The answer is: Yes. It's all in the taper design. But it will take just as much effort as it takes to provide equal temperament. And that is apparently somewhat more than many manufacturers will provide, or somewhat more than can be tolerated on the basis of the resulting sound. That resulting sound depends on a range of well-tuned harmonics, and what makes those well-tuned is their contribution to the sound, not their conformance to any particular temperament.tubafatness wrote:...What I was really trying to ask is whether it is feasible to build a tuba that plays more than just a "regular" semitone, or combinations thereof....
But I have a question. What is the maximum departure, in cents, from equal temperament that you envision? If it's more than about 15 cents, I submit that the only tools you need are a tuning slide that you can reach and an ear that tells you when you have hit the target.
The ear is the more difficult issue.
Conical brasses have wide pitch variability. That's why it's so important to hear the correct pitch and to hear the desired intervals before playing. No tuba will do that for you.
Rick "who would much rather be in tune with an ensemble than with a 'system'" Denney
