Playing CC tuba parts on BBb

[tubajazzo]

In some arrangements the tuba voice written in standard bass clef is called "C-Tuba" or "Tuba in C" on top of the page, meaning "concert pitch=C". This leads to the question "why do you play the C-Tuba voice, since you have a Bb instrument?" Perhaps it's that what confuses the OP?

Gerd, also sometimes confused...

[sloan]

INSTRUMENTS don't transpose - arrangers do that.

It's the MUSIC that is "transposed"...or not.

quote]

This is a good point. However, I would mention that often this is exactly what people mean

One can hope - but experience shows that this is not so.

Note that there USED TO BE "transposing instruments" - but we threw the crooks out.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Note that there USED TO BE "transposing instruments" - but we threw the crooks out.

Didn't want 'em "horning in" on the action?

Actually, some organs have "transposers" -- here's an article (with link to sound file) explaining how one seems to have been used accidentally, with ... um ... "interesting" results:

http://sinden.org/2007/05/crack-messiah ... st-on.html

[JohnMCooper]

My brain is starting to hurt!

I went back and re-read the OP's original post. I read it as he is a BBb guy that has access to a CC for use in orchestra (was probably told "you're supposed to play a CC in orchestra"). He is having difficulty with the CC fingerings and wants to know if there are any issues with using a BBb in orchestra with it's more familiar (to him) fingerings. That's my take on his post.

If that is the intention of the post, then, if your more comfortable on a BBb, then by all means, play a BBb.

[Wyvern]

If that is the intention of the post, then, if your more comfortable on a BBb, then by all means, play a BBb.

The Russians play exclusively BBb in orchestra and some German orchestral tubists predominantly use BBb - so no reason not to play BBb in orchestra if you prefer to CC.

Use your big Conn most of the time and pull out the small Yamaha for French repertoire. Should work fine!

[Biggs]

Seriously? What happened to the troll patrol?

[iiipopes]

Give me an

R

[The Jackson]

Give me an

UH

Isn't that what beauty queens wear? A T-R-UH?

[Bob Kolada]

I say bring the Selmer in for your next rehearsal, just to be sure....

[MileMarkerZero]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! The reason I asked in the first place is that since I already play BBb tuba, I was concerned that I would have to learn CC tuba fingerings to play the tuba parts in the orchestra which I thought were written in concert pitch. My question has been answered.

Of course not. The Europeans have been using BBb as their contrabass ax for decades. You only need to learn CC fingerings if you plan on playing a CC tuba. Even if you encounter some TC Eb brass band parts, just change the clef, add 3 flats and go to town. Transposition done.

TC Bb brass band parts are even easier - play BBb fingerings on a CC tuba.

[tuba-tobias]

TC Bb brass band parts are even easier - play BBb fingerings on a CC tuba.

That one you'll have to explain.
F-fingering and adding two flats when playing TC Bb parts on a CC would be right.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

TC Bb brass band parts are even easier - play BBb fingerings on a CC tuba.

That one you'll have to explain.
F-fingering and adding two flats when playing TC Bb parts on a CC would be right.

He meant use C fingerings on a Bb tuba. See middle C, play it open, hear Bb, that sort of thing.

Or you could just learn to read down a step...not that hard.

[swillafew]

With a few exceptions, a bass clef part is expected to be in concert pitch. Treble clef parts are transposed for all the saxophones, clarinets, horns, many of the trumpets, almost everything but flute and oboe. Student groups that don't have an oboe, it's everybody except the flutes. Bass clef readers, none are transposing (at least in the US).

Career treble clef readers will sometimes be misled by printed editions that say "Bb trombone" or BBb tuba".

[Dan Schultz]

The publishers of music for International markets are causing a good deal of confusion by marking all the bass clef parts as 'C'. I just received a piece from De Haske in Holland where the tuba parts are marked 'C bass', the bass clef euphonium parts are marked 'C euphonium', and the trombone parts are marked 'C trombone'.

It's just the European way of noting that the bass clef parts are written in concert pitch and has absolutely nothing to do with the key of the instrument.

I actually know of a trombone player who still swears his tenor trombone is a 'C' instrument because of the goofy way some music is noted.

[tubajazzo]

That is what I tried to say. "C" meaning concert key.

[Dan Schultz]

That is what I tried to say. "C" meaning concert key.

Yeah... I know... I responded earlier, too with similar information. But, I'm sure there are a few folks in 'TubaLand' still scratching their heads!

[swillafew]

The confusion comes from transposing musicians whose experience is limited mostly to the one instrument they know something about. Musicians with some training in conducting, arranging, etc, will not be confused in the same way.