Double Buzz?

[colpo1]

I have recently developed a double buzz on the C in the staff. I had recently changed mouthpieces to a larger inner diameter and narrower rim. I switched back to a slightly smaller inner diameter and wider flatter rim. The double buzz when away. In reading the posts here and watching the You-Tube video, I think lip support and fatigue were factors in my case. The corners on my mouth got tired in a short time, using the larger mouthpiece.

Do you know which mouthpieces offer a somewhat smaller inside diameter and wider/flatter rim compared to the pt-88?

[opus37]

I was using a Stofer Geib with a narrow rim and about a 33 mm inner diameter. I switched to the mouth piece that came with my Kanstul 66T. It has an inner diameter of about 31.7 mm and big heavy wide rim similar to a Bach 18. That worked for me. I found the Bloke 1 and 1A rims to be reasonable wide and flat too.

[Lingon]

Well, actually, I would agree... but I would say spend a couple of weeks ONLY playing a little (a small fraction of your normal schedule), only midrange, nothing strenuous, and ONLY very soft lip slurs in the midrange.

Quite often a double buzz is a SYMPTOM of an actual muscle injury that needs time to heal.

I think I've said it before - treating symptoms won't get you very far, until you treat the actual problem. A double buzz is merely a symptom of something ELSE wrong.

Just a thought, could moving to a too larger mouthpiece have somthing to do with the double buzz as the muscles are not used to work with a rim larger than the one used before, or is moving to a larger mouthpiece in itself something that can cause a muscle injury that manifest itself as a double buzz?

[Doug Elliott]

Well, actually, I would agree... but I would say spend a couple of weeks ONLY playing a little (a small fraction of your normal schedule), only midrange, nothing strenuous, and ONLY very soft lip slurs in the midrange.

Quite often a double buzz is a SYMPTOM of an actual muscle injury that needs time to heal.

I think I've said it before - treating symptoms won't get you very far, until you treat the actual problem. A double buzz is merely a symptom of something ELSE wrong.

Just a thought, could moving to a too larger mouthpiece have somthing to do with the double buzz as the muscles are not used to work with a rim larger than the one used before, or is moving to a larger mouthpiece in itself something that can cause a muscle injury that manifest itself as a double buzz?

Yes and yes, but it's also possible for a mouthpiece to be a size that you will never get used to. There is such a thing as too big... and not just the measurable rim diameter. A cup shape or throat size can be too big to adequately control, even if the rim size is OK.

Or a rim that is too wide (24AW style) can push your placement lower than ideal for your particular chops. Noses sometimes get in the way.

[Michael Bush]

Firm the area below your corners. Not AT the corners, BELOW them. That automatically firms the lower lip and uses the correct muscles.

I've been working with this idea in the last couple of weeks since you posted it. Not to put too fine a point on it, this may be the most useful piece of advice on any subject I've ever read on the Internet. I am amazed at how much difference this makes in the sound coming out of the tuba.

[Doug Elliott]

I read this thread an am unsure what it means, exactly.

Does the position of the corners have a bearing on what "firming the area below the corners" means?

Currently, my corners turn down a little when playing. In much of my past years, my corners were up. In recent years, I made a conscious effort to develop the habit of having them turn down (as well as trying to keep my tongue down in back). It seems to me that the area below my lip is now firmer when playing. I think my tone has improved significantly, becoming what i would call fuller, rounder, more tuneful, rather than having a "buzzing", thin sound (if that makes any sense). My range has improved, too. But, whether any of that improvement is from using my muscles differently, or just from more "face time on the horn" (compared to years past), I cannot say.

Anyway, does this sound like what is meant by "firming the area below the corners"?

Regards,

DG

Yes. The only difference is, in my teaching I don't put any emphasis on actually turning the corners down, because I think the important part is USING those muscles, whether the corners turn down or not. On some people they don't turn down, but the effect is the same.

[eupher61]

1) Pitch awareness
2) Air
3) Lower Lip firmness
4) Air
5) Pitch Awareness
6) Air
7) Air
Air

Changing among tubas or mouthpieces, nope. It's not reacting to the change in equipment properly.