What should my range be?

[tubatooter1940]

" A blue jay farting in an empty silo" I love that.
If you are playing a note that sounds like that, make a mental note to avoid playing that note in the future-and learn a way to fatten it out, later.
You should showcase notes that sound like notes you would enjoy hearing.
I'm so lucky I get to come up with my own lines in our trio-The Creekers.
I try many riffs that prop up a phrase and usually choose the one that my tuba sounds best playing. We take no music onstage.
If you lack that happy choice, make a list of the notes coming out of your tuba that are stinkers. Keep trying to hit those stinkers from above, below or jumps from everywhere-try alternate fingerings-slur. Devote some time to drilling the worst ones at every practice opportunity-sounds crappy but really helps.
I found a horn that has the right range for tropical rock and enjoy the lows that are right down to the bottom of my real range. I chose to sacrifice highs to sound better low and velvety. It's nice to solo up high on my Eb tuba but here lately I have been enjoying playing solos down low with an "in your face attitude". I believe that time spent down at the bottom of my tuba's range is time well spent.

[iiipopes]

Short of playing in an armed forces band, an orchestra, or commercial gigs that might require that bird fart, what tubaman90 said. My Besson BBb 3-valve comp from 4 ledger line and a space E up to Bb on top of the staff does everything except loud finishes in Eb, even then I can pull the 3rd valve slide all the way and go for it. Being 45 years old hacking away in a community band, I can safely say that's all I'll ever need.

[MaryAnn]

OK, for lack of anyone else's saying so...it depends on the size of the tuba. My range with a 6/4 CC or BBb is probably about five feet, while my range with a tiny little F is more like ten feet.

MA

[djwesp]

I bet if I got a good run at it and threw it like a javelin... I could get close to 20.

I have an ex girlfriend that could launch my box of gifts and letters a good 25, and it weighed about as much as a tuba. She'd give everyone a run for their money.

[eupher61]

I bet if I got a good run at it and threw it like a javelin... I could get close to 20.

That's one of Carol's claims to fame, too.

As far as playing range, 5 1/2 is NOT out of the question, no matter what size/pitch tuba. At this point, my high range certainly isn't as strong as it used to be, but the top space TC E was easy, and good. Now, the C is easy, the E is pretty pinched, but it's there.

What good does it do to have that range? Ideally, if it's worked at properly, it will make everything in the "normal" range all the better. Work PAST the essential range, getting the extremes solid, and the bread n' butter will be toasty.

[SplatterTone]

As far as playing range, 5 1/2 is NOT out of the question

I do it all the time with my trumpet mouthpiece on a tuba shank.

[Allen]

Regarding "false" tones: Some horns don't seem to do them, but most tubas I have tried will. There are two major differences between false tones and the rest. 1) The resonance is broad; they definitely don't slot in and you have to make the pitch yourself. 2) Most players don't really practice them, making it no surprise that most players find them hard to play well.

I play a 5-valve CC tuba that has all the hardware to be fully chromatic down to the pedal notes, yet sometimes I use false tones in concerts. Two reasons: 1) The tone starts and stops much more quickly (partly due to less resonance, and partly due to less tubing being used). 2) The tone is thinner, and sometimes that effect is what is needed when you are supporting much less than the full ensemble.

So for the majority of 3-valve tuba players out there: You can be fully chromatic down to the pedal notes.

Cheers,
Allen

[LoyalTubist]

If you play a three valved tuba, I don't really think it's too important to work on false tones until you master your middle register, then your normal low register, and, maybe, then your false tones.