I need help using multiphonics.

[TubaTime]

Hey other awesome tuba players of the internet, I have a question to ask. So at the end of the month i'm going to preform in the University of Oregon jazz festival, and the piece i'm playing there is Brooklyn. And well, it's pretty mind-bogging. Because I know the only way to win it is to do all of those random fills he does, but all I can figure out is when he does octaves and rips (I have those rips sounding like the recording, almost), and i'm decent enough with multiphonics, but I have no clue how he does those crazy fills in the solo section, or anywhere else in the piece. So, if you could help me out, it would be much appreciated!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I have no idea what you're asking.

"Win" it? If you're performing at a jazz festival to "win" it, you're doing it wrong. Listen carefully, and imitate as best you can. You're not going to cop Nat McIntosh in a month.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Doesn't help much. I could give him 4 weeks of lessons on "Brooklyn" specifically, working with him to try and match Nat's antics on that piece, but I have no idea how that could be accomplished via text on this forum.

What's the specific trouble? The sixteenth-note fills between chords? Transcribe them slowly, note for note. The "DJ scratch"? Multiple tonguing combined with falsetto vocalizations.

What is the OP having trouble transcribing? How can we help?

[Arkietuba]

I think he's referring to the "scratching" stuff Nat does where he's imitating a DJ on the turn-tables (in between the mulitphonic groove in the solo) . I talked to Nat a few years back and asked him the same thing since I had toyed around with it and wanted to know how he accomplished it. He said he mostly just sang (or scatted) it through the horn but sometimes played notes with an altered embouchure. Just try to sing that stuff and imitate his sound. That's worked real well for me the times I've played it.

[TubaTime]

Yeah, sorry for not really wording this post out he right way, my bad. But I am talking about the scratching, its a pain. But this has been pretty helpful to me, thanks guys. And yes! Those tricky sixteenth notes when the bass line goes up to the C, where its almost delayed and it almost sounds like an arpeggio or something going on there, almost like he got bored when he was playing it

[SousaWarrior9]

All of Nat's DJ scratches are either playing in the extreme high register or falsetto singing while doing multiple tonguing or altering embrocure. It's difficult how to instruct this, but I've been able to *almost* replicate the effects (personally, I don't thing really anyone will be able do replicate it perfectly). I a HUGE Youngblood fan and I can safely say Nat is my greatest influence as a tuba player. Just experiment with it--grab a tuba/sousa and just mess around for awhile. Try out different methods tinker around with singing/playing/tonguing and other stuff until is sounds like what he does. you can't do it overnight but it can be done.
Here's a video of me attempting some McIntosh-esque stuff. I start doing the DJ effects about halfway through. As I said, it's not as good as Nat's (nor do I ever expect it to be) but it can be done. If I can figure it out, anyone can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGuBac6H_pU" target="_blank" target="_blank