, then a Sai Musicals euphonium, and now the tuba (all for less than $1300), and I'm having a lot of fun and taking lessons (mainly on the trombone and euphonium, at the same lesson). I've always been fascinated by brass, so I'm trying to learn all I can. So far I'm only able to get down to the 'home-base' B-flat and sometimes the A, but I hope I'll be able to reach the pedal tones, and particularly the induced tones. I'm curious about sousaphones, to which you alluded, that DON'T sound like a tuba--how different are they?

[@capt.Justin]

That low end 🥹

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

Thank you for the video. I knew nothing about these instruments. Now I know *something*. Who knows, one day I may even get to play one (or at least try).

[@vortex581]

I’m currently marching a king 2350 at my high school they are amazing horns

[@spencerparker8406]

Not even my first instrument and I love it

[@idontknow1575]

I’m going to learn to play sousaphone soon and I’m really excited I’m going to play it in marching band

[@chronojay2854]

Great place to buy an instrument. I would totally recommend buying something from them because it is really high quality. If you are looking to buy a brass or woodwind instrument, buy it from them!

[@godzillapowerpufffan8142]

Your video is really helpful because I'm getting a sousaphone for Christmas this year if we have the money 💰👍❤️️

[@bobcat24]

Congrats!!

[@Medieval3395]

Better make sure you save every penny

[@belltreeproductionsllc796]

Tony is a great presenter!!

[@kypiper]

I'd love to see the new conn 40k 4 valve

[@danielobrien7738]

My HS has 2 4-valve Jupiters and a bunch of 3-valve Kings I resurrected.

[@AustralianAviator]

I'm a trombonist who recently acquired an old Conn 5J tuba from my local brass band. Even before getting this instrument, I've always said I should get a sousaphone one day, and since getting the tuba I've decided (just personal choice, I find it helpful), that I like the fourth valve a lot for different and easier fingerings. After looking around for a bit, a found the Conn 40K sousaphone to be the one I like. I may not get a reply, but to those who have/have tried a Conn 40K, what are your opinions on it? (Sorry for the long comment)

[@mr.bug9319]

I had an add with music and then he started playing at the beginning and it was in the same key

[@arwenhernandez6864]

Much appreciated, thanks!

[@ichiroferguson8721]

I love it i really want one am currently on euphonium

[@blast.507]

I love it i really want [a euphonium] am currently on trumpet 💀

[@froilansacro5341]

Im a sousaphone player in our school marching band hope i can have one😇🙏

[@seleenakauai8403]

I want to learn sousaphone

[@c0bra423]

That Conn got some umpth in it 😄

[@TacoBlend]

I was taught to never EVER hold onto the neck, because it could break as you stated. But, to each their own.

[@johns3106]

Yep..I always preferred holding on to the wrap just in front of my left shoulder, where your hand can help control the weight and movement on your shoulder......holding onto the neck just seemed uncomfortable (and dorky) to me.

[@drzoidberg71]

@@johns3106 a lot of people keep their necks loose so they can move it around. That's why they hold it up to their mouths with their hand all the time. I tightened that shit down as tight as I could without breaking it. Then I slid my hand down under the main circle near the part where it starts really becoming conical. I used that hand to turn the sousaphone as I marched, keeping it facing straight forward as I marched around. I turned my torso along with it, making my legs face the way I was walking.

[@aidanknox2430]

What is the lowest note a sousa can play on the field? I would guess not as low as a concert horn but anyone know what the generally accepted range is?

[@tteerabeats9116]

Probably a Pedal tone F or E natural after that i consideer them false tones. The notes are still playable after those ranges but in power it will diminish

[@Theaszy87]

I wanna see you hit that 1&3rd low f

[@BoazKimMusic]

Check out 6:53 and 10:54.

[@legendaryrj_5908]

So you have to tune a sousaphone?

[@shariffwashington1107]

What was the song in the intro?

[@О.А-в5ф]

❤❤❤❤

[@sousaman2110]

12:00

[@caseydoremus5324]

Do you know how to get that RIp sound from a tuba, Kind of like the Youngblood Brass Band Sound, or Lucky Chops "Buyo"

[@maximeraynaud9286]

Hello, which microphone do you use to recording a Sousaphone ?

[@bobjacobson858]

I'm a bit confused: at 12:00-12:01, the E is referred to as the 'pedal E', but I would think that is simply the 'ordinary' low E, above the induced notes and a full octave above the lowest pedal tone E. Am I missing or overlooking something here?

[@felixplaystuba6937]

Usually E1 is named as pedal E, since most tuba players say anything past F1 is named a pedal. Pretty much any low brass will call E1 pedal E. Now I believe you’re talking about E0, that is indeed also a pedal, but you don’t really see players play that low unless they’re a professional, in college or a talented high school tuba player.

[@felixplaystuba6937]

Though you can call E1, “low E” or “Pedal E” either one works. I call it both, but primarily pedal. For me, E0-F1 is pedal range, F1-F2 is low range, F2-F3 is mid range, F3-F4 is upper range, and F4-C5 is high range. Or “super” range.

[@bobjacobson858]

@@felixplaystuba6937 Thanks you very much for your two responses! I'll admit I still have to refer to the chart to recall which number each octave receives, as I tend to think in terms of the lowest notes reached by various instruments (i.e.-C2 is the cello's lowest note, Bb1 is the bassoon's, E1 is the lowest note on a standard double bass which is the note about which I asked my question). However, I can see why what you've explained would be the case. I can't get quite as much 'power' out of E1 (on my Conn 20J) as I can with higher notes, although I can do Eb1 (open) and D1 (2) as false tones, and even a recognizable C1 (1), but not a very convincing Bb0 (open) which would actually be a 'legitimate' pedal tone. I've wondered what it would be like to try playing a smaller tuba, such as a Conn 5J--with its 4 front-facing valves (the latter aspect being on my 14i baritone and 14c alto horn, and which I actually like better than the upward-facing valves), and perhaps the former aspect allowing me to play the lower notes 'legitimately' would enable me to get more power out of them, along with requiring less air. I'm a skinny 150 lb 70 y/o; maybe someone built like a grizzly bear can get more power out of the lowest notes, but I believe part of it is that it is rather difficult to get my lips to vibrate well at such low frequencies, particularly when confined by the diameter of the mouthpiece! 😂

[@felixplaystuba6937]

@@bobjacobson858 Correct! Cello/Bari Sax’s lowest note is C2, Bb1 for Bassoon/Bass Clarinet and E1 for standard double bass! Now, I’m pretty sure you can power out any pedal notes on a concert tuba; it doesn’t really shine out in a sousaphone. I love sousaphones and contras, but their pedal range doesn’t resonate since they’re non-compensating instruments and every low note will be sharp. I have played pedals on the Sousa before but since it’s false tones you can’t really hear it in a marching band setting. By the way, I believe Db1 is 1 and C1 is 12 or 3. Smaller tubas (3/4 size) can still play pedal notes if they’re BBb or CC. If they have 4 valves they should be able to play down to E0-Bb0. If it were a F or Eb tuba, then their lowest note would be either Db1 or Eb1 I believe. Thank you for replying!

[@bobjacobson858]

@@felixplaystuba6937 Thanks again! For one thing, I learned something new--I played bass clarinet for several years in school, but our instruments only went down to concert Db2--some of the newer ones (or perhaps I should say more expensive ones can play lower, and they have support pegs at the bottom. My best friend in high school played bassoon and his sister played bass clarinet, so I sat with them, and was a bit envious that he could play his 'low Bb'. (But when I started double bass, then I was in the lead on the downward side. I believe you are correct with the fingering of the Db1 and C1--I never really had a reason to play the former note, and was sloppy enough with the second that I could 'lip down' to the second. I'll give these fingerings an honest try; the Eb1 and D1 come out reasonably well, but below that I probably couldn't count on them. I suspect some of the true pedal tones simply end up being 'rattles'--I recall hearing someone describing such notes on a subcontrabass saxophone as sounding like "agricultural machinery"! Does a 3/4 size tuba provide a respectable volume of sound, especially in the lower octave 2 and upper octave 1?

[@Getawayslim]

Tryna let me Hol on to day conn😭😭😭

[@Marko-vp1qq]

Sir! , can you please make a video of soausaphone and tuba and their fingerings from lowest note to higher ? Thank you ♥️🙏🏼

[@bobcat24]

Tuba and sousaphone have the same fingerings.

[@dingusdingus2152]

When you're out on the field and you gotta blow down 75,000 screaming football fans, notes below Bb or (if you're playing national emblem) Ab, are meaningless. What was that riff he played, prokofiev? That's an indoor tune and would be played on a regular tuba. Your sousaphone should be evaluated on its ability to project power. You want your band loud. You want to mess up your audience's hairdo. You want to be able to pop the buttons off their shirts...

[@THEMIGHTYPANTHERS97]

I like conn better especially they’re bigger then king sousaphones and conns have a better sound

[@chrisdorsey2304]

That 20k looks like water lol already kno it costs a grip

[@GrinninPig]

IT'S NOT A TUBA!!

[@PangC]

10:56