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I learned to play C tuba on a Miraphone 186-5U and have played it almost exclusively for over 25 years. This horn has a 23/minor 3rd 5th valve, so that's what is pretty much ingrained when playing a C horn. (I have a 6-valve F and don't have much trouble changing my mind (fingers) when playing it.) Well, I now have a more normal flat whole step 5th valve C horn that I'm trying to get comfortable with in the lower register.

My question is, intonation notwithstanding, do you tend to use the 5th valve as the primary option for the notes F#, Eb, (F), or do you use the 5th valve mainly for easier fingering combinations for these notes? I guess I want to learn the most common way with this new C.

Thanks in advance!

Great explanation, thank you!

The 6-4 is my go to on my F.

Jason, I bought a MiraClone with the short 5th valve and played it for 5 months. I just couldn’t make the switch. So now all of my horns have the Minor 3rd - 5th valve config.

P.S.: I used to live in Mercer until 3 years ago. I wonder if we ever crossed paths.