Why is Eb associated with dixie so much?

[dopey]

Is it just me, or does it seem alot of people have a old Eb sousa for dixie work, any reason? Does it have to do with keys normally associated to dixie, or what? One thing I have noticed a old Eb sousa seems to be very cheap in respect to other tubas, is this a reason?

Im just curious as to why it seems Eb is related to dixie stuff so much..

[scottw]

PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE THINGS: size/ weight is a consideration when you are standing during a 4-5 hr gig. Also, the ability to read treble clef using trumpet fingerings is attractive to many players on those jobs where there is at least a lead sheet.Too, the need for very low notes is not great, whereas the higher range afforded by the EEb can be a benefit. Just a thought.

[Dan Schultz]

PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE THINGS: size/ weight is a consideration when you are standing during a 4-5 hr gig. Also, the ability to read treble clef using trumpet fingerings is attractive to many players on those jobs where there is at least a lead sheet.Too, the need for very low notes is not great, whereas the higher range afforded by the EEb can be a benefit. Just a thought.

Good answer!

[dopey]

I Think...the way he was saying it would be the fingerings would line up correctly..

C below the staff on trumper = open, then goes up in the same fingering patterns as a tuba does on say a concert Bb major scale.

A Eb tuba, since its 'open' note is the Eb below the bass cleff would mean this lines up with low C on treble Clef. Which would allow him to play trumpet fingerings, however.. this where I get confused.. when I trumpet plays a low c, open, its a concert Bb.. if you have a Eb tuba and played that 'trumpet fingerings' you would not be playing a concert Bb, but a concert Eb. right?

If I was on a Eb tuba, and my friend on trumpet. We played the same piece of trumpet music and i merely used trumpet fingerings would I not be playing wrong notes?

maybe I am just off..

[Dan Schultz]

If I was on a Eb tuba, and my friend on trumpet. We played the same piece of trumpet music and i merely used trumpet fingerings would I not be playing wrong notes?

maybe I am just off..

don't confuse the notes with the fingerings. When a trumpet sees a 'C', he actuallys plays a Bb. Your Eb tuba will sound an Eb with the same fingerings. Just because someone suggested that trumpet fingerings can be used to play an Eb tuba does not mean that both horns can play the same music and sound the same notes.

[DonShirer]

For reasons we don't need to go into here, Bb clarinet and Bb trumpet music is written one tone higher than it actually sounds, so that a piece written in concert Bb would have its clarinet and trumpet parts appearing in C major.

Thus the written note C for trumpets actually sounds as a Bb. The trumpet fingerings you wanted for a Bb scale are written C (open), D (1+3), E (1+2), F (1), G (open), A(1+2), B (2), and c (open). Look familiar? These are the exact keys you depress to play your Eb tuba in the key of Eb.

So, imagine a trumpet player seeing a tuba part. He sketches in a treble clef symbol in his mind, adds three sharps to the key signature and plays the appropriate fingerings he learned for the Bb trumpet parts. For example, he sees a note on the lowest line of the bass clef, with the aforementioned changes it looks like a treble E, and fingers his Eb tuba (1+2) producing (we hope) a true G. Although this all sounds complicated, it is very obvious to anyone who has taken one trumpet lesson. The hardest part is remembering which sharps to add, especially in music in high sharp keys or lots of accidentals.

Filling in the extra half-note fingerings above is left as an exercise to the reader (or look in any trumpet book). Please note that although the trumpet player can apply trumpet fingerings to an Eb tuba, The Eb tubaist should NOT try to apply Eb tuba fingerings to a trumpet part!

Hope this is not too confusing.

[pg]

. . . brings to mind images of the tower of babel . . .

--paul;

[Lee Stofer]

The Eb tuba may be associated with Dixieland music for a couple of reasons. First, the Eb tuba was the standard tuba in use in North America during the last half of the nineteenth century, so it is what the earliest players were using. Also, the Eb tuba tends to be somewhat lighter in weight, because of less tubing. Finally, Eb sousaphones in particular are about the least expensive tuba you can buy, and most dixieland tuba players I know are not rich. Furthermore, if you find a good one, an Eb sousaphone can play as well as anything else. I have owned Eb sousas by Reynolds, Conn, King and Keefer, and all of them were/are good horns. One of the very best dixieland players out there owns a pair of York Eb sousas, and Wm. Bell loved his King Eb sousa enough to take it to a number of gigs, so they are certainly a relevant instrument as I see it. As soon as I can get this little Buescher Eb helicon finished, I guarantee I'll try it out on some dixeland gigs ;^)