The Bb Tuba - Besson Sovereign BE994

This video is a discussion and demonstration of the Besson Sovereign BE994 tuba. In the brass band we call these a 'Bass', and it plays the treble clef.
This instrument is a Bb tuba with four compensating valves in a 3 & 1 configuration; 3 upright valves and 1 side valve.
See more about compensating valves here: • Compensating Valve Sys...
Disclaimer: I can barely play this instrument. Yes, you can probably do a better job.
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[@majcrash]

This is a $10,000 magnificently crafted instrument. I think if he spent enough time playing it, he'd change his mind.

[@Hix1388]

I've not picked up a tuba in 8 years and I'm jealous as all get out. Granted the last time I got to play I went back to help the last of the section I'd trained before I graduated during band camp and I get handed a brand new Jupiter sousaphone.

[@ergo6527]

@@ES_ETP it’s 13k

[@TheChris0303]

"The distance around the rim is about 3 or 4 kilometers" 😂😂 keep up the videos!

[@cpg2198]

That quote made my day!

[@nikomitrione]

I know! I died at that part XD the thing I love about Trent is that he will make hilarious jokes but keep a perfectly straight face XD

[@waltermccord550]

I didn’t know that kilometers are that small lol.

[@bobjacobson858]

Inches are probably the closest approximation.

[@jerrybyers2172]

I heard a guy once upon a time say, "the mouthpiece is big enough that you can stick your head in it and still have enough room to wiggle your ears".

[@michaelcowling9928]

I appreciate a non-tuba player actually appreciating the amount of breath and diaphragm control required to play a full 4/4 Bb tuba. I started on a little 3/4 3 piston Yamaha jobber when I was 12 years old and graduated up to a 4/4 3+1 piston Besson when I was 13. I was about five foot tall and weighed in at about 135 pounds. I still remember the band director calling me out as I was the only tuba player in the 70 or so member band. "I should never hear any of you take a breath except for Michael on that big ol' tuba and I haven't heard him take a breath yet! The rest of you need to learn how to stagger your breathing."

[@isham7920]

lmao same. That analogy also went to everyone complaining about carrying around their "heavy" instruments to concerts and their arms getting tried and i'd be near the back trying not to make my arms fall off but still not complaining xD

[@Bubba7mm08]

It does take a lot breath doesn’t it

[@bun-bun5623]

Lmao have fun playing a 6/4 contrabass tuba

[@awildjared1396]

I'm the only tuba in a band of maybe 17, so I can actually be heard in the bane but in a recording or audience the sound blends in so well you can't hear it until you take it out of the band entirely, and so far the bd hasn't complained about loud breathing so far, just not staying together and wrong notes. (7th grade, rather beat up 3 valve Jupiter JCB-378, basically brand new Jupiter JCB-382 at home)

[@Sturgis1]

I’m currently going into a high school band as one of only two Tuba players in that entire band, once the summer is over :( It’s depressing how lacking in numbers Tuba players really are

[@weird0329]

“This behemoth” my favorite thing he has ever said ❤😂

[@alejandrocharles4265]

when you talk about the requirements of playing tuba i feel like your complementing me

[@demonfaceINC]

I love the contra profile pic. It goes with this comment and same.

[@boecaj3731]

Same broski

[@MrThurobrand]

This is a superb instrument. Dexterity is in the player. Also the purpose of the instrument does not often require the nimbleness you find the tuba doesn't have.

[@jackodoyle2061]

We recently took out the old Bb bass because we were using 2 Ebs and the Bb has been sitting around for years and works perfectly.The sound it produces is just beautiful and powerful

[@PatDavis-qg5no]

Trent: "The distance around the rim is around 3 to 4-" Me: centimetres? Trent: *_kilometers_*

[@bobjacobson858]

Actually, about 4 inches would be the approximate distance! I've put the shank of a trumpet mouthpiece into the shank of a tuba mouthpiece and buzzed into the former, using the latter as the bell!

[@optimus8799]

In America BBb tubas are very popular in middle/highschool concert bands and marching bands. We don't have the brass band here, so much of what you say about the function and applicability of the BBb tuba doesn't apply. Eb tubas basically don't exist here, and in college and professional orchestras, C tubas are used. F tubas are primarily used for solo and small ensemble playing. As a BBb tuba player myself, I find your comments amusing, as I can very well play the low and high range on my tuba, as well as demonstrate dexterity through fast and challenging passages of music. I guess it's just cultural differences that make the BBb tuba seem like such an unruly instrument to you. Great video, and keep up the good work!

[@CorvetteCoonass]

Well, playing one of these BBb tubas is not like playing a King or a Miraphone. These BBb compers are more difficult to play if you're used to inline 4 valve horns and also more difficult to play down in the basement register. The pros of this design are this: 1. The 3+1 configuration (if you've adjusted to it) offers even more technical facility than a inline 4 valve system. The "Ride" on a BBb comper is cake compared to playing it on a inline 4 valve piston BBb (but not much easier than on a rotary inline). 2. Using the compensating system allows you to use the same fingerings for basement octave notes that you used for the octave above it just by adding the 4th valve. This also adds to the ease of technical facility of the horn. The cons: 1. Playing a BBb comper isn't as bad as say playing an Eb comper if you're coming from a standard front action horn. The Eb comper requires the F and E just below the staff to be played with the 4th valve which can get annoying. I personally prefer a front action Eb whether it's a comper or not. 2. The compensating system on a BBb tuba can be really stuffy. I don't exaggerate when I say that it is REALLY stuffy. What makes playing BBb Bass in brass band difficult is the basement register alone, because of the stuffiness of the 4th valve.

[@cetologist]

Dunno what you're talking about, I live in America and I've never seen a BBb tuba in my life.

[@sealio728]

I have never seen a BBb in the whole East Texas area D:

[@selbatsfam02]

@@sealio728 Not to be rude but have you tried opening your eyes? If you've seen a lot of tubas and none of them are in B flat then you're a vast, vast minority.

[@sealio728]

Mine Tobes Eyes are great, no almost all the tubas are Bb, I was thinking BBb was a thing and that this huge tuba in the video was that, which I definitely have not seen.

[@steamboat75043]

I am an American professional tuba player, albeit in a 1920s fox trot orchestra and I have been playing tuba since high school and euphonium/baritone before that. (40+ yrs) I will offer some random thoughts to consider. For what its worth, the Besson Sovereign euphonium a friend had, years ago, had such a large bore that I could play it into the tuba range and make a decent sound. So I always felt that horn was as close as a tenor tuba as you could get. My main euphonium for years was a miraphone and not a wagner tuben oval style, but more like a 186 in 3/4 scale. It had odd tuning but once I was used to it, it was a bright horn that really stood out and gave me a signature sound compared to the very popular Yamaha 4v and Besson (and clone) 3+1 compensating euphoniums. I also had a 1912 Holton 5 valve double bell which was almost a 3+2 in that your left hand played the bell switch 5th valve and the 4th valve which was an extremely flat 1-3 combo which let you play in the tuba range without being sharp. 4th valve was almost a register valve and you wouldn't use it as a 2-4 for B natural either or alone for C. The horn was intended to play B and C as 1-2-3 and 1-3. The 2 valves were lined up with the other 3, but on a slightly different level and were angled down like 20 degrees more towards using the left hand (front/forward action). If you put the euphonium and baritone in the tuba family, as conical bore instruments (consider that as opposed to the trombone family), you could also put the almost defunct alto horn in that family as well. Altos were still around 40 years ago but I almost never see them any more. Then there were the back-firing over the shoulder horns of the American Civil war which went down to the trumpet bore and those were played with the band in front of the marching troops to lift the men's spirits, so that would complete the family. I have played the contrabass trombone, both Jin Bao and Miraphone and the Jin Bao's lighter slide makes it easier to play but with less sound than the miraphone, but when I get into that range on that horn (normally play a King Duo Gravis bass trombone) it seems that if those horns had increasing slide bores through each of the slide tube sets then they would play much better. I had hope for the contrabass but it just never worked for me. Getting back to the tuba, I have had Miraphones and a Chinese copy of the Miraphone 191 which was a very nice horn. I have owned a besson 3v compensating tuba and it played in better tune than any horn I have ever owned. The tuba fits me and so I don't have trouble playing it, although my various demo vids on my channel might not seem like it, but in the fox trot orchestra vids you might get a better example. In America many like the 4 valve forward action tubas rather than the upright action on the besson. I have both. I have a 1925 King 3v fixed recording bell forward/front action, a 1916 York 3v upright tuba with upright action, a 1912 Conn Sousaphone which plays amazingly well, and an 1880s thoan helicon 4 rotary valve instrument. Forward/upright - don't care. With the American style instruments, especially the vintage horns I play (which need a heavier synthetic valve oil to seal up) the pitch is not nearly as centered as the besson, but this is not really a problem. The besson also has a nice mellow sound and I used it when I'd get a classical orchestra call. If you play enough, having the horn not centered means a bit harder to play, but you can move the pitch around as well as change the tone to match what is going on. I don't do all the valve slide pulling you see a lot of players doing to fine tune the horn. Since I am playing in the foxtrot orchestra I'll try to imitate a string bass if not present (play the same music - an octave up from standard American Bass Clef notation) depending on music style and other times play fat and sassy on the New Orleans style music. On the Savoy Christmas Medley, which is very British, I'll try to make a Besson sound and we often try to play that chart like a Holst or Vaughn Williams suite. Years ago using a BBb 3v tuba was frowned upon in the orchestra, but I had no problem doing it and Everett Gilmore of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra always used BBb tubas. BBbs have been making a come back for big honk numbers like Puccini, Strauss, and Wagner for their bark/punch rather than the darker CC tuba. You can see the difference in construction by looking at Miraphone CC and BBb tubas. I have absolutely no talent for new fingering styles, so F, CC, and Eb are all out, and since I am a euphonium player my upper range is pretty good. I have enjoyed many of your videos especially on the reviews of some of the import junk. You are really providing a public service on those videos. One final note is to look at Conn 20/24J tubas and 20/24K Sousaphones. Conn put in oblong tubing between the valves and off set the 1 and 3 valve buttons to have them closer to the 2nd valve button. The idea was to have a trumpet valve throw/action on a rather large bore instrument. I have owned a 20J and the transitions from note to note are odd but once you get used to it (horn response on valve combinations not as consistent as other makers) they work really well. The 20J was an improved 36J which has a really long valve throw and makes the twiddly bits very hard. If you can play the Vaughn Williams on a 36J you are a better man than I am. Both the 20 and 36 horns could be upright or recording bells and are of the 6/4 size and put out a LOT of sound. But for everything I do, nothing larger than 4/4 size is required. I like the Yamaha euphonium - 4 valves upright in right hand - and I also have a bell forward martin baritone and a 3v York baritone more like the British style. I also like the compensating horns although it takes a bit to get used to the 3+1 valve placement. I have also played Olds and Martin tubas and like them, and one of the best tubas I ever played was a rare King rotary valve tuba that I just could not get away from the owner for any price. That one really fit me. Even the owner immediately commented on the good sound I got from the horn after only a few notes with it. I have also played the little Jupiter 3v 387 tuba and found it fun to play and agile - you might like that a lot better for your etudes than the massive Besson compensating tuba. Also mouthpiece makes a huge difference. I use a number of different ones depending on style. Try a loud LM12 or even an LM10 as they are very shallow and articulate very well (at least for me). The LM10 tends to bark really easy so you have to be very careful with that one. The one make of tubas I have never liked are Yamahas, other than the 621, which fits me very well. The 641 rotary - blech. The 4v upright action - less blech. And their compensating tuba, well, it didn't fit me and I found the Besson much more to my liking. In fact they had the Yamaha compensating on sale at a local music store and I took my 1916 York and a tuba buddy to test it and compare to the York. The York won hands down from both of us. The compensating Yamaha was easier to keep on pitch, but, for anything else, triple blech, especially for cost, weight, sound, and whatever. Anyway, I hope these comments are helpful to you and your viewers and you might have to take comments from a 'my little pony playing a sousaphone' with a grain of salt! ;)

[@tesmith47]

that was great, good to hear from the pros like you. im a rank amateur i ldont play that well, but i love my 5/4 BBflat miraphone rotary gonna play it till i die!!!

[@Samplehorse]

When you actuate those valves it sounds so amazing. I've always loved the sound of a tuba's valves. Makes me, a euphonium player very jealous.

[@TrentHamilton]

That's such a bizarre thing to like.

[@201watermelon]

im a euph too and read bass clef

[@aaronvannatta9329]

why though? it actually bothers me. As a euphonium major, I've always envied trumpets and even more so woodwind instruments for having such short valve action, allowing for such fast playing

[@Metal-Possum]

+Penelope Jenkins Either you're American, or part of an Orchestra or similar and not a brass band of the English manner.

[@martergaming]

im a baritone player

[@legoshaakti]

I love it when you say "B flet chooba"

[@ultimatu2130]

As a Bb tuba player, I often have to ignore dynamic markings so I can actually get enough air through the instrument so the note stabilizes. And as we get louder and louder, around fff and ffff, I'm breathing every 3-4 beats at around 180bpm

[@puregaming3976]

I can agree with that

[@Sturgis1]

I can agree with your agreeing

[@spaghettiopizza8686]

i can agree with your agreeing with the original agreement

[@Aduysvmncmkouyf]

@@spaghettiopizza8686 I can agree with your agree of the agreeing with the original agreement.

[@THEbigThugga]

I can agree with your agreeing of his agreeing of the agreement to the original agreement.

[@wwemario12345]

Also. WHO THE HECK WOULD CALL A FLUGELHORN A SOPRANO TUBA. I love the flugelhorn and I love the tube but they are incredibly different.

[@Xzyum00]

They are both generally B flat brass instruments that have an extremely conical bore. And one points forward while the other points semi upwards. Their origins are different however. But other than range they are very similar, but I still think the soprano tuba is a terrible name for a FlugelHorn.

[@jaredjohns777]

wwemario12345 I say if someone really wants to unite Flugelhorns and Tubas under a single name then call the Flugel a Soprano Horn and a Tuba a Contra(bass) Horn.

[@arielhernansuaznabar9527]

Jared Johns that's the way they're are called in spanish (although people will always prefer to the tuba a tuba)

[@jeffersonroberts8263]

So angry for the word heck

[@iben1524]

I love tubes too

[@clementplath1292]

Enjoyed this video, Trent. I played (and thoroughly enjoyed) both EEb and BBb bass for many years, thus your only comment with which I would disagree is the versatility of the BB. Yes, the EE can be as nimble as a eupho, but I had no trouble getting around three octaves on the BB! It only takes practice, GOOD breath control, and more practice!

[@spillingvoid1]

I haven't look at a sheet of brass music in almost 20 years. I was surprised at how much of the finger positions I remember. Makes me want to dig out my beat up old trumpet and start practicing again.

[@bobjacobson858]

I hope you go for it!. I'm 69 y/o, and started on clarinet in elementary school, but had really wanted to play brass. Now that I'm retired, I decided to buy a used trombone off eBay and have had a lot of fun with that, and then I decided a trumpet would add some nice variety so I bought that, too--I think I'm becoming 'addicted' to using valves! I hadn't played my clarinet for a long time, but after a day or so of squeaks, I've also gotten back to that. I had also taken up string bass in high school, but unfortunately that's in a storage unit right now and I have only a small car, but I hope to get that home, too.

[@MAXYISSICK]

Thanks for playing my music!

[@user-dl8yo3wv1t]

Lol, "Chuba"

[@bryanskeen482]

Never use valves 1 and 3 together or 1, 2 and 3 use the 4th one that's why it's there.

[@Tacoman542]

Not why it’s there. It allows you to play chromatically, not there for the fingering.

[@samteuscher7049]

I love your insights, but I disagree with you saying it can't make a good sound. I am a tuba player, and I specifically play Bb tuba. With proper technique training it can sound just as good as an Eb tuba. I may have misunderstood you, but I am stating my opinion. I don't mean to offend you in any way, I learn a lot from your videos. Also you may know this already, but in America all low instruments play in the bass clef.

[@stevecast6515]

He never said it can't make a good sound, he just said it's harder to play fast, moving lines on a Bb compared to an Eb. No offense intended, just wanted to clarify.

[@samteuscher7049]

Thanks for clarifying.

[@54321blader]

Well, not ALL low instruments; Bass clarinet is often in treble clef, for example, because most bass clarinetists transferred from a different kind of clarinet that read treble, so making them learn bass clef, though possibly helpful in the long run, would likely deter many people and those that still wanted to learn the instrument may be confused.

[@TheAvgCommentator]

Basoon is the only bass clef woodwind, unless you count the many Bari Sax players reading a tuba part right now.

[@Leo-vr3bg]

Baritone can be read in treble clef as well.

[@hoseawhitt9723]

Bb tubas are really not that bad. They sound wonderful if played by a well seasoned TUBA player. It is harder to adjust if you are pkaying a smaller instrument like the euphonium which has a much smaller mouth piece and then switching to tuba. You have to give it time. I know because I play both but Bb tuba is my main instrument.

[@ivardozon8064]

Solo sounds great actually. Love the tuba sound.

[@christinabishop7352]

I think you did really good for an amateur tuba player

[@noah.g4226]

Not

[@mason11198]

@@noah.g4226 No, for a person who grew up in bass range and did trumpet stuff too, that is very impressive. His tone leads things to be desired, but he improved on that over the years and can make a much more solid sound.

[@jackodoyle2061]

My brass band has one of theese and ive only played it once and i was out of breath within minutes I'm a euphonium players so i knew the fingering but it was still quite to endeavour

[@elliotnewton6899]

That’s why the euphonium is the best

[@mason11198]

Well one is in orchestra and the other isn't sooooooo

[@galvinmorgan2263]

euph is based - unbiased opinion man

[@mr.starfish4965]

@@mason11198 You’re kinda right. A normal tuba? Yes. You probably wouldn’t see a compensating tuba in an orchestra.

[@jasongreek2342]

I have only ever played normal, 3 valve, worn and beaten BBb tubas in the 23 years I've been doing it... until this week. I was handed an EEb compensating 3+1 tuba to clean and lube, as well as repair a few broken solder joints. This is what has been missing in my life. My goodness I don't know how I'll be able to give it back.

[@BassTrombone95]

Tenor tubas actually exist, they're just very rare in today's world. As far as bore size and shape, they are somewhere in between a baritone horn and a euphonium, but they're the same pitch as both of those, Bb. I think some might be in C as well. Unlike the baritone horn and euphonium though, they have front action rotary valves, similar to some orchestral bass and contrabass tubas. They're so rare that I've never even seen one in person, and in cases where there's a written tenor tuba part, it's often played on a euphonium rather than a true tenor tuba. As far as I know though, it's the smallest of the tuba "family". I don't know of any alto or soprano tubas. This was a great video, keep up the good work!

[@levicockell6334]

Where he is saying it is treble clef, he is referring to the British brass band. I play both bass trombone and B♭ bass, and it is bass clef for the trombone, and treble clef on the B♭

[@limey3654]

there is a contrabass clarinet

[@garygreen7552]

I played a Besson for a while in college and did not like it. I now play an old Miraphone which I love. There are tenor tuba parts in some Wagner and in Holst's "Planets." I believe that the euphonium is often thought of as being a tenor tuba. As for agility: the tuba player in the Canadian Brass challenged a flutest to see who could do "Flight of Bumble Bee" faster. The tuba won. It does take a lot of air to play the bass tubas. The only wind instrument that takes as much is the flute. You might find it worth your while to listen to some recordings of some great players. Roger Bobo, once based in Los Angeles, comes to mind. There are excellent recordings of the Vaughn Williams tuba concerto that show the range of the instrument. Yes, these are probably played on the smaller F instrument, but still... I could go on. I do enjoy your videos.

[@24eGardian]

Have you ever played a German-style tuba? My experiences with the British-style tuba is almost as bad as yours. I learned to play the tuba on a very old Musica tuba and I never played a British-style tuba before. But the first time I played on a British-style tuba I was shocked by how sluggish it played. It has a big and full sound, the kind of sound you would need for a brass band, but it was not plesant to play at all. There was no controle and I needed a ridiculous amount of air. What is your opinion about the differences between the German-style tuba and the British-style tuba? Big chance that you have never played a C tuba, but those tubas are amazing. I'm currently playing on a Chinese copy of a Hirsbrunner in a symphony orchestra and they have a lot more controle throughout the whole register. C tubas are extremely agile and can still deliver a big sound. I'm asuming you don't play the C-tuba and if you have the opportunity to play on a C tuba then you should. The differences between the Bb tubas and the C tubas are very interresting and they both have different purposes.

[@TrentHamilton]

Unfortunately the only tubas I am familiar with are brass band focused Eb and Bb tubas :(

[@dannermassey9395]

micheal Kirby I did not know you could play a tuna

[@dannermassey9395]

micheal Kirby I did not know you could play a tuna

[@jaredjohns777]

lavdpoel I personally tried many Tubas. So far I have personally like some slightly older American Orchestral Tubas. As well as this nice Yamaha Convertible I'm currently on. I however am not a fan of the TITANIC British-Made Tubas like the one in this video. I simply see no need for them. I personally like some expression in the Contra-Range, however even in long stretches I find even some smaller Deutsch-Made Tubas handle better and produce a more full sound. So I guess the general premise is that bigger isn't always better.

[@24eGardian]

Jared Johns I definitely agree. The huge British tubas look impressive and they have a strong and full sound in the mid range. But it has no control in the upper and lower range. The amount of air resistance in the contra range is just not working. I also play solo repertoire on tuba and that's when you need the agility and control of an orchestral tuba.

[@marksolheim6188]

Funny. The Tubas I played were all bass clef, as were the tenor trombones.

[@mason11198]

I think Trent was referring to how some brass bands (or most idk) read tuba. Orchestra and most American/Canadian stuff I know is in strictly bass clef, maybe tenor if the composer gets ambitious.

[@rikuurufu5534]

I'm about as unmusical a music enthusiast as they come. You played that disaster better than I ever will.

[@mangogod8664]

I don't know if I should feel offended by part of this video as a tuba player. GOOD JOB TRENT! YOU MAKE ME QUESTION MY FEELINGS BECAUSE OF THE VIDEO!

[@ultimatu2130]

Trent, Bb tubas require a lot of tonguing to make anything sound good. I rarely slur notes when down low and for me personally, the mouthpiece I’m using makes a big difference. On a Conn Helleberg or a System Blue SBTU mouthpiece, I’m meh at best. When I change over to a deeper cup mouthpiece like a Wessex Chief, things smooth out and sound much nicer overall for me. It can be a bit expensive, but trying out different cup sizes and rim sizes might help you

[@markwebster3105]

Try a Vincent Bach 12. 😁

[@jerrybyers2172]

A long time ago (but not in a galaxy far, far away), I had a Besson BBb "recording bass". I ran outta money, and had to sell it, Decades later (35 years), I had some money and bought 2 CC tubas, 1 EEb tuba, and a BBb tuba. I played the Besson in a "Guy Lombardo" style dance band, but thay became obsolete with the advent of one-man bands with a guitar and a bass drum, and singing obscenities. Now, at age 82, I have been playing in my church orchestra. But the Besson BBb was a fine instrument, and apparently still is.

[@kevintheblacksmith]

I play a Besson recording bell tuba . I really love it. Fine instrument

[@kuro1689]

2:55 are you still planning on doing that video?

[@AFN2750]

I do think that describing euphonium as a “smaller tuba” to the layperson makes 100% sense, because they have no frame of reference for what a “euphonium” is. It’s just a way to explain it

[@calzie99]

I don't know whether you've heard the same; but I was always told the the reason that only bass trombones read bass clef in brass band is due to the variation of fundamental key in early bass trombones.

[@Boe1771]

In this video: a euphonium player explains why he fails at the tuba. As a tuba player I cringe at the video, but I don't blame you at all, as I behave nice on the internet. I also try out other instruments and yes, it's difficult.

[@ThatThingMinecraft01]

I think you sound really good

[@user-dl8yo3wv1t]

That poor Tuba, I can't stand when people set them on their bells, or on the ground in general, wipe them down and set them in their case. Great video though!

[@ricardskrumins7282]

that is what the thin plastic tube around the bell is for, it protects it from scratches

[@markwebster3105]

@@ricardskrumins7282 the Besson doesn’t have the plastic unless you fit one yourself.

[@tacoburger5]

Can you please make a video on a post horn!!! the nice long one and the curly one with three valves

[@serpensphile]

It's a BASS instrument. It's not really made to play in the high registers. It's meant to provide that low "footing" that the rest of the instruments build upon. It's not meant to be a solo instrument- although there are some amazing players that can pull it off!

[@therealvascha3527]

Since it has compensating value?

[@Earlybirdgarage]

I say your comments are valid, but due to you lack of experience you are missing out a lot. I marched a BBb tuba. I had solos.I have also played 16th notes on it. It is hard dont get me wrong however it is very capable. I have never seen BBb tuba music in treble clef. When I look up practice music all of it is in bass clef. I notice when you play the instrument that you lower yourself to the instrument instead of lifting the tuba to yourself. Im 6'3 and had to straddle the underside to bring it up.

[@FishMr3]

All British style Brass band music is in treble clef.

[@Earlybirdgarage]

+mr fish well. America then.

[@michaelsodt9402]

Jeffrey Early oo

[@Xenol1997]

The Besson BBbs are famously tall, I've never seen a player fit one of these on their lap without the mouthpiece being on your forehead.

[@mr.incredible6276]

the only instrument in english brass bands that is focused on the bass clef is the bass t-bone

[@owensmith7530]

Having heard Trent play beautifully on a very wide range of brass instruments, it is a relief to find I can at least play BBb Tuba better than Trent (or could when I was still playing regularly). I suggest you try a larger mouthpiece, that one does not look big enough for this largest of tubas. I play that model on a Bach 7 mouthpiece, which at the time I bought it was the largest Vincent Bach made. I play EEb Tuba on a Denis Wick 1L so I have no particular loyalty, I use what works for me.

[@bobjacobson858]

Maybe the fact he was actually using a bass trombone mouthpiece might have made some difference.

[@jacobhanshaw671]

"flight of the bumblebee?"

[@ThatShapeshifter]

Have you ever tried playing a woodwind instrument?

[@TrentHamilton]

Yes. I own an alto sax, tenor sax, flute, and clarinet, and can play all four somewhat.

[@ThatShapeshifter]

Cool. Do you think you can make a video on playing them?

[@TrentHamilton]

Probably not - I've never studied woodwind instruments and don't have anything to add regarding them.

[@ThatShapeshifter]

Oh, ok👌👍

[@ataurus62]

Git it Trent!

[@anglegrinder]

3:55 I could not stop laughing

[@noodles3605]

Can you do a review about the real Bb sausaphone pls

[@conradwilson8148]

I think tuba is incredibly fun but I am terrible at it. I have good tone and can play really well baselines on it, but sixteenth notes and faster are not as present as the euphonium or trombone has

[@DrowseeGameplay]

"Something I have featured on my channel many times before" Once you said that, I knew for certain it was Carnival of Venice

[@Maurits580]

2:42 they have both valves

[@ThatThingMinecraft01]

The tuba sounds like a trumpet with a lot of bass

[@tobybourne4955]

Actually I know a professional tuba/bass player and he has 4 tubas and one of them he said it a tenor tuba

[@joegould7459]

He’s not really wrong about the bb tuba. Having had to play it as the only choice of tuba for 7 years, I’m only just now being told in college that I have to switch to cc because it is more maneuverable and is easier to play in general. It is true, however I wish they had told me this years ago so I could be used to the fingerings for when the music gets harder I’m ready. But is what it is

[@spacedragon6215]

I can almost go 6 lines below the staff on my tuba and I'm in 7th grade 😂

[@melbournecrosbie]

Keep practicing.

[@recruitdifficulty1638]

6 Ledger Lines? If so, you can play a low G. Good job.

[@AvGeekW159]

Ayden Murphy 6 lines would be pedal Bb

[@souzaeltubero1487]

Highly doubt it but if u can good job also ur a sophomore now

[@mason11198]

I've only been playing for like 2.5 years with no real tuba teacher and my tuba can only hit a low e, so I literally can't try for lower even if I wanted too

[@gucciman6757]

I play tuba in my school band

[@masterpage69420]

All the basses at my corps are in 3 + 1 config, except for my grandfather's one which is 4 on the top. Also his is the only Bb bass.

[@54321blader]

You should see a 6/4 BBb Tuba, those are quite a sight to behold.

[@CorvetteCoonass]

I own one of those and it is indeed a sight to behold.

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

It's an instrument designed to play half notes. No doubt it could play them perfectly well. How often does the public want to hear a tuba shredding? A good arranger would match the required playing to the instrument.

[@54321blader]

As a tuba player myself, I've intentionally put a lot of time into strong, clear notes, but also in very fast technical parts solely because of how rare I have a part containing a melody, so when I do, I have to play it at least perfectly

[@Xenol1997]

Hogwash. Look at the marches of K. Alford. The Bass lines are as dexterous as the euph lines. Semi quavers at 120bpm etc. Army of the Nile has some especially interesting bits. The Bb just requires a lot of careful lip control, since the partials are not as distinct as with many other instruments.

[@waltermccord550]

But the euphonium is a tenor tubas right🤨 btw I’m a euphonium/baritone player.

[@2ndcornets]

You don't just need a strong diaphragm and loads of air to play a Bbb bass - you also need very strong arms and legs to enable you to hump the thing from car to your playing position and back. PLUS you need to go back and get your; music stand, support stand, cradle and your music pack. After all this envy the cornets - one click of the case lids, and a quick fold of their stands and they are long done !!.

[@waltermccord550]

A euphonium is actually a tenor tuba.

[@dogemusicproductions7444]

9:34 that solo is very doable, and btw... TUBA POWER!

[@MichaelFClef]

Excellent. Thank you. Great demonstration.

[@mr.incredible6276]

The tuba is focused on the treble clef in the brass band, but the only instrument in the brass band that is focused on the bass clef is the bass trombone.

[@heathkennedy1406]

I believe that the company Miraphone made some kaiser tenor tubas with 5 valves; pitched in Bb. But I'm not quite sure as to whether it's a euph or not.

[@jjschm20]

Let’s listen to this disaster together. What an invitation. I can’t say no.

[@brylancaldwell1556]

"The tuba does not come close to the euphonium." You sure about that? I have been playing tuba for 17 years and it is extremely agile, you just aren't very good at it, obviously because you said you haven't played for very long. The tuba is very versatile in it's high range as well (including the low range). I understand that you meant no insult to the tuba, but you just aren't experienced with the tuba

[@mason11198]

Yeah. It's really hard to master it, and especially on a crappy school tuba (which I have) :( Tuba's have so many qualities that are shadowed by myths like tubas can't play melodic lines; shame most composers fail to see that

[@djhaynes136]

@@mason11198 hey lol I just saw you on a different tuba vid

[@mason11198]

@@djhaynes136 niccc, which one?

[@djhaynes136]

@@mason11198 remember that Derek fenstermacher video? We were talking about low range pedal notes

[@mason11198]

@@djhaynes136 riiiigghht

[@Toledo2bateacher]

I think the saprano/alto/tenor/bass is from the sax brass family naming. As a tuba player I am fine with tenor and bass naming F and Eb as tenor and C and Bb as bass. I prefer F and C over Eb and Bb but that is my opinion.

[@CorvetteCoonass]

I played a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial BBb back in high school. The low end was kinda stuffy, but honestly it wasn't that bad. As far as the BBb tuba being sluggish, that's entirely the player's fault. I play with a pro level tubist in my community band and he shreds like you wouldn't believe on a Miraphone 186.

[@tonydelamont1406]

I used to play a 186 and it would play absolutely any part in any register at any speed. Great horn.

[@samuelrobinson5842]

I play an orchestral style B Bb. I like orchestral a lot better than the valves where yours are placed. It is hard to get agile, but I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world. By the way, that Euphonium solo that you played, I believe it was Down In the Deep Deep Cellar and I actually played a bery similar version for my tuba solo two years ago

[@douglasfur3808]

Nice new title sequence. it seems like the B tuba is right at the physical limits of a brass instrument. So much metal and air to get moving in a sympathetic way and forget speed. All those loops and connections between pipes increase the chance that something, metal or air will be vibrating out of sync with the intended note. The contrabass trombone has less of the above and plays easier.

[@stevecast6515]

Shame his broke...

[@Aduysvmncmkouyf]

The contrabass trombone has the same amount of tubing

[@GregArmWrestling]

"Doesn't have the same agility as an Eb bass" Uhm, that's not an Eb bass in case you didn't know.

[@Sturgis1]

I can agree and disagree. Simply demoting a(probably) 6/4 size tuba to a simple effect for it’s compensating valves inaccurately represents most Tubas, as the several that I’ve played in my 2.6 years of experience on are relatively agile, which is likely the case because they were 3/4 and 7/8 size Tubas. Sousaphones are even more agile, and(almost) more enjoyable to play. They were never meant to be the up-front melodicness of a Trumpet or a Cornet, they are the foundation. If the decór of a house has no support, the decor will fall over right away. It does take pretty much exclusively being a Tuba player to get very agile at it though, but it can be reasonably nimble and agile on its notes nonetheless. :)

[@Sturgis1]

Correction: that looks like a 4/4 size tuba, sorry.

[@eduardlumicao9272]

Ummm...can you make a rewiew about a 1100 Series JTU1140 Tuba

[@SJohnTrombley]

I hope the "what relevance the two instruments have to each other I'll never know" comment was facetious. The Eb and BBb tubas are the closest extant relatives to the Eb bass saxhorn and BBb contrabass saxhorn, respectively, and the flugelhorn is literally a Bb soprano saxhorn. Using tuba as a substitute for saxhorn is hardly the most offensive thing a brass player could do. For that see: playing trumpet.

[@andrewdye7881]

That's weird that it reads in treble clef because in my country it reads in the bass clef

[@Shrek-iv8gu]

I have played the BBb concert for 2 years until i switched to the Contra Tuba for my Highschool Marching Band which i am in my freshman year of. Every tuba i have every seen plays in Bass Clef not Treble that may be one of the issues you were having

[@stevebuttram3044]

thanks Trent for the video very helpfull

[@brianjay12]

LOVE the intro

[@archerstown]

I play Tuba for my school and I LOVE playing Tuba. I played trumpet for many years until now, so this is very cool.

[@exploringwithbrodyjw3752]

you should try the ophicleide

[@talonwhite694]

you mentioned the intonation problems in the upper register for Eb tubas. Would that still be a problem on F tubas? They are commonly used for a lot of the same things, being smaller tubas, but I've only ever played on BBb or CC tubas, and I don't have that much knowledge on the smaller ones.

[@benjaminfrenandez8696]

You did my request thank you

[@clockWorks10]

Omg you count like a singer lol. Love the vids keep them up!

[@seanwhite7671]

The tuba along with the euphonium, baritone, tenor/alto horn, and flugelhorn all are saxhorns so the tuba is a bass saxhorn, the flugelhorn could be called a soprano saxhorn

[@wilhelmorangenbaum2]

Tubas predates saxhorns, Moritz Tuba designs predates Sax designs. Saxhorns as a whole are just a myth, Sax only put his name to already existing instruments.

[@g33kallday]

Tuba is probably the hardest brass instrument after trombone. Playing kinda difficult trumpet repetoire becomes so much more difficult on tuba.

[@ryancheves9923]

French horn is harder than both of those my dude

[@seansutherland6270]

Tuba is easy to me but bass trombone is just confusing to me

[@wulnt479]

Bassoon

[@seansutherland6270]

+Wulnt that's not a brass instrument

[@joshuapiguet2180]

I would agree that horn is probably one of if not the hardest brass to play, having played trumpet, horn, euph, and tuba.

[@nicholastrombone9899]

Well the tuba and flugelhorn both have a very warm dark sound

[@moddim]

Nicholas' Trombone the old metal Bb clarinets sound bright like a soprano sax so it must be a saxophone

[@travisolsonmusic]

The BBb tuba is as agile as often as you practice. Inherently, a compensating tuba is going to be substantially less responsive. Unfortunately, it seems the tuba has not yet established a staple version of itself as all other brass instruments have. A vast inconsistency exists across what we call tubas. To degrade the BBb tuba to merely 'effect' is a poor choice in my opinion. Besson is phenomenal, however, a German made tuba (take the Miraphone 186), offers much more freedom in pitch control and 'twiddly bits' as it were. That horn is perhaps more accepted as a mainstream in tuba construction. Now, it is more of an orchestral horn, as opposed to a brass band one. That being said, I think it's fair to acknowledge not all horns are the same. Someone who specializes in the instrument will have as much technical command over it than any euph or trumpet player would theirs. Great video though. It's nice to learn about the brass band scene, as I'm not very familiar with it myself.

[@storm14k]

Maybe it's an American thing but never seen a tuba played with treble clef music. But as far as the abilities of the horn it's just a different beast and not a direct jump from the other brass instruments. But the pieces you played are on the level of things I've played way back in the day for high school contests/all region tryouts. I've never liked piston tubas for that level of playing though. I'm a complete rotary valve fanboy for that. And even on sousaphone I really prefer the short throw valves.

[@markwebster3105]

It’s a British thing. In a British brass band, the basses have always been in treble clef.

[@cyndie26]

If one could master the pedal register, do you think it would be possible to cover tuba parts on a euphonium?

[@markwebster3105]

No!! The bass is capable of two octaves lower than the euphonium and no amount of practice will make it sound right.

[@thomasrice4078]

So eloquently worded!

[@201watermelon]

thats a big friend

[@mason11198]

The biggest problem with the tuba is that if you are on the left side of the stage (right for conductor), you cant see the damn conductor because of the bell!! I love the tuba though. I'd adopt it if I could, since its already my baby :p

[@mason11198]

Hi baby mason

[@mason11198]

Oh hey

[@markwebster3105]

That’s why a British brass band has them across the back.

[@moistsentientbagel5116]

Why do you need BBb tubas when you have the bass trombone or contrabass why do you need French horns and alto sax when you have the alto trombone why do you need trumpets when you have the soprano trombone why do you need piccolo when you have the piccolo trombone

[@turtleguy403]

Brett Roberts I'm a euphonium player and I can definitely say that what you are preaching is hell on earth

[@CorvetteCoonass]

Contrabass trombone will never replace a tuba. Tubas are much larger in terms of size and much broader in tone. Simply put, there are too many upper harmonics in a contrabass trombone and not enough lower harmonics to put a solid foundation under an ensemble.

[@TrentHamilton]

Errr.. The harmonic series is identical for a Bb contrabass trombone and Bb tuba.

[@CorvetteCoonass]

I'm not talking about the partials, I'm talking about the actual tone of the instrument. Contrabass trombones are not even close to being as broad and dark sounding as a tuba. You wouldn't use a contrabass trombone to support a wind ensemble, you would use a tuba because the lower harmonics of the tone being produced are much more present.

[@TrentHamilton]

Right... You're correct about the timbre differences, but you've clearly got no idea what you're talking about with regards to harmonics.