The Glory of the Quarter Note.

[Tortuba]

I’m a weekend warrior and play in two community bands.

I recently received some very nice and unsolicited comments from members of both bands regarding my playing.

Did they compliment me for my glorious organ like sound that fills the hall, rattles the rafters and warms the soul?

No.

Apparently, I give good quarter note. Clean, crisp, centered and on the beat.

They especially like my walking bass line when I sound like a string bass.

Guess I have found my niche in life.

[Dan Schultz]

.... I recently received some very nice and unsolicited comments from members of both bands regarding my playing....

I think I would be wary about the things that they DIDN'T comment on. Maybe they don't want you to 'rattle the rafters'.

[TubaBobH]

Don't feel bad TorTuba, it has been my observation throughout HS, college and community band experiences that a good tubist/tuba section is usually taken for granted. I think it is our lot in life. Sure, every now and then during a rehearsal, after an especially robust low brass section of music, we may get some some nods and smiles. But usually, the foundation we lay down for the rest of the ensemble is pretty much taken for granted.

That is until we are absent. Upon rare occasions, all three of us in our community band's tuba section will have to miss the same rehearsal because of family or business obligations/conflicts and/or sickness. Invariably, during the next rehearsal (and sometimes in emails) we will be told how much the band missed not having any tubas during that rehearsal. I'm just not sure if it is better to be appreciated when you are playing, or to be missed when you are not. I guess I will settle for being missed.

[Oceantuba]

....
Apparently, I give good quarter note. Clean, crisp, centered and on the beat.

They especially like my walking bass line when I sound like a string bass.

Guess I have found my niche in life.

On that note.... (groan)

An exercise some might find challenging:

turn on the metronome @ a med. tempo, starting on your favorite note, play 4 staccato quarters (ok maybe more like eights) and in tempo, (no break) work down in semitones. Add 2 more notes on each set. Play down a tritone. i.e. F = 4 notes, E = 6 .... to B = 16. Make them ALL sound EXACTLY the same, (well that's the goal anyway ) with even tempo blah blah blah. You end up with 16 at end of each tritone set. Do this all over the horn. I'm sure you would rawk at this. It's good practice IMO.

OT.

[MartyNeilan]

Apparently, I give good quarter note. Clean, crisp, centered and on the beat.

They especially like my walking bass line when I sound like a string bass.

They really did heap praise on you. Twice actually. Take them for what they are worth. AND, congratulations

[iiipopes]

Indeed. As we plumb the depths trying to go even lower than pedal tones, and as we attempt more and more challenging vocalises to improve technically, I can also vouch for the fact that the ensembles I play in get the most compliments from the people listening when I am on top of the simple things: quarter notes in tune, tone, time, and dynamic. It is truly the Art of the Quarter Note.

The way I gauge it is how the compliments come back to the ensemble. If people are complimenting the ensemble in general, then I've done my job. If I ever get a personal compliment from someone other than a person who knows what tuba is all about, or another tuba player, then I've done something that stuck out of the mix and fouled up.

[roughrider]

As a member of a very good community band, I too was recently complimented on my playing and I was certainly pleased to hear it. Keep it simple, play the quarter-notes well and handle the rythmn responsibilities and everyone will be happy.
I recently left a band in a different community where I was the only tuba, instead of feeling on the spot, it gave me the confidence to join a band where I now play in a section of three.
Keeping it simple is the best!

[Rick Denney]

You can play a good quarter note?

Rick "jealous" Denney

[sloan]

You can play a good quarter note?

Rick "jealous" Denney

I'm curious about *which* quarter note he plays. There's a whole bunch of them, all different...and, alas, the better they are, the less interchangeable they are.

Ken "it's all Leroy Anderson, all the time, season" Sloan

[MartyNeilan]

You can play a good quarter note?

Rick "jealous" Denney

You would be surprised at the number of electric bass "players" who think they are the next Jaco or Wooten, but can't play quarter notes to save their live. Even worse, when they get the "quarter note, quarter rest, quarter note, quarter rest" part in a piece. They make this huge bored face like they are insulted to have stoop to play that, and then play with absolutely no style or rhythm at all.

[Dan Schultz]

..... when they get the "quarter note, quarter rest, quarter note, quarter rest" part in a piece. They make this huge bored face......

Heck! I like those passages. Plenty of places to breathe!

[eupher61]

..... when they get the "quarter note, quarter rest, quarter note, quarter rest" part in a piece. They make this huge bored face......

Heck! I like those passages. Plenty of places to breathe!

especially on electric bass...

[iiipopes]

..... when they get the "quarter note, quarter rest, quarter note, quarter rest" part in a piece. They make this huge bored face......

Heck! I like those passages. Plenty of places to breathe!

especially on electric bass...

Exactly. Most of the $$ I have earned playing bass have been exactly that.