Playing Low

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 1:09 am

In this thread, we discuss how to play low in the blastissimo dynamic range with immediate "response".

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 2:07 am

a mic down the bell. works every time.

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 2:13 am

Scenario:

Maestro: Why the electric bass?
Tubaist: The 'bones play too damn loud.

Ken Herrick · Post by **Ken Herrick** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 2:27 am

Ole Peter T. had it all sorted out........
CANNONS & that was way back back in 1812 when the Rasputin footy team beat the crap out of Notre Dame.

Otherwise get Jake to imitate the Queen Mary berthing.

Ken Herrick · Post by **Ken Herrick** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:02 am

Ain't that "edit" funkshun handy?!?!

Tanks fer precipitatin.

Short answer to original? ????

Leather lips, heaps of air, and LOTS of practice.

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:41 am

just go to your typical elephant room and observe.

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:09 am

False-note exercises for tuba and other conical low brasses by Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Yo ... or%20tuba/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Interval routines by Klaus Bjerre for all treble and bass clef brasses.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Yo ... 20brasses/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Pitch reference drones:
Based on A=440HZ - sound files in MIDI and MP3 formats covering the octaves from C1-B1 through C6-B6 - Some music reference sheets for all common transpositions - more may come, but basically these are "by ear" exercises:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Yo ... %26%20MP3/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Low brass scale routines by Klaus Bjerre.
Routines for the Major mode, the Lydian mode, the Locrian mode, the Phrygian mode, the natural, melodic, and harmonic Minor modes, the Dorian mode, the Mixolydian mode, and the Lydian Dominant mode plus the 8-note Dominant scales. Each mode has pages addressed directly towards Euphonium (baritone, trombones) in treble and bass clefs plus bass clef tubas in F, Eb, CC, and BBb. These routines may also be used by other treble clef brasses (especially horn), clarinets, and saxophones.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Yo ... 0routines/" target="_blank" target="_blank

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:58 pm

Ken Herrick wrote:Ain't that "edit" funkshun handy?!?!

Tanks fer precipitatin.

Short answer to original? ????

Leather lips, heaps of air, and LOTS of practice.

Well, thanks for that.

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:05 pm

Couple of examples:

Untitled.png

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:14 pm

There is visual evidence you may be kicking too high.

pwhitaker · Post by **pwhitaker** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:13 pm

A wide inner rim and shallow cup mouthpiece with a large backbore helps considerably in this range and dynamic. The LM12 or MK12 made by Hauser is perfect for this, as is theirTommy Johnson model. ... You can hurt people with the LM12 on a Miraphone 1291 BBb's low F.

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:27 pm

goodgigs wrote:"my teacher says, playing above the staff will help your low range".

Citizen Kane, please tell your teacher to staff it!

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:48 pm

k001k47 wrote:Couple of examples:

Untitled.png

If you are playing these two excerpts blastissimo, the conductor may have a talk with you. Loud, yes, blast, no.

Jess Haney · Post by **Jess Haney** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:10 pm

tuben wrote:Just takes doing it, making dreadful noises and finding your way.

I'm not sure everyone CAN do extreme low blastissimo. It does definitely help to have the actual pitch (no matter how low) in your mind. This can be a challenge as these pitches are outside the singing/growling range for most players.

If you're trying to do this on a very heavy tuba (metal thickness), or a tuba that is already low-range stuffy, you may be frustrated. These sounds require the ability to move large flows of air through the instrument AND that the instrument resonate freely, not all do. Very heavy walled tubas (Willson CC, my MW Bell model), seem to want to keep the sounds in that range dark rather than getting that open vowel which I think is what you're looking for.

So: Jaw, down and forward. Oral cavity very open. Broad, energetic air going to an embouchure that is strong enough to contain all this energy. If low F is the last note in your range you can get the color you want on it, hammer it in practice until it is 100% effective, then go to E. (etc)

Or join a British Brass Band and play bottom BBb Bass.

I have never found that metal thickness has had an effect on whether or not I cold blow the low end off the horn. It does make it harder to blast with a nasty tone with thicker metal but I was taught an emboucher trick by Andrew Tucker that he learned from Pat Sheridan.

Step 1 move the mouthpiece higher towards your nose making it off-center to your emboucher
step 2 allow your top lip to become really loose
step 3 open your mouth to a degree as to where your bottom lip is more secure to the piece but not so to where it is gaping.

If all goes well when you move air you top lip should be doing 100% of the work with it banging around the inside of the mouthpeice and your bottom lip isolated on the bottom end of the mouthpiece. This is a technique I use for pedal D and below to play notes that will make the player on your left uncomfortable to sit next to you. It can be hard to make this drastic switch if you need to switch octaves quickly but for long sustains or lines within that range easier to manage. I have also been told that you can do the same thing with your bottom lip but in reverse. It takes a lot of practice and can often cause tuning issues on some tubas.

Billy M. · Post by **Billy M.** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:39 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG-aRBLmA8s" target="_blank

Mr. Olka's tips here are pretty effective.

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 1:17 am

tuben wrote:
Mark wrote:If you are playing these two excerpts blastissimo, the conductor may have a talk with you. Loud, yes, blast, no.
You may also find more success in approaching such passages not for sheer wattage, but for and incredibly dense, BUZZY (like a Contrabassoon), sound is more pervasive and driving.

I like that

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 1:34 am

bloke wrote:Drive up here with your tuba and a shovel, fill in some holes in the property that my wife's annoying doberman dug, and I'll show you some stuff about low range playing: general stuff and - in particular - stuff related to the two excerpts you posted.

bloke "or find someone closer to you that can help you out for $$'s, instead of shovel-work."

Who' re we burying? Me? You? Big Al?
I do need work done on my horn, actually. . . but TN is mighty far.

Lectron · Post by **Lectron** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:25 am

k001k47 wrote:Couple of examples:

Untitled.png

Would you have any examples where you'd actually have to play low?
If that presents a big problem, I assume it is not a register you have spend much time in?
But OK...It's legitimately. You are in your 1st post looking for a discussion around the subject

Just have a feeling you might know the answer, just don't wanna spend the time

I think maybe Bloke said it thou

bloke wrote:Drive up here with your tuba and a shovel, fill in some holes in the property that my wife's annoying doberman dug, and I'll show you some stuff about low range playing: general stuff and - in particular - stuff related to the two excerpts you posted.

bloke "or find someone closer to you that can help you out for $$'s, instead of shovel-work."

Kory101 · Post by **Kory101** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:19 am

"The Shift"

Roger Lewis · Post by **Roger Lewis** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 4:16 pm

Contact horn guys.com and buy Phil Teele's book. Then follow the instructions.

Roger

TubeNet

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