Eb Tuba or Euphonium

[cgz832]

After a decade of not playing I have recently gotten back into playing, I already have a BBb 4/4 tuba, but I am also looking towards purchasing another horn something with a little higher range. But not sure if I should go with an Eb/EEb tuba or just simply buy a Euphonium. I have never played an Eb/EEb so I would have to learn the fingerings and etc. Which i am game for, but seeing as I play in a community band (parts all in Bass Cleff) would it be worth while for the Eb tuba or just go with the Euph. I played BBb Tuba and Euph in college, both same fingerings, very simple and loved the high range of the euph but wished for a bigger lower range, (if that makes sense) . What do you think? I am open to any suggestions. Thanks

Jason

[sceuphonium]

You can play an Eb in community band, but the parts are going to go past the end of the horn, unless you've got a compensator or something with a REALLY good low end. You high end is there, but typical concert band lit doesn't use it. When I've played Eb in community band I felt like I wasn't contributing very much to the upper dynamic levels.

If you play in quintet or a church group or some other small ensemble, an Eb is just the thing. When I played a Bb in quintet I was always trying hard to not overpower the rest of the group.

As to euph... which does your band need more?

[cgz832]

I guess the euph would be more to just have for personal gain, more for flexability. I am going to be doing a little quintet work and was thinking the Eb for that reason. However i dont want to buy a horn that I will not use. One other thing. How it has been years since I studdied it (but never actually played it), and trying to read up on it in the internet it is a little confusing. Would playing an "F" (just below the staff) on a BBb and the same note ("F" just below the staff) on an Eb be the same sounding note just a different fingering? all the posts about treble clef and adding flats and etc has me a little confused.

[Bob Kolada]

The vast majority of bass clef tuba music is non transposed; F is F on whatever horn- open on a Bb, 1/13 on an Eb.

Small Yorks and Conns seem to have the best intonation. Kings play absolutely wonderful but are a bit lacking in the previous part. What Bb do you have?

[jon112780]

The vast majority of bass clef tuba music is non transposed; F is F on whatever horn- open on a Bb, 1/13 on an Eb.

Small Yorks and Conns seem to have the best intonation. Kings play absolutely wonderful but are a bit lacking in the previous part.

Bob, you forgot to mention the 983... I thought surely you would suggest your favorite Eb

[cgz832]

I have the one that not everyone favor's Yamahaa YBB-641 i played it in college and when I went back to playing decided to get another one.

[Jack Denniston]

Like my grandmother used to say- never choose between 2 good things- choose both!

[ghmerrill]

You're ringing your hands over the same decision I recently made. I decided to stick with my BBb contra bass horn and get a compensating euph both for general fun and for playing bass trombone and tenor tuba parts. Having just looked at the tuba part to "First Suite" for the first time in years, I recall why I abandoned the Eb in favor of the BBb for community band.

One alternative would have been to dump the BBb and get a compensating EEb. Another -- more dramatic one -- would have been to dump the BBb and get an F (which would be nice for small group work but leave you kind of hanging on a lot of concert band stuff). After months of thought and hand-wringing I made my decision based in part on versatility, in part on what I enjoy playing, in part on economics, and in part on the size and weight of the potential instruments involved. I may change my mind in another year or two, but at the moment I'm happy with the versatility of the BBb and the compensating euph (which allows me to play most tuba parts commonly encountered -- though it sounds more like a bass trombone on the low end -- as well as euph and bass trombone parts). Now I just need to learn to play the euph reasonably. A big key to the range there is the mouthpiece.

I quickly decided against the idea of having both a BBb and an EEb because there seemed to me to be too much overlap there and not enough in the direction of enhanced high range. And I chose a compensating euph in order to have a useable B-natural and C-natural below the staff. But there's a lot of personal taste in these decisions.

[Bob Kolada]

The vast majority of bass clef tuba music is non transposed; F is F on whatever horn- open on a Bb, 1/13 on an Eb.
Small Yorks and Conns seem to have the best intonation. Kings play absolutely wonderful but are a bit lacking in the previous part.

Bob, you forgot to mention the 983... I thought surely you would suggest your favorite Eb

For some reason I was thinking the OP would be looking at a cheaper horn for screwing around and learning Eb. Is this the case, Jason?