rock tuba

andrew the tuba player · Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:06 pm

Has anyone ever played rock on a tuba? Ive heard a recording by ohio state playing Crazy train by Ozzy. I learned it by ear along with the final count down and mr crowly. I was just wondering. I like takeing song and learning them by ear. My favorites would probably be the beatles.

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:25 pm

Has anyone ever played rock on a tuba?

Well, just once, in my younger days...

It all started innocently enough, listening to the local rock station one morning before class. Something the DJ said cought my attention: "What would you do to win a pair of tickets to the Metallica concert New Year's Eve in San Francisco?" Somehow I knew those tickets would be mine, I just wasn't sure how I would get them. Then it struck me: Metallica is a great band, I'm a pretty good musician, I'll just play some music!
First I thought I would try to play Cliff Burton's old bass solo "Anesthesia Pulling Teeth" on my B.C. Rich Warlock. That would be a crowd pleaser! But the more I thought about it, I knew that wasn't enough. Then it dawned on me: Play it on the TUBA ! Better yet: play, on the tuba, the bass lines from a medley of their best songs. Now that was unique, and more creative than any of the other locals calling in and describing the stunts they would attempt. This was my winning idea, but I needed help to pull it off. After all, what good is a Metallica bass line on tuba without someone playing the guitar part on 5 string banjo?

The next day, after class, I asked my friend Eric if he wanted to spend a week in San Francisco with me and see the Metallica concert New Years Eve. He said he might be interested. When I told him it would all be free, and that we would probably end up being local celebrities, he said he was definitely into it. So later that week we got together and worked out a medley of "Enter Sandman", "One", "The Unforgiven", and "Hero of the Day." We even wrote some new words to "Hero" (which was on the charts at the time) incorporating the radio station's call letters and slogan. We knew we couldn't lose.

The night of the contest we showed up in our Tuxedos. (Being music majors at the local University, we both were accostomed to performing in evening wear.) Let me tell you, we got quite a few funny looks from the crowd assembled at Awful Arthur's that night. Two guys in tux's, one with a banjo and one with some big metal thing (OK, so not everyone knows a tuba when they see one.)
We were one of the last acts to go on that fateful night, and the audience welcomed us with a hearty (drunken) cheer. As soon as they recognised the familiar ostinato of "Enter Sandman" a mosh pit began to form. (Well, it was more like some drunk pushing another guy around, but it looked like a mosh pit.) The crowd was banging their heads in a flurry of long hair and buzz-cuts as we hammered out the sextuplet figures of "One", but they mellowed out a little when we played "The Unforgiven." As Eric sang out the last chorus of our version of "Hero of the Day" everyone knew who was going to be on that plane ride out West.
We had a blast that night, and a memorable time in San Francisco, too. And all because I play the tuba, perhaps the last thing that comes to mind when you think of Rock 'n' Roll. So the next time someone says "I thought tubas just played Oom-Pah all the time" just smile, and play this as loud as you can:
http://www.vb.quik.com/thefinns/sandman.jpg

Steve Inman · Post by **Steve Inman** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:43 pm

Hat's off to Mike ....

Also -- check out Oystein Baadsvik's site for some creative ideas.

Cheers,

andrew the tuba player · Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:21 am

Yeah? That one's real fun to play. kinda tricky though.

clagar777 · Post by **clagar777** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:56 am

Bonerama covers several great rock tunes. Check out the audio samples on their site for some ideas.

andrew the tuba player · Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:00 am

sweet. i know ohio state's tuba section did crazy train and it was awsome. its what made me want to play it

djwesp · Post by **djwesp** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:52 am

Hey Andrew.

Is Gentry in Region 1 or Region 2? You may know my little brother.

josh_kaprun · Post by **josh_kaprun** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:26 am

How is it that no one has mentioned Drums & Tuba yet? Those guys are friggin' awesome!

andrew the tuba player · Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:48 am

I know, they rules. I Was gonna mention hem last night...but i forgot

....I'm ot sure which region it is.

Who is your little brother?

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:12 am

Since I don't listen to most popular music issued after 1984, I don't anything about what tubas are doing in rock music today.

But, when I was growing up we got excited whenever we heard this guy...

Dave Bargeron, who played tuba with Blood, Sweat and Tears

He was great on the songs Cowboys and Indians and Go Down Gamblin'.

And, technically, he isn't a rock musician. He's a jazzer.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:19 pm

If you want to play rock or anything else, you need a recording of that material and maybe 3 or 4 tunes you might like to play looped on a c.d. or tape-whatever. It is great to listen to it in the car and out of a small boom box to practice. If your equipment will let you reverse/pause as needed and give you the right pitch, you're there.
Play along and make plans for what you can do that would sound good with intros, outros, verses, bridges and choruses.
Drill it until you remember and can fall into a groove with that material and then go play it for somebody-just you and your "Duracell Orchestra".
I bet they like it.

_________________________________________

You just can't have too much tuba. You just can't!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:21 pm

Even though I've played in garage bands and other groups, some with regional success, for decades, the only time I used a tuba was on a slapstick blues number on one friend's CD, with I-V style tuba, foot stomp, hand claps, dobro, and a "down home" vocal style.

In concert band, I've played more transcriptions, adaptations, and medleys over the years than I can remember.

andrew the tuba player · Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:39 pm

I like to get a cd and just go through it. My modo is 'why listen to music if you can play it?' obviously i still like to listen to music and there are some that i cant play (yet

) but, like The beatles. I got a cd and in an hour could play every song on it...Blood sweat and tears huhh? did he play 'the spinning Wheel'??

punk_tuba · Post by **punk_tuba** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:48 pm

i think that matt freeman's bass playing on the operation ivy and rancid records would sound awesome. maxwell murder or journey to the end of east bay would be great i think.

chipster55 · Post by **chipster55** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:48 pm

Back in ancient times (high school), Chicago & Blood, Sweat & Tears were very popular to play at halftime. I learned the 'bone solos to Make Me Smile, Beginnings, & the tuba solo to Go Down Gamblin' and belted them out on the sousaphone at different halftime shows unbeknownst to the director beforehand.

Gorilla Tuba · Post by **Gorilla Tuba** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:09 am

I used to play tuba in a band called "Big German Nurse." We were somewhat popular in Reno/ Sacramento at bars and as an opening act Music was best described as Ska, but we did several cover tunes like "NO Quarter" by Led Zepplin. Good times.

Regardless of how much you perform, it is vital to your musicianship to spend time playing without sheet music. learning rock or pop tunes or whatever you like by "ear" really help develop your musicianship. If nothing else, its fun.

andrew the tuba player · Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:35 am

yeah, it gives you a good ear for pitch. plus its loads of fun

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:53 pm

We, (John Reno and the Half-Fast Creekers) play trop rock. We still bring Marshall amps to the gig but we also bring our own palm trees.
We have two samples from each of our two c.d.'s at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =218790086
Check us out if you will.
Dennis "toots' Gray
www.johnreno.com/

andrew the tuba player · Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:51 pm

which music?

jbaylies · Post by **jbaylies** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:17 pm

Here's my arrangement of Less Talk More Rokk:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1364/941 ... d58d_b.jpg

It's not in the right key, though.