Something came to mind today about how the notes of a tuba compare to that of a regular, 88 key piano.
Though I don't play the piano myself, I wanted to ask anyone out there who does or who did play piano where would the low BBb note be located on the keyboard.
Just asking in case I need to tune my horn from time to time.
Hank74
Piano fingerings
-
Hank74
- 3 valves
- Posts: 395
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:58 pm
- Location: Upstate New York
-
Allen
- 3 valves
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:29 am
- Location: Boston MA area
First of all, the great majority of pianos out in the world are out of tune!
Your first job will be to find one that is in tune. Then, you have to figure out if the octaves have been stretched (as most pianos are), or whether the octaves are exactly in tune. Then, and only then, can you decide if the particular piano is suitable for a pitch reference. Of course, if you are stuck playing tuba & piano, you are going to have to put up with the piano that is available -- they don't have tuning slides!
I have had the best luck with some cheap electric pianos being in exact agreement with the equally-tempered scale. [This is one of the reasons they don't sound as good as a real, in-tune piano.] It is a good exercise to play along with such a piano. Even just scales and arpeggios.
FYI, the pedal Bb on a tuba is the lowest Bb on an 88-key piano; the ordinary low Bb is an octave above.
Allen Walker
Your first job will be to find one that is in tune. Then, you have to figure out if the octaves have been stretched (as most pianos are), or whether the octaves are exactly in tune. Then, and only then, can you decide if the particular piano is suitable for a pitch reference. Of course, if you are stuck playing tuba & piano, you are going to have to put up with the piano that is available -- they don't have tuning slides!
I have had the best luck with some cheap electric pianos being in exact agreement with the equally-tempered scale. [This is one of the reasons they don't sound as good as a real, in-tune piano.] It is a good exercise to play along with such a piano. Even just scales and arpeggios.
FYI, the pedal Bb on a tuba is the lowest Bb on an 88-key piano; the ordinary low Bb is an octave above.
Allen Walker
-
Matt G
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1196
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:24 am
- Location: Quahog, RI
Allen gives some quite good advice.
If you must tune to a piano, my only advice is to tune to the open note closest to the A above middle C. This is the normal springboard for most piano tuners and will normally yield the closest to correct pitch.
In other words, don't try to tune to a piano in exact octaves. You will have to become used to tuning to a Bb or whatever, displaced by about two or three octaves. FWIW, I almost always tune to Bb (or C) in the staff, as that seems to be in the middle of our playing range as well.
One other thing. Tuning to a b-flat minor chord is sometimes better than just a Bb. You can hear your pitch versus the Bb's in the chord better. Again, this is only if you have now choice but to get in tune with the piano. In normal circumstances, avoid tuning with most pianos, unless they are tuned often and moved rarely.
If you must tune to a piano, my only advice is to tune to the open note closest to the A above middle C. This is the normal springboard for most piano tuners and will normally yield the closest to correct pitch.
In other words, don't try to tune to a piano in exact octaves. You will have to become used to tuning to a Bb or whatever, displaced by about two or three octaves. FWIW, I almost always tune to Bb (or C) in the staff, as that seems to be in the middle of our playing range as well.
One other thing. Tuning to a b-flat minor chord is sometimes better than just a Bb. You can hear your pitch versus the Bb's in the chord better. Again, this is only if you have now choice but to get in tune with the piano. In normal circumstances, avoid tuning with most pianos, unless they are tuned often and moved rarely.
Dillon/Walters CC
Meinl Weston 2165
Meinl Weston 2165
