Deeper than B2?
Usually I canīt get deeper than B1flat on the open horn. Today I had a strange experience. With valve 4 pressed I went down to F1 and then together with 123 to B2 which is said to be the deepest reachable note on the Euphonium (though with some bending I can get close to B2flat). When i went up to F1 again I just released valve 4 and heard me playing a (+-)F1 on the B-Euphonium with no valves in use. Itīs hard to reproduce it. But its possible. And with the usage of only valves 123 and bending I can reach down close to my lowest note B2 but not deeper. With a Wallace Practice Mute it is even more easy, probably because of the increase of resistance. Going down beyond B1flat on the open B-Instrument is now part of my daily routine.
Now I am asking myself and you. Can I expect to discover deeper notes than B2 on my Euphonium? I know, there is no need to. B2 is on the third key far left on a piano. And I remember when I played Tuba A2 was my deepest sound. Musically, deeper wonīt be usefull. But itīs a lot of fun to play down there and Iīve realized practicing the contra register helps me a lot in improving range, tonguing, airflow etc.
Guten Rutsch, Happy New Year!
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Sterling Virtuoso / Giddings Kadja
Yamaha 642 II / Giddings Kadja
Yamaha YBH 831S / Giddings Kadja S
Yamaha Flügelhorn 631GS / DW2FL