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Does anyone know of a tubist who plays 'fake notes' like Pokorny? If so how do they achieve it??

Excellent, thanks for that pointer. I think some people also do it in Walkries with the low E semiquavers. I'll try this out!

Cheers

bloke wrote:To do it as well as G.P., one needs to

- play as well as G.P.
- have access to 6/4-size tubas that resonate as well as do his in that range.

For the rest of us tub(a)ists who need it explained more directly

- the tuba doesn't make the note, it only resonates what's buzzed. You have to have strong enough chops to buzz notes that are not in the default overtone series.

- your tuba needs to resonate pretty well when presented these notes that are not in the overtone series.

windshieldbug wrote:

bloke wrote:To do it as well as G.P., one needs to

- play as well as G.P.
- have access to 6/4-size tubas that resonate as well as do his in that range.

For the rest of us tub(a)ists who need it explained more directly

- the tuba doesn't make the note, it only resonates what's buzzed. You have to have strong enough chops to buzz notes that are not in the default overtone series.

- your tuba needs to resonate pretty well when presented these notes that are not in the overtone series.

Going further...a "note" played on a tuba is not a single frequency, it's a complex spectrum. AND...most listeners will:

a) interpret a complex spectrum as a single frequency, and

b) interpret many very different spectra as the same "note".

The curious might think about :

a) what's the spectrum for a normal C played on a tuba

b) what's the spectrum for the F below that

c) what frequencies are re-inforced by a tuba (in this case, a CC "open") [CAREFUL: THIS ONE IS TRICKY!!!]

d) if I buzz *this* spectrum, and the horn re-inforces *these* peaks, what will most listeners *perceive*

Take good notes, there will be a quiz, later.

^ That's what I'm thinking. All 5 valves depressed on a CC tuba = low "pedal" DDb.

On a typical BBb, all 4 valves depressed are a (sharp) "pedal" CC, so you gotta pull a slide a few inches.

Getting good false tones takes practice......but also the right tuba. On my old Cazzani BBb, there are NO false tones....but the "real" low/pedal tones pop out just fine!
On my old Holton Ebs, the low range is stuffier, but the false tones are good.