BBb, CC, Eb, F

[Rick Denney]

Setting aside the temptation to be derisive...

Tubas are what they are. We use words to name them, so that people will know what we are talking about. We don't change the instrument to suit the words.

If we find that "C tuba" is often confused with that C euphonium that's also called a "C tuba", then we will qualify one usage or the other. In France, we might call the bigger instrument [adopting a Clouseau accent] a contrabass tuba in C, to distinguish from the instrument that is common to us. In the U.S., we might call the smaller instrument a "small French tuba in C" to distinguish from the assumed meaning of "C tuba". When a French tuba player talks to an American, they wave their arms a lot and work it out.

Of course, the small French tuba in C is now obsolete even in France, so I think most people will think big when you say "C tuba".

We call it a BBb tuba because that's what we are used to calling it. People know what we mean.

Besson called their compensated Eb tuba an EEb tuba for reasons that make sense only in Edgeware. So be it. But if I say I have a Besson Eb tuba, everyone will know what I mean.

And when a German says he plays a BB tuba, even most Americans will know what he means.

There is only confusion when someone uses something we aren't used to, such as "FF tuba". But I knew what the guy in that other thread meant, and so did everyone else. If someone was genuinely confused, a simple question such as "you mean a bass tuba in F, right?" would resolve the matter.

If I was writing, say, a Wikipedia article, then I would try to use something that is organologically clear to people who don't know our jargon. I've always supported what Chuck suggested: contrabass tuba in Bb (or C), and bass tuba in Eb (or F). That terminology has been with us for, oh, about 150 years. I further support the general categorical label "tenor tuba" to encompass all of what we call traditional American baritones, euphoniums, and rotary tenor tubas.

Rick "noting that conveying meaning is the only purpose of words" Denney

[SplatterTone]

Tenor Tuba.
Cornet = Countertenor Tuba.
Chinese = Bargain Counter Tuba.

[windshieldbug]

Flugelhorn = Piccolo Tuba
Chinese = Pi cdbo Tu a

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Not to "muddy" things up any further, but my understanding is that the designation of F, Eb, & BBb, refers to the second partial notes, that the instrument more commonly plays.

As lovely as the pedal notes are, not everyone can play them, so I think the designations stemmed from the "low open note" that was in use commonly, not the pedal note.

Having said that, the designation CC is just goofy. I suppose people adopted it, just to make clear that it was closer in pitch to the BBb, than to the Eb, or F, but technically (acording to that system of pitch naming) it should be refered to a simply a C tuba, not CC.

[windshieldbug]

Well, then should a BBb be a "BbBb"?

[Z-Tuba Dude]

What I never liked is people referring to notes as pedals when they're not. Like "pedal D" on a Bb tuba, when it's just the second one under the clef.

I can understand your being irked by the mislabeling of pedal notes, but with regard to my particular post, I was referring to the actual pedal tones, on those respective instruments.

[sloan]

Another reason a CC tuba is called such was to distinguish it from the C French 6-valve tuba.

Wouldn't that be a "c tuba"?

[Kevin Hendrick]

Another reason a CC tuba is called such was to distinguish it from the C French 6-valve tuba.

Wouldn't that be a "c tuba"?

¡Si!