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intonation

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:37 pm
by Ames0325
I am having trouble intonation particularly on the F just below the staff. I am consistantly 7 to 13 cents sharp. I have been working on it and tried playing it 1-3/4 which helps some but I am still having issues with it. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Amy

Re: intonation

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:49 pm
by MaryAnn
Ames0325 wrote:I am having trouble intonation particularly on the F just below the staff. I am consistantly 7 to 13 cents sharp. I have been working on it and tried playing it 1-3/4 which helps some but I am still having issues with it. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Amy
Amy, what key of tuba? In general, the more valves you put down, the more sharp the pitch will be. I'm not sure what you mean by 1-3/4...do you mean 1-3-4? On a Bb tuba this note should be open... on a C tuba it is 1st valve.
If it's a Bb tuba and the open note is sharp, try using 4th valve and pull the slide out to where the note is in tune. Slide setting are always a compromise based on all the notes you play with those slides, to get them all as close to being in tune as you can.

But I'm guessing you could fix this with embouchure:
Can you bend the note below pitch using your embouchure? If so, then practice bending it lower and lower, and then "memorize" the "bend set" you need to get it in tune. It could take a little while before you can hit it right away.

Mary Ann

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:54 pm
by phoenix
That note is naturally sharp (on a Bflat horn)
Just drop your jaw and round out your embouchure.

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:39 am
by Leland
phoenix wrote:That note is naturally sharp (on a Bflat horn)
Just drop your jaw and round out your embouchure.
Odds are it's inherently sharp. I've seen a few (very few) that played flat on that partial.

I have yet to hear about a tuba that played every note in tune (and even "in tune" changes on the fly, too).

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:23 am
by Dale Hale
Leland said.....
I have yet to hear about a tuba that played every note in tune (and even "in tune" changes on the fly, too).

Okay....
Then you've just GOT TO try out one of the 53 VALVE CERVENYS at http://COOLTUBAS.COM
With the right combination....you're always RIGHT ON!

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:51 am
by Dylan King
Hey Dale,

Are you sure 53 valves is going to cut it? I heard that the 4, 6, 22, 42, and 48 valve combination can go a tad sharp on those horns.

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:25 am
by Leland
Dale Hale wrote:Okay....
Then you've just GOT TO try out one of the 53 VALVE CERVENYS at http://COOLTUBAS.COM
With the right combination....you're always RIGHT ON!
I humbly stand corrected!

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:55 am
by Dale Hale
MellowSmokeMan,
Shows what you know!? Try it out someday!
Dale

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 11:43 pm
by JB
MellowSmokeMan wrote:Hey Dale,

Are you sure 53 valves is going to cut it? I heard that the 4, 6, 22, 42, and 48 valve combination can go a tad sharp on those horns.
True, but can easily be adjusted by pulling either slide # 22 or 48.

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