Tuba to practice low notes

[rgorscak]

I play trombone(s) and Besson Euphonium with local community bands. I am looking for a way to develop embouchure for low notes and wondered if playing a tuba might help. My instructor said it might. I wondered what brand might be best. I am not looking for top of the line and maybe I can go for used if the horn is not in bad shape. I would like a 4-valve compensating if possible. Any suggestions if it would even help and if so, what might be a horn to look at. I can see spending a few thousands (whatever that means)!

[John Morgan]

I have a tuba that I might part with. It is a Wessex Eb, 4 valve, compensating tuba. In like new condition. And I just moved to Florida, about 80 miles north of you in Summerfield. PM me if you are interested. It won't cost many thousands, perhaps a couple or so...

[rgorscak]

Yes, I am interested. What is the difference between an Eb versus Bbb Tuba in terms of reading music (fingering)? I actually know little about Tubas.

And welcome back to Florida!

Rich Gorscak

[rgorscak]

Oops, I should have said Welcome to Florida!

[dsurkin]

I have a tuba that I might part with. It is a Wessex Eb, 4 valve, compensating tuba. In like new condition. And I just moved to Florida, about 80 miles north of you in Summerfield. PM me if you are interested. It won't cost many thousands, perhaps a couple or so...

Hope you enjoy your new digs, John. Time to update your signature regarding ensembles you belong to!

[rgorscak]

John, I did research on Eb and think it would be perfect for me. I sent you a private message to see if we can get together. I hope you get it. I am not adept with this site the way I should be.

[John Morgan]

Hope you enjoy your new digs, John. Time to update your signature regarding ensembles you belong to!

Yep, you are right Dean!! I did update my location at least!! It would be a heck of a commute to keep playing in the groups I have listed. I will fix that shortly.

[ghmerrill]

I'm at the point where I wish I had a Bombino instead of my Champion. Not that the Champion hasn't been wonderful.

[spkissane]

If the Eb doesn't work out, I would also recommend looking at a 4/4 BBb with piston valves like the Eastman EBB534, Wessex "Dragon," or something similar. In my experience, playing tuba doesn't do much for my euphonium *embouchure* but it does wonders for my *air*! High and low notes both feel like a breeze on euphonium after a good practice session on the tuba because filling the horn up feels so effortless when I switch back.

[rgorscak]

I got the Eb (Wessex Bambino) a couple of days ago and finally took it out today for a short time. I can tell that the different fingering will mess me up playing songs from memory because I am used to the Euphonium, but I am sure reading music will not be a problem given I know treble clef and I can add the sharps as needed. I never touched a tuba before and the first thing I realized I did not know for sure which Eb I was playing. I feel I am playing low, so I guess the one below the staff. It was very hard to go down from there more then maybe 4 to 5 half tones. I did not yet look at the fingering chart yet. I feel I need to get some lessons to get the feel for it. I did notice that only playing notes for about 20 minutes and then a couple of hours later trying to play my small-bore trombone, I was messed up on control. It took about 10 - 15 minutes to get back to normal. I see that I better not play the tuba the days of my upcoming concerts!!! At least not until I get used to it. I looked up the other horns out of curiosity, but given I already have 11 horns in my home office, I do not think my wife would appreciate me getting number twelve. Besides, I am not looking to be a tuba player. I do hope it develops my air. I thought it might also help me loosen up my embouchure for low notes although you do not think it does for you.

[rgorscak]

Dave Werden video says the Eb Tuba was a natural for a Euphonium Player. I am not sure what his reasoning was other than since he reads treble clef, it is easy for him to read music by reading bass clef as treble (I read bass clef, but also treble and have no problem with Tenor clef thinking it is treble clef with a bass clef key signature, so I should not have a problem). I am not sure what the other reasons the Eb tuba is a natural for a Euphonium Player over a BBb tuba. I have to figure out how to divide my practice time, euphonium, tenor trombone, bass trombone and now tuba. And by choice, I still work!!!

[davewerden]

Dave Werden video says the Eb Tuba was a natural for a Euphonium Player. I am not sure what his reasoning was other than since he reads treble clef, it is easy for him to read music by reading bass clef as treble (I read bass clef, but also treble and have no problem with Tenor clef thinking it is treble clef with a bass clef key signature, so I should not have a problem). I am not sure what the other reasons the Eb tuba is a natural for a Euphonium Player over a BBb tuba. I have to figure out how to divide my practice time, euphonium, tenor trombone, bass trombone and now tuba. And by choice, I still work!!!

My treble clef brain was part of the equation, of course. But also, the Eb tuba seems a better choice for solo and quintet work, which was my goal. If your doubling on tuba includes providing the bass voice to a larger ensemble, the BBb is unmatched. When our church brass group was larger, I would sometimes play my Eb alongside the other fellow's BBb. I could play every bit as low as he could, but I did get the big, full sound he did. He has a big St. Pete BBb with piston valves. In experiments several years prior with a friend's small Miraphone CC, I could more easily get a powerful sound on my Sovereigh Eb, but it still not quite have the relaxed depth in some way.

There is no getting around the plusses and minuses of a partial system that is a 3rd or 4th higher than the lower tuba.

[rgorscak]

Thank you, Dave. I doubt I will play a tuba with a band, at least not for the next year, but I just thought it would help me with the other horns and hopefully get my air and embouchure better attuned to lower notes on the Euphonium. I still have not developed the flexibility I once had as a kid jumping from high notes to low notes. I only had a 3-valve horn then and did not have to go below low F. I never even played pedal tones in the 60's. After a few months, and maybe some lessons, I will report back how things are going. Don't look for me at the Metro anytime soon!