TubeNet

I've always wondered why so many more tuba players double on other instruments than other musicians do (with the exception of those kooky saxes). I myself started out as a classical guitarist, as well as the electric guitar. I have since picked up the string bass, trombone and some piano to add to cacophony.
Other than the standard tuba/euph combinations, what else do you guys and gals play?

I started out on clarinet in 6th grade, I wanted to play sax but since we already owned a clarinet my parents wouldn't buy me one..didnt' think i'd stick with it.

I hated it, so our director asked for a bass in I believe 7th grade? I was like hey bass = bigger.. more guylike? so I went to that.. then he offered tuba. I literally did it because I didnt' find clarinet to be a guys instrument(hey i was a 8th grader..) The thing was bigger then me.

over the summer of 8th grade-9th grade, we got a sax in our shop. I taught myself over the summer how to play it. Well I came for 9th grade, and my director wouldn't let me switch. I was pretty mad, but now im actually glad. I played the sax in jazz band.

I've since taught myself to play trumpet, euphonium, and dabble with trombone(neeed to work on coordination lol). I plan on learning french horn sometime this year. I think the reason we do is, well look at what we play in normal bands.. boring stuff so I find myself extremely bored at which times i've started learning how to read other instrument music and go from there..

so ya thats my story... I got bored so I learned another instrument.. my chops are still learning trumpet:P I can read the music just the notes dont' like to come out;)

but all in all, tuba is my fav..Ofcourse I tend to deny my ever playing clarinet;)

Jacob

I occasionally dabble in euph and trombone, but hardly enough to justify calling it a "double."

Right now, I'm building a proficiency on the penny whistle, since tubas don't exactly sound "natural" in traditional Irish music.

Doug "who did a tuba-bagpipe duet in high school and had a blast"

As a professional musician,one hates to let a paying gig go without
trying to fill it somehow.Tuba players often double on bass bone or bass
guitar-but a married guy,in debt,like I was in my 30's will play guitar,
trumpet,slide bone,harmonica,piano,or what ever it takes to eat regular.
Once you learn to play one instrument,another one comes along much
more quickly.If you have learned how to get a good sound on one instru-ment,you can do it with another more easily-given enough time and desire.
I played tuba in high school and college but switched to trumpet and
trombone and later to guitar and lead or back-up vocals to keep the
groceries rolling in.I guess I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to play,
even in bars,for so many years.My wife and kids loved to travel with me
on the road.We would treat each road gig as a vacation opportunity.
We always came back home broke but had some great stories to tell.
The Fartman

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definately a bass bone player as well. marketability man. jazz, classical. tuba, bass bone. i'm the package deal. lol. now i only i could REALLY get some gigs.

These days composing has become my No. 1 axe and tuba is only comes in second. I've also been known to play bass trombone, trombone, guitar, bass, drums, piano, sax, bassoon, Squarepent, Indian flutes, harmonica, Jew's harp, fiddle, accordian, and the occational squeak on the clarinet, but I can't get much of a sound.

I think I'll just stick with writing. When I'm the boss, I get to hire myself for the sessions.

Bass Trombone,
Was a Tuba player first, since sixth grade.

Right now a Conn Bb with F trigger, hopefully will
transition to my Boosey & Hawkes G Bass trombone,
and if I ever could afford it, a BBb Contrabass Trombone.
Also own a Marching Baritone, only played it once in
performance.

Bass trombone, although I do it a lot less than I once did.

holtek wrote:Is it my imagination, or are there an awful lot of tuba players who started out as clarinet players?

I think it's a vocal minority, like clarinet players in general.

bass clarinet, which is still a hell of a lot more fun than regular old soprano. I read somewhere that the definition of "geek" is reserved for someone that owns his [or her] alto clarinet. I own two, and I'm not afraid to use them!

Having heard several older bands, like Benny Goodman, I would disagree that the clarinet is not fun. The problem is the choice of music. Jazz, and related styles, is one area where al instument are fun. I'm also a fan of the Big bands, where most of the instruments get to have fun.

It's the arrangers and composers faults. They pick "popular" instruments, and everything else tends to be filler to them. Trumpet, violin, cello, an maybe a flute take the melody in most of the peices I've ever played. Of course melody lines alone are boring. Harmony is the part that makes it worth so many instruments.

String Bass.

Over the last few years I played string bass on a more regular basis then tuba. I have played string bass in orchestras, chamber orchestras, bands, folk groups and some jazz.

Mark

I actually started off as a piano player way back in second grade and have kept that up through the years. Around 5th grade when my school system throws "band" instruments at kids, I also became a clarinet player, but traded it in in 7th grade for a tuba when my band director said "You're going to make a great tuba player next year!" I've been playing this dang thing ever since!!

I mainly keep the piano as my "solo" instrument and the tuba as my ensemble instrument, however, I occasionally flip-flop depending on the situation...

Tim

Around 5th grade when my school system throws "band" instruments at kids, I also became a clarinet player, but traded it in in 7th grade for a tuba when my band director said "You're going to make a great tuba player next year!" I've been playing this dang thing ever since!!

I've seen this quite a bit. Most of the tuba players I know started on another instrument. Those intruments mostly include baritone, trombone, trumpet, and (oddly enough) clarinet.