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Is it possible on euphonium to play the D below the staff w/o a 4th valve? I'm doubling for a piece in band and only have a 3 valve euph.
Thanks
Amy

Amy,
I have, in the past, pulled the third valve slide out, W-A-Y out, in order to get the "E flat" below the staff. That would make the bottom line "G" 1-2, the "G flat" 3, the "F" 2-3, the "E" 1-3, and the "E flat" 1-2-3. I do not know how you would get all the way down to "D". Maybe someone else knows a trick like the baritone sax players use (put your foot in the bell of a low "b flat horn" to get the low "a") but I do not.

Amy,
2nd valve is the answer. These notes are sometimes called false notes or priveledged notes. They can be played very loud on some instruments and surprisingly in tune. Practice by playing your pedal Bb below the staff. Once you can hit that in tune try playing the low Eb open. It helps if you play the octave above first to get the pitch in mind. You can play from your low E to your pedal Bb chromatically, it takes some work though. Good luck with it. Oh, I forgot to mention that these notes make an excellent way to warm down at the end of a rehearsal or practice session.
Henry Gertcher

It depends on you and your horn. On some instruments, you can hit a passable D by using what are known as "false tones". Some horns do better with them than others--and they're all but impossible on some instruments.

Try this: play a second-line open Bb, then play the pedal an octave down. Now, try playing a note somewhere in the middle--it'll usually come out as a D or Eb. It'll sound and feel funny, but you'll definitely get a "lock". If the note is D, and you can lip it into tune, you're home free. If it's an Eb, play the D with your second valve.

With practice, the quality of false tones can be improved somewhat. I just tried it on a cheap Amati euph that was sitting nearby and got a slightly sharp D and could lip it down just fine.

Yes false tones are the answer. They seem more "available" on piston instruments....I have a 3-valve piston Eb tuba that doesn't need a 4th valve because the false tones are more free-blowing than the regular ones!!
You might have to do some fishing to find them, but just try to do what people said and find a place somewhere between low Bb and pedal Bb that your euph seems to "want" to play....and you'll have your starting point.
MA

I found it. Still needs some cleaning up but its there. Thanks for the help.
Thanks
Amy