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Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2019 10:13 pm
by Ken Herrick
…..and..... a high pitch Eb is easier still to turn into an E bass tuba...jus sayin…..
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:36 am
by iiipopes
Sorry, bloke, I just can't "C" what you are getting at....
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 10:34 am
by timayer
Sounds like yet another good use for a removable bell tuba. Just a few screws, and your BBb becomes an orchestral horn.
I see no downside to this.
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 11:20 am
by Alex C
I've never considered fingerings an issue. Yes, playing technical music in the key of D-flat on a CC tuba has bonafide challenges but nothing a fairly good player should worry about.
Isn't it like using an F tuba because the part is high? Yes, the higher key tuba makes things seem less intimidating but the bottom line is, if you can't buzz it then it doesn't matter what tuba you have. Yes, the Bobo's D tuba would make that pesky low E-to-F# trill easier but aren't there other alternatives, including practice.
Also, I would have to have a transposed part for B, E or F# tuba. I can only remember a limited number of fingerings.
So for me, no on the B and E tuba but fun to think about.
Although I do remember a teacher of mine telling me that William Bell played high parts on high key tubas and low parts on low key tubas so that he carried 4-5 tubas on all the jobs he went to. Don't know if it was true.
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 1:25 pm
by MartyNeilan
Don’t give people any ideas Joe... in a few years we will all have to own B natural “Ride” tubas to be taken seriously; I am sure the Chinese have already started to churn them out after reading your first post.
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:57 pm
by Three Valves

Genius!!
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 1:43 pm
by MaryAnn
I have already had to learn four sets of fingerings and have no desire to learn any more. Since I would not be a customer for such a thing, no worries on my end.
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:01 pm
by Ken Herrick
All you really need then is a catalytic converter.
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 7:40 pm
by MaryAnn
^^ HAHA!
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:08 pm
by WessCollette
Trying to be like a trumpet player with a horn fur every key?
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:31 am
by Highpitch
And the OP was only 17 days late...
DG
Re: A true orchestral contrabass tuba is in B♮ (17' 1" bugle
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:50 am
by hup_d_dup
This is a great solution for someone who can't decide whether to buy a Bb or C tuba. Allows the player to never resolve this important issue.
Hup