Thinking about purchasing a tuba? Don't know what type of tuba to buy? Maybe this will help!

Tuba players today have a vast array of tubas to choose from. Should your tuba be a BBb or a CC? What kind of tuba playing are you doing? Are you going to college to major in music on tuba? What tubas do the instructors require or recommend? Tony has some tips for you as a tuba player and as a student on what to consider when you make this investment.

[@paulschilling6756]

Played the tuba for 30+ years, owned as many as 13 at one time in Bb, C, Eb, and F with three, four and five valves, from 3/4 to 6/4 in size, performing in quartets, quintets, sextets, wind ensembles, concert bands, dixie bands, blaskapelles and orchestras (mostly community groups, but paying gigs as well)-still do not understand what this obsession with CC tubas is all about. I chose which tuba to play at a particular gig based on whether it was an inside or outside performance (volume requirements), whether I needed to bark and growl or to be more dark, full and sonorous, etc. For rehearsals what I chose was more dependent on how willing my back was to put up with the weight-the Eb or F tubas came out to play on bad back days, regardless of the group. What I played most in orchestras was my trusty Mirafone S-186 Bb (yes, the ->student

[@bobcat24]

Agreed.

[@bionicleman1231]

When I was at eastman I actually sold my CC tuba and bought a MW Fafner because at the time I was pretty set on doing grad school in germany or russia. I ended up putting the tuba away for good career-wise before then but I kept the BBb. I think a GOOD BBb tuba is just as good or better than a GOOD CC tuba, and a lot of the aversion people have to BBb in general stems from the bulk of their experience on horns of that key being banged-up school instruments. My fafner, while having a slightly different tone color, has nearly perfect intonation, a massive sound, and an incredibly sensitive response for a horn of its size. I really wouldn't trade it for any 5/4 or 6/4 CC. As far as intonation, I tune 4 to 2+4 which gives me a nearly perfect low E flat with 1+4 and 3 to 2+3, which works great in everything but the super-low range and the 5th partial, which is naturally always going to be a touch flat anyways.

[@MichaelFClef]

Thank you for sharing. Very Interesting demonstration.

[@B1GFREAK]

I find this video a bit limited, but it knocked out a few homeruns along the way. That said, the B&S line has quality issues as it is owned by Buffet Crampon, so they mass produce more than ever. Moving on... I played a Miraphone Hagen 6/4 B-flat at Radio France concert hall in Paris and it was luscious, majestic - filled the room. It was so in tune (the conductor was looking to me to tune the winds AND strings. It was weird.). Despite the richness and strong tone center, the Miraphone Hagen BBbstarts to flutter in the high range, starting at the Gb near the top of the staff. It is treacherous. (Pray that the timpani can drown you out on Mahler 2, 1st movement on the high bit). The CC horn manages that part of the range much better. The BBb 6/4 is a must have when you start digging in and start playing Bruckner and Mahler and Prokofiev at graduate school or even early professional. WHAT I OWN: I have a B & S F tuba for now. It's okay. Hunting for a 4/4 BBflat. WHAT STUDENT GOING TO COLLEGE SHOULD DO: If your parents have money, go for the best - Adams. They are made by tubists, for tubists. They cost a fortune but they are absolute tanks. The Adams F horn is mind-numbingly good: rich, full lower range and so easy to play from top to bottom of range. Piston only. When you play it, you feel like your cheating. The Adams CC 6/4 York is bar none the best of the big horns. Adams has solidified itself as the best after they bought the molds from Hirshbrunner (the reference for decades before closing their doors). Adams works with Perry Hoogendijk at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, who is not shy with his comments and needs - a monster player. Adams are innovating like crazy. Their head of production is a professional tubist, who has studied and played with the best and was a finalist in many auditions in Europe. That said, Perry and the head of production play CC most of the time, and for good reason. They are easier to play. But there is a richness in the BB-flat tubas because of the physics of sound -- they are based on the same fundamental frequency as trumpets and trombones, so they 'lock in' together better than when using the CC tuba tries to 'hook up' with the trombones, for example. The Germans insist BBb due to this. The BBb is 18 feet of tubing too, so the sound is a bit different than the 15-foot CC tubas. The CC's have more bit to them and can really handle the lyrical bits with more ease. You need to be more efficient on the breathing front with a bigger horn. FINAL VERDICT. Get a solid 4/4 CC or 44/B-flt for the trainer horn IMO. For the less financially endowed, don't buy new, just buy GOOD. Or ask they school what they have available for use/rent. If they ask you what you need, Adams for a big budget and a used good horn for low budget. Midrange budget is rife with landminds. Tcherveny were solid and affordable in the 1990s when I was in school. Just make sure you have a stable horn that doesn't make you work so hard. Don't compromise on the mechanics either. Word to the wise, if you start to have dodgy mechanical problems, stop playing the horn immediately --- GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY BY A PROFESSIONAL. If not, it will lead to psychological issues, like confidence problems. ON ROTARY VS. PISTON: The rotary horns are fine at university, but if you have the cash, get the piston models - but stay away from Crampon Buffet brands. Sorry to say it. Sorry to Buckeye Brass and Winds if I cause you concern. Loved the video and the playing. The host was right about the lifestyle of professional tuba playing, its a joy.

[@jerrybyers2172]

A lot of band music is written in keys like Bb, Eb, Ab, and F. A lot of orchestra music is written in keys like C, G, D, and E. Using a BBb tuba or an EEb tuba on band music is less cumbersome than using a CC or F tuba, while using a CC or F tuba on orchestra music is less cumbersome, due to the awkward physical effort involved in using the combination of 2nd and 3rd valves together. That is not to say that a particular type of music is prohibitive on a particular type of tuba, but on some music, using one kind of tuba will wear you out sooner than another.

[@bobcat24]

From one tubist to another, Here’s some problems in this video: 1) Has 5 valves, but he plays it like a 4 valve horn. C’mon.... /: 2) He pushes the dogma of “You HAVE to play a CC, no question” without telling WHY. If that’s not dogmatic, then I don’t know what is.

[@Felix-nh5pw]

Exactly!! I also hate this kind of incompetent videos:/

[@bobcat24]

@@Felix-nh5pw Me too, man.

[@pleasehelpmeihaveexplosive7722]

I need help what is a CC tuba exactly?

[@Felix-nh5pw]

@@pleasehelpmeihaveexplosive7722 Tuba in general is bass brass horn patented by Wiprecht in 1835. CC tuba means that basic harmony serie starts at C. It means the tuba will ampify C,c, g, c1, e1, g1, b1, c2 (in german notation system) with no valves required. Chromatization is done by rotary valves or perinet ventiles. First valve (counts from index finger) is whole tone down, second valve is halftone down, third is minor tercia, fourth is quarter down. Technicly CC tuba is the largest bass tuba. (B tuba is contrabasstuba). Lenght of CC tuba is around 490 cm (depends on mesura and curves). Shape of modern tuba is hybrid betwen fat shape of V. F. Červenýs tuba and conical bell of ophiclaide. Big tuba how we know was firstly used by Richar Wagner in Rheingold in 1869 ;)

[@pleasehelpmeihaveexplosive7722]

@@Felix-nh5pw Thank you! Really helped me understand

[@oswaldojr8775]

Acho o som da Júpiter mais livre,brilha mais

[@krigry32]

in American symphony orchestras there is probably a huge advantage using c and f tuba but playing in a mitlitary band as many professional musicians do ?

[@Capricegirl_]

The piston valve one has more edge on it, sounds similar to a bass trombone.

[@bobcat24]

It’s also a smaller tuba, so it’s size is (slightly) closer to a bass bone than the other one. I don’t think the type of valves can be single handedly attributed to that.

[@isaacbaylor4511]

a tip: you can watch movies at InstaFlixxer. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies lately.

[@wesleyjericho3766]

@Isaac Baylor Definitely, I've been watching on InstaFlixxer for years myself :)

[@godzillapowerpufffan8142]

The type of tuba I play is the euphonium

[@lethalweeaboo2239]

I play the euphonium and recently e-flat bass euphonium.

[@godzillapowerpufffan8142]

Axlerod Horowitz that's right it is a miniature version of the tuba and mine is pitched in the key of B flat

[@dingusdingus2152]

The tuba is in the bass register, the euphonium is in the baritone, there are tubas in the tenor range and the flugelhorn is the soprano

[@epicbrumoment8810]

Euphonium is actually in the tenor range technically there isn’t any instrument in the baritone range and the baritone range is only used in vocals, and technically yes both the euphonium and the tuba are in the sax horn family so it is a mini tuba in a sense

[@grignongb5240]

I really question the implication that a career in performance recommends a masters degree. The arts, more than any other field except sport, favors those who can over those with a degree. Many of the best performers have only an undergraduate degree or certificate. YoYo Ma has a Harvard BA- in anthropology. Their choice is to study with masters instead of for a masters. Graduate degrees are really only essential for an academic path, being a requirement for most university professorships.

[@justinriverovlogs3960]

The 2nd one sounds ok. I guess. Jupiter sounds better in my opinion.

[@DELUXEGM]

Is Coppergate Professional F Tuba by Gear4Music good?

[@jdplaystuba]

No, do not buy cheap chinese horns. Look for a used German horn there’s plenty of good deals.

[@DELUXEGM]

okay thanks

[@LeonArmstrong]

Which Tuba can play the lowest note? :)

[@bobcat24]

BBb. The only contrabass you’ll ever need.

[@johns3106]

An old G contra bass bugle will go lower than a BBb

[@djhaynes136]

@@johns3106 well BBb tuba can go down to E0, it’s the E lower than pianos lowest E

[@dingusdingus2152]

That depends on your lips

[@jerrybyers2172]

There are some (only a few) freaky FFF, EEEb, CCC, and one BBBb tubas, that can play below what the human ear can hear, but, as I indicated, very rare and very expensive. But an EEb, CC, or BBb tuba with 5 valves or with a compensating system can play down to or below EEE natural (20 Hz) by using "pedal tones", which is the lowest tone most of us humanoids cn hear. The bigger tubas can get better tone quality down there, though. ,

[@cavemancranky4117]

Came here looking for iron. And found gold

[@youtuuba]

I just don't get this series. Every one I have watched purports to answer a fundamental question, but then in fact barely addresses that question and just goes off on a tangent, playing more like a commerical. I don't know if these videos are just ineptly conceived, or are really more cynical.

[@bobcat24]

Yea, he made it out to be more complicated than it needed to be. Idk if he read a script, or if he forgot what the question even was.

[@joserutten3729]

Sorry mate but your internation is all over the place

[@danontuba9]

Buy "one" tuba? No! We want them all!!