Here are the fingerings that work for me on that horn in that register:
A - 2 4
Ab - 5 4
G - 2 3 4
Gb - 5 1 2 4
F - 5 2 3 4 and pull 5th slide 1.5 inches
E - 5 1 2 3 4 (5th slide all in)
I really dig that horn's low register.
It took some experimentation to find out where my slides need to be. 3rd stays at maybe 2 inches out, and 4th stays at around 3 inches. There are other 2141 discussions in the recent past that talked about this, and I seem to remember pictures.
M-W 2141 low end fingerings
-
Bob Mosso
- bugler
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:01 pm
- Location: southern California
- Contact:
http://www.placentiaband.org/" target="_blank
http://music.fullcoll.edu/groups/cnrtband.shtml" target="_blank
http://music.fullcoll.edu/groups/cnrtband.shtml" target="_blank
-
djwesp
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1166
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:01 pm
Greg wrote: I have played the 983 and the 2141 quite a bit and found that you move the same amout of tuning slides but you have a much more open/free blowing instrument in that range with the 2141.
Good luck!
When I have it tuned correctly (983), I hardly manipulate the slides at all (down there anyway).
Because you are blowing into so much twisted tubing there is resistance, but if you work on it it sounds pretty much the same it just has a VERY different feel. I don't know if I like this feel because of my time on compensating Euph, or what?
If you like your 983, keep it! I know I would. If you play any CC just use those fingerings with the MW when you get down there, otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time in the shop looking for more natural fingering patterns.
Don't forget those fingers only feel awkward in your brain. Barring some sort of physical problem, you should have the dexterity to adjust to these new fingering patterns. Just like when I started playing 1-2 with the 3 valve, there is an adjustment period.
-
Wyvern
- Wessex Tubas
- Posts: 5033
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:00 pm
- Location: Hampshire, England when not travelling around the world on Wessex business
- Contact:
When you compare the 5 valve Eb fingerings with what woodwind players do, they are not really so bad!
After over 30 years playing Besson 4 valve compensated tubas, I have made the switch to my 5 valve MW 2040/5 with less difficulty than I feared. It felt strange and difficult to start with, particularly with me being used to playing the 4th valve with the left hand. However, I soon got to know the alternative fingerings and it now feels quite natural, particularly since I ceased playing my old Besson compensated Eb (I guess a matter of reprogramming the brain).
However, if fingerings are a concern in the low register, then I think playing a CC is better. There are works, such as Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphoses, or Mahler #5 I would not now want to play on Eb - but they sound better on CC anyway!
After over 30 years playing Besson 4 valve compensated tubas, I have made the switch to my 5 valve MW 2040/5 with less difficulty than I feared. It felt strange and difficult to start with, particularly with me being used to playing the 4th valve with the left hand. However, I soon got to know the alternative fingerings and it now feels quite natural, particularly since I ceased playing my old Besson compensated Eb (I guess a matter of reprogramming the brain).
However, if fingerings are a concern in the low register, then I think playing a CC is better. There are works, such as Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphoses, or Mahler #5 I would not now want to play on Eb - but they sound better on CC anyway!