Switch to C Tuba?

[Wyvern]

Learning to play tuba in new pitch is not as difficult as many people think. Go for the tuba that best gives the tone you want regardless of key.

[bort]

Just to add a few confusing facts to the current discussion:
Judging from the schedule of German tuba performance majors, the F-tuba DEFINITELY is a German tubist´s main axe. I´ve been told by such a student that the BBb is hardly touched in class at all.

Hans, I was wondering if you could expand on that a bit... so for band, orchestra... everything was on F?

I only recently got my first F tuba, and I just love it. The F tuba just seems to *fit* for me, and I wish it were more mainstream here in the US, let alone many "F only" people.

[Wyvern]

Hans will no doubt be able to elaborate, but in Germany the bass part is often divisi with the top part played on F and the lower on BBb. Smaller bands sometimes just have an F.

In the orchestra, by tradition F is the default tuba with BBb brought out for real contrabass tuba parts

[tubeast]

Jon is quite correct in his observations.
Over here, common marches, polkas, waltzes and related literature are printed either in two octaves in ONE part, or in two separate, parallel parts, but still in octaves.
Seems like there is a tradition to view the "high bass" part as a means to hook up the tubas soundwise with the tenor- and bariton horns, which have quite bright a sound.
In this literature, the default part to play when You´re less than three tubas in an amateur ensemble is low tuba.

I was referring to local performance majors preparing for gigs in symphony orchestras.
In band, my main axe is the BBb. The BBb-over-F-ratio in our band is 3/1.
Many pro orchestras here search for "F-tubists with obligation to BBb", or whatever the technical term is in English.

From what I´ve experienced in person, my overall playing has benefitted such a great deal from the big horn, I´d suggest to do the major part of one´s playing with a contrabass in one´s lap.
High range is closely related to good air, which is closely related to feeling comfortable on a VERY big horn.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Can a tuba performance major in college last on an F tuba as his main tuba?

It's not a question of could they, but rather is it the best choice. Many of the large F tubas available today make it easier to play excerpts like "The Ride" and "Fountains"...but you be hard-pressed to find many that would prefer playing them on a large F.

[bort]

You *could* do it, but few people would recommend it.

Think of it like a car. You *could* have a small convertible as your only car. But hauling groceries, transporting more than 1 passenger, bad weather, etc. would be a lot harder to do with such a small specialty car. But you also don't *need* a moving van for those things either. Just something "in the middle."

[arpthark]

So may I ask what would that in the middle car be?

I think what bort and Todd mean is, unless you have some specific obligation, orchestral or otherwise (wherein you could be providing the lowest voice for the entire brass section/orchestra, acting as an augmentation of the trombone section, soloing or what have you), it's practical in most situations to have a 4/4 contrabass tuba as your "all-around" horn. Something that isn't too big (i.e, Yorkbrunner) and isn't too small (i.e, Meinl Weston F travel tuba). Instead, think of Miraphone 186, Miraphone 1291, MW 2145, PT-20, etc. Of course, your mileage may vary.

So, to answer your question, the tuba equivalent of a Toyota Camry will suffice. (Gotta watch those out-of-control pedals though... )

[Todd S. Malicoate]

according to a blog My Roger Bobo He stater Jim Self Played the YFB 822 to play it.

Not in 1977. Mr. Bobo is probably referring to a later performance of the solo.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

True but the but I am just stating Jim Self did do it on an F tuba and made that F tuba sound like a beast.

That's fine, but when you say:

Would you think the Yamaha YFB 822s would be a medium size tuba? The way Jim Self made that tuba sound in Close Encounters of the Third kind was huge.

that's a pretty specific reference. You can see why there might be a misunderstanding. Words mean things. Jim Self did not make the YFB822 sound huge in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, because it wasn't even being made yet.

You, however, could make a YFB822 sound huge now, if that's what you are looking for.

[bort]

Yes Sorry I misspoke and mixed up my words. I just like the way Jim Self sounds.

And no one can argue with that.

[J.c. Sherman]

So may I ask what would that in the middle car be?

I'll always jump in and plug a large Eb for a good all-around "midsize" instrument. I find them more flexible than a smaller C. But I'm biased, and I know it. But when I go to a gig and I don't know what the stuff will be, I bring the big Eb - I know it'll get the job done, and I'll hit all the right notes. Call it a Kia Rio.

But one can hardly argue with a standard 4/4 CC or BBb as a good, flexible, Toyota Camry kind of tuba. And I admit to driving the Mini whenever I can. But don't rule out Eb. You have some of the power of a CC, with the flexibility and accuracy of a bass tuba. Win-win.

J.c.S.

[Wyvern]

I'll always jump in and plug a large Eb for a good all-around "midsize" instrument.

Many UK tubists have found that the case and some use for everything.

Having said that I understand Stuart Roebuck of the Halle Orchestra (up to mid-1980's) used an F for everything (even Prokofiev), so it can be done. I would not be surprised if there are still professional tubists in Germany using only F