Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

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Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Timswisstuba »

...playing low C 1-3 instead of 4.

Others have suggested that by putting in sleeves greatly improves the response of the C on a rotory F tuba. I just play it 1-3 (and pull) which is a smaller bore anyway.

I know this had been discussed before but I just wanted to reiterate this simple solution.
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by imperialbari »

How is 236?

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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by cjk »

1+2+5 or 2+3+6 (assuming one is so equipped) may do the trick without a slide pull.
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Timswisstuba »

cjk wrote:1+2+5 or 2+3+6 (assuming one is so equipped) may do the trick without a slide pull.
Yes, the more Mongolian the fingering, the better.
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Wyvern »

What about 3+5? I use that sometimes
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Uncle Buck »

Neptune wrote:What about 3+5? I use that sometimes
I played a Symphonie F extensively for about one year, and always used that one.
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by cjk »

Timswisstuba wrote:
cjk wrote:1+2+5 or 2+3+6 (assuming one is so equipped) may do the trick without a slide pull.
Yes, the more Mongolian the fingering, the better.
I don't really get the term "Mongolian" in this context, perhaps I'm dumb.

You'll find that the fingerings I mentioned to be a lot less cumbersome than you'd really think once you get a little used to them.

Older B&S F tubas have "too short" 5th valve slides. I've seen folks with 5 valve versions use 1+5 for C# below the staff, then 1+2+5 for C, 2+3+5 for B, then 4+5 for Bb. They also seem to have the 4th pulled to make up for the short 5th so the BBb works. The 2+3+4 low A is stinky flat in this scenario, but most other notes are in the ballpark. 2+4+5 low A is stinky sharp, but you can pull 4th or 5th out for it.

I am not opposed to pulling slides when needed. My biggest tuba needs lots of slide pulls. I just don't see the need to pull slides when you don't have to.
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by BAtlas »

Do we have to pick?

Could we not just say that, depending on the passage that we could make an educated decision on to how best to deal with the C in said passage?

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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Bob Kolada »

BAtlas wrote:Do we have to pick?

Could we not just say that, depending on the passage that we could make an educated decision on to how best to deal with the C in said passage?

Bo "Doesn't believe in end all be all solutions" Atlas
Ha! I always thought it was some sort of combination of BAT and Atlas. :D
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Kevin Hendrick »

cjk wrote:
Timswisstuba wrote:
cjk wrote:1+2+5 or 2+3+6 (assuming one is so equipped) may do the trick without a slide pull.
Yes, the more Mongolian the fingering, the better.
I don't really get the term "Mongolian" in this context, perhaps I'm dumb.
Not dumb, just more polite than most of us. IINM, it's related to having many fingers down (i.e., a "cluster") ... :oops:
"Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nohow permanent." -- Pogo (via Walt Kelly)
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Timswisstuba »

cjk wrote:
Timswisstuba wrote:
cjk wrote:1+2+5 or 2+3+6 (assuming one is so
I don't really get the term "Mongolian" in this context, perhaps I'm dumb.
Not dumb, just more polite than most of us. IINM, it's related to having many fingers down (i.e., a "cluster") ... :oops:

What I meant with "Mongolian" is foreign or strange fingerings. Sometimes it's good to go to foreign lands (such as Mongolia) as it is to use fingerings that are not so often used or visited.

I'm with Bloke and others, it's more fun to push a valve than to pull a slide.
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Re: Doing the unthinkable with a B&S Symphonie F

Post by Kevin Hendrick »

Timswisstuba wrote:What I meant with "Mongolian" is foreign or strange fingerings. Sometimes it's good to go to foreign lands (such as Mongolia) as it is to use fingerings that are not so often used or visited.

I'm with Bloke and others, it's more fun to push a valve than to pull a slide.
Makes sense -- 'preciate the clarification. :D
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