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This question is probably just to satisfy my own curiosity, since my school probably won't let me do this, but...

I like to think that I am a pretty good tuba player, but I find that the Level VI solos that are required for Area and Conference All State tend to be too high for my range.
First question- What sort of restrictions could NYSSMA have on using a tuba in a key other than BBb?
Second question- Would it be possible to get tubing to convert a BBb into a higher key (we have various Yahamas and Kings), or is it such a big difference that I would need a whole new horn?

I am working on my higher range, but I would like to at least satisfy my curious mind for this route, too.

Thanks!

One of the aforementioned CC players, agreeing with what Greg said. In fact, my F is a 6/4 horn which I use with my normal mouthpiece. A bass tuba (instead of a contrabass) only puts the tonal slots further apart, making them a little more secure, but you still have to buzz the same note. A smaller bore horn changes the response, but not the note you play.

I'm doubting that state cares what key you use, as long as you can play the notes (high AND low), and can do so for their music if you make it.

A cheaper solution, and one more likely to succeed, would be to try a smaller diameter mouthpiece. That will make the higher range easier to play, but you'll likely give up some low response if you do.

This is the same issue that disappoints many trumpet players when they get their first piccolo trumpet. They don't get a magic wand that lets them play higher.

But another mouthpiece is one heck-of-a-lot less expensive than the tenor-tuba-of-your-choice.

Agreed on what the elephant and Greg said wholeheartedly. Maybe buy an eefer, or f tuba mouthpiece, and use it on that horn.
I actually use an F Baer mouthpiece on an old CC Mirafone tuba for concert band...

Forget an Eb tuba, you need a Miraphone TU-23 mouthpiece. No matter what you play, BBb or Eb, clarinet or NFL Football, a Miraphone TU-23 mouthpiece will make you better. That's at least the latest buzz on TubeNet. I am waiting for Miraphone TU-23 Thongs to come out next.

The bigger mouthpiece gets a sound that I want from the BB-flat. The potential of the big bore BB-flat would be wasted with a small mouthpiece.

My E-flat horns are a Conn 14j from the 1950s (which is not much of a horn) and a Holton from 1919 which is a pretty good horn. Smaller mouthpieces are in the E-flat horns because the smaller mouthpieces get the better sound from those horns. There is no choice with the Holton because the shank size matches no standard tuba or trombone shank -- it's slightly smaller than medium trombone shank.

So the benefit of the smaller horn isn't because it is smaller, but that it matches the smaller mouthpiece. As a result, I find that it extends my comfort range upward by maybe a third or so. Both of my E-flat horns would probably be considered "medium" size for an E-flat. There is more lost off the bottom than is added on to the top when going from the BB-flat to one of these E-flat horns. It is possible that a big bore E-flat would demand the same mouthpiece as the BB-flat to get a satisfying sound.

The E-flat horns don't see much action. I've needed to use the E-flat only one time with my church music playing, and that was when the bottom part was for third trombone. The BB-flat would have tested my reliability on the upper notes, but the biggest problem was that the blend would not have worked.

I think it is a realistic goal to work at playing the B-flat on top of the staff with a BB-flat horn without resorting to a small mouthpiece. It just takes time to build the strength. By "small" I mean something like Bach 25 or smaller.

Interesting the reasons for choosing different pitches of tuba. I choose my pitch of tuba to use for a piece based on firstly for appropriate tone, with security of register and fingering patterns (more in the low register) as secondary considerations.

My experience is that the highest pitch tuba is not necessarily the most secure in the high register - for example my PT-20 CC slots the E above the staff more securely than does my Eb - so would be my first choice to use for Wagner Meistersinger Overture.

You need to develop the range for high register playing. Different pitch tubas are different tools to do the job, but they will not do the job for you.

What helps me play in the treble clef with a BBb is to use my normal large inner diameter (35+ mm) mpc with a shallow (C or D depth) bowl as opposed to the extra-deep bowl depth I normally use. I sometimes use the Joseph Klier Exclusive 1 (34 mm) with both the AA cup for normal playing and the C cup for upper register pyrotechnics. I used the same stategy on my Eb's back in the day when I was doing a lot of brass quintet and solo work.

The Marcinkiewicz mpc's all have the same rim
with varying cup depths and are a nice size (33.7 mm).
The whole Joseph Klier line does that as well: each size rim from 1 down to 4 or 5 comes in cup depths ranging from AA (extra deep) down to E or F (very shallow). The backbores also decrease in size with the cup depth.

greatk82 wrote:Forget an Eb tuba, you need a Miraphone TU-23 mouthpiece. No matter what you play, BBb or Eb, clarinet or NFL Football, a Miraphone TU-23 mouthpiece will make you better. That's at least the latest buzz on TubeNet. I am waiting for Miraphone TU-23 Thongs to come out next.

How are the false tones on the football?

I know of a student who played the Vaughan Williams on an f tuba many years ago for NYSSMA (All-State). There is no NYSSMA regulation that specifies anything about the type of tuba one could use. It merely states, "tuba".

tubashaman wrote:... thats messed up

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