Ok, so now what?

[reindeere]

Greetings!

I've been practicing intermittently, and accomplishing only a little. But here's my little, and the question to go with it: in the last two days I've extended the bottom of my range to F0 (13) and then to E0 (123) (or FFF and EEE, or the E and F below the range of a standard piano, if you prefer). I can even hit them directly, without running down the scale to get them, though I wouldn't call them pretty.

Now the question: what are the next fingerings as I go down further? The only fingering chart that I have ends an octave higher at E1 (123). Is Eb0 open? *IS* there an Eb0 waiting for me, or have I reached the end for a 3 valve souzie?

Thanks for any help,

Perry

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Eb1 is usually available open as a "false" pedal, but I don't think there is another "false" pedal below the fundamental tone. I'm not positive, as I "bottom out" at F0.

Question...why would ever you need to develop notes lower than E0? Isn't that low enough?

[TubaRay]

Question...why would ever you need to develop notes lower than E0? Isn't that low enough?

Easy answers: Because it's there! & It's never low enough!

[reindeere]

Todd,

"...but I don't think there is another "false" pedal below the fundamental tone."
Thank you, that's the sort of information I was looking for.

"...why would ever you need to develop notes lower than E0? Isn't that low enough?"
From a purely practical perspective, it's more than enough. In my limited playing experience (band from grade school through college, and church brass ensemble), I've never seen anything written lower than E1. However...

/gets up on soapbox, patriotic music starts playing softly/
...we play an extreme instrument. We didn't pick a tenor or alto instrument to occupy the sonic middle; like Maynard Ferguson and his trumpet at the high end, we live to push the envelope downward, to stake out our territory in the neighborhood of instruments with names that begin with 'octocontrabass' and 'imperial grand,' and then exceed even them. To know that the only lower instrument in the world is the Sydney Town Hall Organ!
/steps down from soapbox, music fades/

Why? Because it's there. To inspire small children to take up tuba. To show off to my fellow tuba players in Alumni Band next fall.

Thanks again,
Perry

P.S. Two other inspirations for going lower:
http://www.contrabass.com/pages/maniac.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
and someday I want to take a shot at playing "Encounters II"

[reindeere]

@ TubaRay: Exactly!

@ben:
"...unless you are trying to communicate with elephants."
Hmmm...elephants *are* among my favorite animals, after all.

@bloke:
"Now turn off your computer and go outside."
How did you know my grass needed cut?!

[TUBAD83]

Get yourself a decent 4 valve tuba and work on your low range--remember your aim is not just to be able to play your horn, but to play your horn well.

JJ

[Bob Kolada]

Besides the "usual" second E (my old Conn Giant Eb had an open A which was handy but confusing to me )/Eb/Ebish/D below the staff false tone, they seem to be everywhere below pedal Bb. I've actually played glissandi down there without any valves.

[reindeere]

@ TUBAD83:
Much as I would like to acquire one (the Miraphone I played in college was sweet), my amateur status and my unemployed status conspire to defeat such action. Nonetheless, I intend to take your advice to play *my* horn well.

@ Bob Kolada:
Yes, there's plenty of wiggle room down there. And with Eb1 no longer being my standard bottom open note, I have to listen more carefully for the pitch that I actually intend to play. (horrors! he has to listen!)

[kontrabass]

I can count the number of times on one hand that I've heard ANY tuba player "play" a note in that range and sound good. Usually it sounds like a formless blatt, and then the player has this smug look on his face like, "see what I just did", because to him it sure FELT like he was hitting the note.

More power to you if you're legitimately developing those notes, but for me I haven't ever felt it necessary, or practical, to go below the pedal BBb.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I can count the number of times on one hand that I've heard ANY tuba player "play" a note in that range and sound good. Usually it sounds like a formless blatt, and then the player has this smug look on his face like, "see what I just did", because to him it sure FELT like he was hitting the note.

More power to you if you're legitimately developing those notes, but for me I haven't ever felt it necessary, or practical, to go below the pedal BBb.

Well now, that may be a bit too far in the other direction. There are legitimate uses for pedal tones, certainly down to the G below the piano range (these notes are even notated in some band and orchestra pieces).

If you've only heard "formless blatts" in that register, perhaps you need to hang around with some better tuba players.

[kontrabass]

You're probably right Todd. For my own playing, I can produce those notes, but never with the fullness of sound and solid intonation that I would have if I was an octave higher, so I find it's usually not worth it to risk it.