Does this cool sound hurt the tuba?

jbaylies · Post by **jbaylies** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:31 pm

When you smack a mouthpiece while it's on a tuba with the palm of your hand and it makes a really cool *poomph* sound, does that hurt the tuba in any way?

quinterbourne · Post by **quinterbourne** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:39 pm

I've been asked to do that in modern music... hold the mouthpiece with your other hand, while balancing the weight of the horn on your lap (or tuba stand if applicable).

DonShirer · Post by **DonShirer** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:39 pm

Well it hurts me just thinking of it...

A mouthpiece boot
May make cool "poomph",
But 'ware the fruit
Of too much oomph.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue May 01, 2007 5:32 am

What you really need is a Biz Markie action figure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcnyEMq961c

Seriously though, the above advise is good advise. If you must make the popping sound, hold the mouthpiece with your other hand so it doesn't jam the mouthpiece into the leadpipe too hard.

OldsRecording · Post by **OldsRecording** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:27 pm

The coolest (non-musical) sound I've heard come from a tuba is when you take a tenor or bari sax mouthpiece and hold it inside of the tuba mouthpiece and blow. If you haven't done it, it makes this really cool 'BRRRRAAAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK', similar to a Diaphone fog horn, but not quite as focused.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:46 pm

OldsRecording wrote:it makes this really cool 'BRRRRAAAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK', similar to a Diaphone fog horn, but not quite as focused.

Gee, it sounds just like that in a sax, too!

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sun May 06, 2007 8:48 pm

OldsRecording wrote:The coolest (non-musical) sound I've heard come from a tuba is when you take a tenor or bari sax mouthpiece and hold it inside of the tuba mouthpiece and blow. If you haven't done it, it makes this really cool 'BRRRRAAAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK', similar to a Diaphone fog horn, but not quite as focused.

If you happen to be surrounded by unwanted windows (or other glass objects), replace the sax mouthpiece with a contrabassoon reed!

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Sun May 06, 2007 11:12 pm

A string of firecrackers down the bell will liven up the chamber music.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon May 07, 2007 12:18 am

When I was a kid...

...I liked making cow sounds by playing a long tone with the valves pressed down halfway.

drewfus · Post by **drewfus** » Mon May 07, 2007 3:28 am

LoyalTubist wrote:When I was a kid...

...I liked making cow sounds by playing a long tone with the valves pressed down halfway.

In Alaska we call those whale sounds, I still do it.