On playing BBb

[PMeuph]

I don't teach...

...so, what type of tuba should I use in lessons?

Euphonium....


Truthfully, I tried BBb, Eb, and Euphonium with various students. I like euphonium the best. I can play the examples in the same register but when we play along I can play in octaves to help the student develop their ears. Playing 1 octave above (especially in group classes) helps the less advanced students here the correct version and focus on that. On my euphonium, I can easily play any low lick (that I will be teaching) in the proper register without hesitation. Plus, euphoniums are easily to carry and come in cases that will protect them is a tight situation with hyperactive 12 year-olds.

[pjv]

Bloke, use a cimbasso.









sorry.

[J.c. Sherman]

Actually Jc, I find The Ride a lot easier on BBb. Playing some trombone with the 3rd valve slide makes the 4th totally unnecessary. No comparison to a CC in my book...BBb all the way for The Ring.

I could see that working well, especially on a King-style flat-tuned 3rd. I haven't set up my 3rd to be a "trombone slide"... I usually use 1, but I don't know if I have enough throw to pull out for B. Interesting thought, though.

It's not the fingerings that are a challenge on BBb, of course (especially with a flat-tuned 4th)... it's missing the openness of the shorter horn on several notes.

[iiipopes]

Someday, I'm going to experiment with one of my CC tubas just to find out how much the tuning is distorted with a BB♮ slide. The marginal success (stuffy/goofy pitch) of the BB♭ slide (sold as an accessory for 186 CC tubas in the 1960's) is known, but I can't help but wonder if a transposing slide LESS than half that length might actually work.

I can tell you this: on my detachable bell 186 BBb, the St Pete bell is too short. Dan Schultz configured a longer tuning slide by adding @ 3 inches to each leg of the main tuning slide for me. Here are the consequences:

1) With the original recording bell and stock tuning slide: all the usual Miraphone characteristics, including flat 5th partials.

2) With the upright bell and longer tuning slide:
a) 2nd space C is in tune.
b) mid line Db is only slightly flat, lippable.
c) only mid line D nat needs the alternate 1+2 fingering.
d) below open BBb, the octaves tend to compress, so that low A nat is lippable, Ab is in, down to low Eb is in tune with 1+2+4, instead of 1+4 pull, and etc., on down.
e) 1st ledger line Eb wobbles a little bit on the centering.
f) everything else is in fairly good tune, especially the "cash register."