Question about different tubas

[Captain Sousie]

An Eb tuba is pitched a perfect 4th above a BBb tuba, an F is pitched a perfect fifth above a BBb, and a CC is pitched a Major second above a BBb. The fingerings are different for each of them (for those of us who are a little slow) and you can find fingering charts for them on the site under TIPS.

That's about it you bleedin' musically bloody talented person
Sousie

[Rick Denney]

I've only started tuba 1 month ago or so, and as with other instruments i have played. I research them. im only renting a 4 piston valve yahama from my school. and its in BBb. and im sure a CC is just 1 pitch higher. but what is a F and Eb compared to a BBb tuba.

As already replied, Eb and F tubas are between BBb tubas and euphoniums. In fact, it is widely used nomenclature to describe Eb and F tubas as bass tubas, and BBb and CC tubas as contrabass tubas.

The fingering patterns are pretty much the same on all of them. But the patterns start at different points. Because all tuba music is written the same (in concert pitch), it is up to the player to know where in the fingering patterns lies the music for a given instrument.

Rick "who avoids saying that tubas have a key" Denney

[LOTP]

[quote]Rick "who avoids saying that tubas have a key" Denne

The "key" is used to empty water from the leadpipe.[/quote]

[Chuck(G)]

Thank y'all very much. Depending on what i do with a tuba, i think im sticky with a contrabass tuba do to the fact i love bass. but are BBb and F the most commen? because that's what i have seen the most talked.
brendan

Brendan, quite a few people play Eb and CC. The terms "contrabass" and "bass" are a little misleading, but they're all we have right now. In fact, modern F and Eb tubas have ranges pretty much equivalent to those of BBb and CC instruments. There are CC and BBb tubas that are physically smaller than large Eb and F tubas, so size isn't even a good guide.

There are some large Eb and F tubas that have a decided contrabass sound, so sound isn't even a solid differentiating factor.

In general, the bass tubas have a slightly lighter and brighter sound than the contrabass tubas. In some respects, the country of origin has a strong determining factor. Orchestra players in the US tend to like CC tubas for most things, with F used as a solo tuba. Brass bands tend to be very specific and use Eb and BBb tubas. Some British orchestral tubists tend to favor a largish Eb. In much of Europe, most orchestra music is played on F, with a large BBb hauled out as heavy artillery. These are rough generalizations only.

As Eb and F tubas are shorter in length, they tend to be a bit nimbler and have a little more headroom in the high register (i.e. harmonic intervals are farther apart) than their countrabass cousins.

Again, this is a roiugh guideline and there are many exceptions.

[ThomasDodd]

on the other hand. i want to march the tuba/sousaphone in highschool.

I think most bands march BBb sousies.

[/quote] also i hope to do some drum and bugle corp things in college and so on.[/quote]

Can you do Corps sttuff in college? I though most had high school based age limits.

if then would a contrabass(im thinking BBb) and a bass(im thinking F) be better to have?

If your plan be a tuba major, probably a CC horn. Anything else, BBb. Other horns are more professional stuff, i.e. you play tuba for a living.

[dopey]

no, CC is different then a BBb, not just a professional one. There are plenty of BBb horns that are much more expensive/better then a CC horn, however there are just as many CC horns that are better/more expesnive then a BBb horn.

CC is just more commonly used by professionals on gigs for whatever reason, however in coming years this could always change. Just right now, a majority(not all) of music majors tend to play on a CC horn. BBb is still a great choice, just more so for non music majors... .

[ThomasDodd]

anywho, so a CC is like a professional BBb? well after this question i guess this thread can die.

Some things play easier on a CC horn. Band stuff like high school or college marching bands are arranged in keys the fit a BBb horn well, like Bb, Ab, Eb and F. Those are the fingering patterens most have learned and teh intonation characteristics of the horn are adjusted so those sound best. Try playing In C on a BBb horn. It uses lots of notes/fingering you aren't used to, and they don't sound as good on the horn.

Guess what keys orchestras play the most. It and Bb and Eb maj.