Compensating euphonium as an F-tuba?

[massmanute]

I read somewhere that when the fourth valve is held down on a compensating euphonium it can be treated as if it were a three valve F-tuba. Is that correct?

If one wanted to play it as an F-tuba would a person use a different mouthpiece than a euphonium mouthpiece?

Thanks.

[davewerden]

The answer to your first question is yes, mostly. The length of the horn and the fingerings are like a 3-valve F tuba (that is non-compensating), but it is a lot stuffier. By having to play via the 4th valve you are adding some cylindrical tubing an F tuba would not have. And when you use the first 3 valves, you are going through some extra turns and 2 sets of slides for each valve.

2nd question: yes for me; not everyone may agree on that one. I typically used a Wick 3AL when I had lots of low stuff. Some might use a modified tuba mouthpiece.

[daruby]

When playing tuba parts, I use a Bach 1 1/2G. Helps get the lows to pop.

[ghmerrill]

I find the 1 1/2G to be a bit big and instead use my regular DE Euph mouthpiece (but it's already pretty big). I find the Wick 3AL to be a bit small for this purpose. It depends partly on your euphonium and partly on you. Some experimentation (roughly in the range of a 3AL-1AL or 1.5G) should be expected -- and you should expect to change your mind as you gain more experience using the horn in that way. A good "exercise" is to go through the Tuba 1 parts in the Tuba Christmas book. I've used a euph several times on that part.

[massmanute]

I find the 1 1/2G to be a bit big and instead use my regular DE Euph mouthpiece (but it's already pretty big). I find the Wick 3AL to be a bit small for this purpose. It depends partly on your euphonium and partly on you. Some experimentation (roughly in the range of a 3AL-1AL or 1.5G) should be expected -- and you should expect to change your mind as you gain more experience using the horn in that way. A good "exercise" is to go through the Tuba 1 parts in the Tuba Christmas book. I've used a euph several times on that part.

Interesting idea to use the Tuba Christmas book. Thanks. And thanks to the other posters too.