How do you fine-tune pitch on a tuba with your mouth?

[lgb&dtuba]

Bending a tone on a harmonica is actually not that different than doing so on a tuba. It's mostly a combination (in no particular order) of air speed, breath support, aiming the air stream, changing the oral cavity volume along with tongue placement and shape. Just no buzzing on a harmonica

Seriously, all those things factor into changing your pitch on either instrument and like riding a bicycle it may not be possible to adequately explain it in words.

[Bob Mosso]

Originally I would tighten (or loosen) my lips as if I were goning to slur to the next partial, this only bent the pitch slightly before the note would want to jump to that next partial.

Now (to bend flat) I drop my jaw, lower my tongue... try to make my mouth cavity as large as possible when I need to lower the pitch. This also results in more slower air. My tone seems to be better and I can bend the pitch more.

When going sharp I first tighten my lips, then make my mouth cavity smaller if necessary, althouogh tone suffers.

I keep my air straight towards the shank unless I feel I need a little extra help hitting a high note, then I'll direct the air down.

[Drbuzzz]

I use my mouth to tell people that I'm in tune and they need to adjust to me!

[Bob Mosso]

Sometimes I bend in one direction.... if that didn't fix it....
bend in the other direction... if that didn't fix it...
remove the the horn from my mouth, give a questioning look right and left, shrug my shoulders and come in at the next phrase.

[imperialbari]

Sometimes I bend in one direction.... if that didn't fix it....
bend in the other direction... if that didn't fix it...
remove the the horn from my mouth, give a questioning look right and left, shrug my shoulders and come in at the next phrase.

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