Switching key back and forth

[Jerryleejr]

Just curious for those playing multiple horns, do you find it difficult going from one key to another? Am I asking for brain cramp between BBb and CC?

JJ

[Dan Schultz]

I played only Eb for many years and migrated over to BBb about ten years ago. For the following three or four years I switched back and forth fluently... using Eb for Dixieland and BBb for most everything else. These days.... I find that I can be a much better player if I just stick with one key. It's not the fingerings as much as being a 'chops issue'.

I truly envy anyone who can pick up any key tuba and play it well. It's just not me.

Now... if I can just get the brass band librarian to quit handing me treble clef tuba parts!

[sethbrown]

In my experience of switching back and forth with a BBb and an F (just started this previous summer), I've noticed that having different valve carriages really helps. My F is a rotor and my BBb is a piston and it seems to help out the mind to not confuse the muscle memory from one another. Also, from a couple of people I've talked to, there seems to be a general lean to prefer the transition of piston to rotary.

[Lew]

I was the typical US high school tuba player who only played BBb and didn't think about anything else. About 10 years ago I decided to give Eb a try. When I first started playing Eb I would switch to BBb fingerings, especially when I encountered accidentals. With practice I was able to orient my brain to think in terms of which horn was in my lap before playing. Interestingly I never seemed to have as much problem adjusting embouchure. I think the differences between the mouthpieces I use for each help force me to adjust.

Like anything else, more practice makes it easier. I used to play in two community bands. I use my Eb for the larger band where there were more tuba players and BBb for the smaller band where I was the only tuba. Rehearsing with each every week and then practicing the parts for each band at least once a week helped me maintain some ability to play both with equal mediocrity. Since I have been playing with only one band I have been switching between Eb and BBb for each "season." I try to practice on each, but I do find it harder to maintain facility on both without a regular performance venue forcing me to practice.

I guess the real answer is like anything else in life, practice, practice, practice.

[pierso20]

Learning the fingering and tuning quirks of separate instruments in the SAME key is more trouble than reading music and playing the tuba in any-key-in-particular.

+1

+2

If you play both horns regularly it won't be difficult. Maybe the occasional brain slip but you'll be fine. It's not unlike grabbing a trumpet or piano or whatever else you play. If you view it as a similar (but NOT same) instrument then you can work it easily.