How high can you play on tuba?

Roger Lewis · Post by **Roger Lewis** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:49 pm

in the Berlioz is the mid to upper range of the famous Saxhorn in Ut or in Si flat - not the high register of the tuba. This is not a good comparison since we are just "filling in" on this piece. The horn we are substituting for is actually pitched one whole step higher than a Euphonium. The same is true for Bydlo.

When these were composed this was the instrument that the players used and so this is what was scored. The French STILL use this instrument today as their main axe. The tuba has a much fuller sound and, to us, is more pleasing, but it is not historically accurate.

Just my observations.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 6:55 pm

Roger Lewis wrote:in the Berlioz is the mid to upper range of the famous Saxhorn in Ut or in Si flat - not the high register of the tuba. This is not a good comparison since we are just "filling in" on this piece. The horn we are substituting for is actually pitched one whole step higher than a Euphonium. The same is true for Bydlo.

When these were composed this was the instrument that the players used and so this is what was scored. The French STILL use this instrument today as their main axe. The tuba has a much fuller sound and, to us, is more pleasing, but it is not historically accurate.

Just my observations.

Roger, my score for "Le Corsaire" has the part marked for ophicleide, not tuba or saxhorn. But your point is still well taken. A tuba an ophicleide isn't.

I believe that the tuba that came into use when Berlioz was scribbling away was a very small Eb bass saxhorn. Certainly by the time Ravel did the "Pictures" transcription, the little 6-valve orchestral "tuba en ut" was standard artillery for the orchestra.

glangfur · Post by **glangfur** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:14 am

Not as high as I can on bass trombone...

nimrod480 · Post by **nimrod480** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 3:00 am

Well, after reading all of your answers i really liked the one that proved us that we should play low!
i like the low registers and it is known that improving the sound in the low and middle registers helps getting to the higher notes steady!
also i reache the high B i also reached a very very high F in my BBb, but it doesnt happen frequently, i useally play between the low E to the high Bb with 4 lines..

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:10 pm

I was in Vail one summer and played on the top of a nearby moutain. I was told that I was at about 11,000 feet and that's about as high as I have ever played.

Anybody care to beat that?

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:32 pm

Alex C wrote:I was in Vail one summer and played on the top of a nearby moutain. I was told that I was at about 11,000 feet and that's about as high as I have ever played.

Anybody care to beat that?

I'm ready to concede. I've never played a note that high.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:17 pm

LOTP wrote:What's this about tubists playing "high" ? I never heard of such a thing! I'm sure that nobody on this list would show up for a gig in such a state. Maybe a beer or two to "lubricate the valves"...........

"... OHHHH ... that's different, isn't it? ...

Never mind ..."

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:31 pm

The danger of playing tuba high is extreme cottonmouth. It is good to have lots of high-quality water nearby and if possible, nachos.

JB · Post by JB » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:23 pm

MellowSmokeMan wrote:The danger of playing tuba high is extreme cottonmouth. It is good to have lots of high-quality water nearby and if possible, nachos.

"high-quality water" = beer

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:39 pm

glangfur wrote:Not as high as I can on bass trombone...

Hey Gabe...
Funny that you mention that - being a tuba primary / bass bone secondary (although bass bone pays more bills lately) I find that my high range is virtually identical between them, in fact some days it is a step or two higher on tuba!
When I was working on my recital lit (high range stuff on both CC and F tuba), a trombone friend of mine commented on how my bass bone high register was improving. He was surprised when I told him it was from practicing my high range on tuba!

JB · Post by JB » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:19 am

bloke wrote:
"high-quality water" = beer

perhaps...as long as no domestic beers are included in "beer"

sudzy refrigerated piss-water with a splash of alcohol, it is.

Reminds me of the oft' heard phrase:
American beer is like making love in a canoe;...F***ing close to water.

.

JB · Post by JB » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:39 pm

Doc wrote:That's funny! I'll use that, with your permission.

Doc

Certainly.

funkcicle · Post by **funkcicle** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:36 am

Alex C wrote:I was in Vail one summer and played on the top of a nearby moutain. I was told that I was at about 11,000 feet and that's about as high as I have ever played.

Anybody care to beat that?

Yeah.. after a Phish show last summer I brought my tuba to a drum circle.. I rode there in a 2 door hatchback with 3 drummers.

that's about the highest I ever played.

TubeNet

How high can you play on tuba?

How high can you consistently play on the tuba?

What we are talking about......

Re: What we are talking about......

What's all this fuss about tubas playing high?