C tubas?? What is the point?

[Rick Denney]

What exactly is the reason most schools (in the US at least) require their tuba players to play C tubas? I understand that most of those tubas are better, and also make fingering easier when it comes to playing in the keys string players like, but why should you need one? I personally love my BBb and see no reason why I should change (they can technically go lower too can't they?). Maybe I'm just stupid, but it really doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever.

You know, it just doesn't matter.

If you are going to major in music, you are going to have to play tubas in all four common pitches before you are done. If that presents an impenetrable obstacle for you, then you should think about your choices. My mind doesn't easily deal with that sort of thing, but I'm an engineer. I'd be pretty rotten as an engineer if I, on the other hand, had no aptitude for math or physics.

I don't know many teachers in college who will force a student to play a C tuba. But they will expect the student to demonstrate why they shouldn't. That puts you behind others right from the start. If you are truly the best of the best, it won't matter. But do you need to start from behind? For most teachers, adding C is a test of commitment.

There are great Bb tubas out there. There are also great C tubas out there, and frankly they are easier to come by. You may have one of the great BBb tubas, in which case keep playing it. But you are still going to have to add C tubas to your skill set.

For example, I don't think I would feel the need to buy a 6/4 C tuba as long as I have my Holton, even though it's a BBb instrument. I think it measures up. But if I was expecting to be a pro, I would expect to be able to play a C, and I might get a smaller C (I can think of several that would be better than my smaller Bb instruments).

So, don't think of it as switching from BBb to C. Think of it as adding C.

It will be the same with Eb and F tubas, too.

Rick "who thinks real or perceived differences between Bb and C tubas are not important" Denney

[tubafour]

How many tuba parts do you see that have seperate parts for CD, BBb, etc. tubas? It doesn't matter what key your instrument is in; the principle of it is that it is indeed, a tuba. When choosing a tuba, I believe you should pick a tuba based on the desired sound and characteristics.......the last thing I would worry about is key. Buy based on what you want. BBb and CC tubas are capable of playing in the high registers, but it would certainly be easier on a smaller F or Eb horn. Same thing with the F and Eb. What's important is that your horn does what you want it to, or in some cases, what your professor requires you to make a horn do. Some instruments are just more "job specific".

So--if your BBb tuba works for you, and you get what you want out of it (as I certainly do mine), there is no reason to make a switch. If you should ever want to do anything other than what you do with that horn, then you may consider changing. For now---> play that BBb, and love every minute of it, 'cause that's what it's all about, right?

Stay happy bro'

Josh Stanley

[Rick Denney]

I'll need to try playing all these types of horns sooner or later, where is a good place in like the Idaho Utahish region that might actually have tubas in stock?

Your nearest airport. The price of C tubas is high enough to make it worth traveling to a store to try them out. An alternative if you have some time to wait is to attend a tuba conference. That will provide you a dual benefit, because you'll also get to hear some great performances and master classes.

But I would not go shopping just yet. Your college instructor should be able to help you quite a bit with a selection. Talk to your private teacher about it. You do have a private teacher, don't you?

Rick "suggesting the shops link above" Denney

[rascaljim]

Well... I'm not going to comment on why C because there's just too many toes to step on with this one... I'll leave that to someone with more credentials.

But here's a question... Why is it that the majority of people that swich to C rarely, if ever, go back to Bb? If, in fact, Bb's are just as good as C's, then we should definitely see more of this. I know at this point I would never go back to Bb unless I had to. I'd be willing to bet that most C people would back me up on that as well.

There is a long history of the Bb C arguement on this board and I'm sure that there's almost never an argument for swiching from C to Bb other than the 'I gave up' or 'I decided not to persue the tuba professionally' as well as the ever popular 'I'm teaching band I need a Bb'.

Now I'm not saying that the Bb is not a viable tuba, or that you aren't a good tuba player if you don't play C, I'm just pointing out another side to the arguement.

Just something I was thinkin about... now be nice

Jim Langenberg

[Rick Denney]

But here's a question... Why is it that the majority of people that swich to C rarely, if ever, go back to Bb?

Because there's no reason to. And because we all start on a Bb (or Eb) and thus we can only switch away from it.

Just because some of us argue that BBb tubas, in some cases, are as good as C tubas, doesn't mean we argue that they are better.

There are C tubas that I think are better than my Bb tubas, with the exception of the Holton. The Meinl-Weston 2000 is one, the PT-606 could be another (though I've just tooted on it for a couple of minutes). I haven't fallen under the 1291 spell, and I can't really think of a 5/4 piston Bb tuba that can compete with those instruments, though some older instruments may come close.

But I can't think of any $7000 C tubas that are better than $6000 Bb tubas, either. I think the Fafner, for example, can hold its own with most big rotary C tubas. And my Holton seems to be better than lots of big piston tubas in either key.

There have been some players who went back to Bb, including some high-end pros. But in all cases it was because a very particular and wonderful Bb tuba came to them.

As I said before, it just doesn't matter. In big-boy land, you are judged by what comes out of the horn, not by the horn itself. That's why my advice was not based on any real or perceived differences.

(But it seems to me that German players never switched back to Bb because they never left it in the first place, at least when not playing an F.)

Rick "who thinks pros play them all when necessary" Denney

[JCalkin]

Vaulter Dude,

How's Boise treating you? Here's a thought: if nothing else, go to the Brass Bash this summer in Eugene (I KNOW your teacher will be there) and there will likely be many CC tubas there and, if I'm not being too presumptuous, you ought to be able to blow on some of them (I let people play my horns at the Bash in the past).

BTW, not only does your private teacher own two CC tubas, but the university has some as well. Try them out and see what you think, if you haven't already.

Give my best to everyone out there.

-Josh