Eb vs. F

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:34 pm

fpoon,
Bb players generally relate naturally to Eb horns and CC guys usually relate more easily to F.
I agree with Doc that an extra special sweet sounding horn would be tempting to acquire even if it is in an awkward key.

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:47 pm

all this debate on which is easier will be just so much water under the bridge in 6 weeks if you get serious. decide what you want to sound like,find that horn regardless of key/valve type/finish and just buy it. life is short-play hard...

Z-Tuba Dude · Post by **Z-Tuba Dude** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:23 am

I think that a BBb player would find an F, or Eb, equally easy/challenging to learn. You just need to learn a different set of fingerings, period. Eb & F fingerings are each equally different from BBb.

Besides, I find that the biggest problems in playing multiple keyed tubas, are not the different fingerings, but rather the similar fingerings! When you play a note that happens to have the same fingering, as one of the other horns, you can accidentally slip into that other horn's fingerings. For me, it would actually be easier if all of the fingerings were different!

fpoon · Post by **fpoon** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:25 am

I didn't think about that! Great point, that similair fingerings can actually be a BAD thing!

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:28 pm

One other consideration is price. Everything else being equal, Eb tubas are less expensive than F. If you are planning to make a living with the horn then the difference in price is probably less important than getting the sound you want, but for an amateur it can be the deciding factor.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:13 pm

Several years ago I made the transition from Eb to BBb. Even at 55 years of age, I found the transition quite easy. All it took was a couple of weeks and I did it simply by immersion. I found several play-along CD's and 'just did it'. Now, I can switch back and forth fluently... in the midde of a tune if I want. I had an F and a CC for a while but I think the transition between Eb and BBb to be the easiest.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:24 pm

TubaTinker wrote:Several years ago I made the transition from Eb to BBb. Even at 55 years of age, I found the transition quite easy. All it took was a couple of weeks and I did it simply by immersion. I found several play-along CD's and 'just did it'. Now, I can switch back and forth fluently... in the midde of a tune if I want. I had an F and a CC for a while but I think the transition between Eb and BBb to be the easiest.

Immersion is the key to doing a switch. When I take up a new instrument I "just do it" by playing (sight-reading) a lot of music for that instrument. When I can sight read reasonably up to speed I figure I've got it learned well enough to go play it in a group. Depending on how much time I can find to put into it, and also how difficult the music is that I'll have to play, that can take a couple weeks or a couple of months. (If I took up something completely new like clarinet I expect it would take a lot longer.)

MA

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:33 pm

bloke wrote:[low F (5T-6-1-2-3-4)

Aack. What I'm reading, based on the F# below the staff, is that "low F" would be, on my F tuba, the open pedal tone. You have got all your valves down, more or less....which on my F tuba would be an octave below the pedal, which I never encounter.

Is I missing somthin?

MA

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 3:38 pm

MaryAnn wrote: Aack. What I'm reading, based on the F# below the staff, is that "low F" would be, on my F tuba, the open pedal tone. You have got all your valves down, more or less....which on my F tuba would be an octave below the pedal, which I never encounter.

Is I missing somthin?

In the example of the run in the first movement of the Vaughan Williams, the run starts on low F and the next note is low F#. It's much easier to play if you can play the low F with valves, because then all you are doing is lifting a button to go to the F#, rather than mashing most of the buttons and changing to another partial.

Also, it helps keep a consistent sound between the low F and the notes just above it. And on some tubas, the additional tubing provides a little helpful resistance and the note speaks easier.

Thus, I think Bloke intended that fingering as a tool in the toolbox, to be used when convenient or helpful.

Rick "whose five-valve F's don't provide the opportunity" Denney