Edgy (Marching Band) Sousaphone Sound

[Tuboss2]

"The job" of marching band sousaphone players is to (and doing it very well) NOT be able to hear much of anything else other than themselves.

If you're playing that loud, the "sound" should be "nice" way up in the nosebleed seats in a 100,000 seat stadium.

...something the size of a 20K with a large mouthpiece and with the pedal mashed to the floor...

...and yes, it's just fine for the lips to be tingling by the end of the show.

20K, I'll tell you I do own a 20k(well my school does but you get the idea), and I have a schidmt JHDTU mouthpiece(gold plated). One friend of mine told me(we were comparing mouthpieces and I could that his bore was a lot deeper then mine therefore having less resistance which makes it easier for him to play louder). He told me I'm dealing with more resistance with the Mouthpiece I have but as I have proven time again I bypass this resistance my mouthpiece has quite easily due to my sheer amount of air support(took a while to get past it, but after a couple if months I can play louder then someone with a LM-12.

So, my question is, if you got the air support and chop horsepower/strength, mouthpieces really shouldn't matter, true or no?

And horsepower(VSU) doesn't always blast, they can sound pretty and really deep and fat. I feel like most people over look that aspect of their playing.

[tubajoe]

A few things:

1.)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example: Bootsy Collins is not Edgar Meyer is not Lemmy Kilmister is not Paul McCartney; all four of them are inventive, game-changing bass players and each created their own unique sound according to their message and their music.

2.)
Let's get our priorities straight... sometimes you gotta do whatever makes the ladies get up and dance.
("If the crowd don't get laid, you don't get paid.")

3.)
Don't confuse the Music business with the Entertainment business. Music can of course be entertaining and Entertainment can absolutely contain real music.... but they are two different worlds. ...and one is not necessarily superior to the other. Confusing the two or expecting them to merge more than they do only leads to frustration.

[k001k47]

Uhhh. . . Practice more; ask your teacher; sound, not feel; etc.

[k001k47]

Uhhh. . . Practice more; ask your teacher; sound, not feel; etc.

PM sent

[Tuboss2]

That video perfectly explains everyone on this topic who is completely against this sound because they don't do it.

[Michael Bush]

I feel this is appropriate given the response from the board members regarding the utter dislike of this sound:



Pay careful attention around the four minute mark to the end - I'm sure this could easily be translated to this topic

Ugh. That video is wrong about what it's actually talking about a little past the 4:00 minute mark (the relationship between language and thought), so I'm not sure how it could apply to this. Language is the structure of thought. (If you can't tell the difference between disinterested and uninterested, you can't think the difference either.)

http://www.amazon.com/Twice-as-Less-Ele ... 0393317412

[Toobist]

I feel this is appropriate given the response from the board members regarding the utter dislike of this sound:



Pay careful attention around the four minute mark to the end - I'm sure this could easily be translated to this topic

Ugh. That video is wrong about what it's actually talking about a little past the 4:00 minute mark (the relationship between language and thought), so I'm not sure how it could apply to this. Language is the structure of thought. (If you can't tell the difference between disinterested and uninterested, you can't think the difference either.)

http://www.amazon.com/Twice-as-Less-Ele ... 0393317412

Don't get me started on the bastardization of the English language...

I think I found a video that's off-topic a bit but expresses my feelings on both the topic of sousaphone sound concepts as well as the little aside on language:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xLsRI7- ... 58C786CD13

I guess I can concede on this point:
We can judge concepts of tone quality based on our expectations and the perceived expectations of our audience. So... Know your audience and the impact you wish to have on them.

I beg you though, please, please... choose to challenge your audience as much as entertain them and be an ambassador for the rest of us. It's been a life-long struggle against the stereotypes that are brought about mainly by players who are ignorant to that very struggle.

Off my soapbox now. I won't comment on this topic again. I promise.

[bigbob]

jacket here (yeah I wish I was a shadow of Leonhard):
But I love the Youngbloods. And in both of the videos you Edit:
BTW Mnozil brass is making a big spoof of it in the link I posted but if you want to know what "skill" means give them a listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWfAUY9gjoQ[/quote]
WOW that was GREAT!! I played it a few times loved there horns the Tuba had 7 valves!! Is it an F? The one horn had very little tubing Together they sounded great!! such a full sound from the tuba!! Arn't they the group that the one player plays everyones instrument but the tuba with his feet and hands?? a friend from my one art group sent me that file a great group and funny and light hearted in an expert way<s>THANKS..........................................BB

[bigbob]

such a full sound from the tuba!![/b]

The tuba player is a beast. One of the best sounds I have heard in a while!

YES!! I agree with you Terry!

[bigbob]

Gee that was from the 80's they have had plenty of time to practice since then<s>....BBb

[Tubaryan12]

Thank you Kiltie. Sometimes, those warm memories are not what we think.

[Biggs]

I don't think it is possible to have a discussion on this topic with a person who believes college football marching bands are intended as musical groups or designed to further the art of music performance or even to provide a musical outlet for their student-members.

Are such bands fun and worthwhile, for both members and spectators? Hell yes.

Is it possible to be a member of such a band and also, when called upon in other settings, function as a musician? Of course.

I am not talking about high school marching bands, or professional marching bands (i.e. the military), or DCI. I am strictly talking about college football marching bands.

[Tubaryan12]

I don't think it is possible to have a discussion on this topic with a person who believes college football marching bands are intended as musical groups or designed to further the art of music performance or even to provide a musical outlet for their student-members.

Are such bands fun and worthwhile, for both members and spectators? Hell yes.

Is it possible to be a member of such a band and also, when called upon in other settings, function as a musician? Of course.

I am not talking about high school marching bands, or professional marching bands (i.e. the military), or DCI. I am strictly talking about college football marching bands.

Even some high school bands have this purpose. My high school band was not that different from college. The only thing that suffered was my hearing.

Tubaryan "ehh...whatcha say?" 12

[Tuboss2]

You gotta remember in that 2nd video Kiltie linked, the tubas are fiber glass.
So that affects their sound a little bit. Atleast they were playing the right notes.

So, I've always wondered about my mouthpiece, what are the limitations of my mouthpiece? (I have a schidmt JHDTU mouthpiece by the way)

[Tubaryan12]

You gotta remember in that 2nd video Kiltie linked, the tubas are fiber glass.
So that affects their sound a little bit. Atleast they were playing the right notes.

So, I've always wondered about my mouthpiece, what are the limitations of my mouthpiece? (I have a schidmt JHDTU mouthpiece by the way)

The mouthpiece doesn't matter. Air is what matters for this.

[Tuboss2]

You gotta remember in that 2nd video Kiltie linked, the tubas are fiber glass.
So that affects their sound a little bit. Atleast they were playing the right notes.

So, I've always wondered about my mouthpiece, what are the limitations of my mouthpiece? (I have a schidmt JHDTU mouthpiece by the way)

The mouthpiece doesn't matter. Air is what matters for this.

alright I see then, so basically, take huge huge amounts of air in at one time and tighten the embouchure, correct?

[k001k47]

You gotta remember in that 2nd video Kiltie linked, the tubas are fiber glass.
So that affects their sound a little bit. Atleast they were playing the right notes.

So, I've always wondered about my mouthpiece, what are the limitations of my mouthpiece? (I have a schidmt JHDTU mouthpiece by the way)

The mouthpiece doesn't matter. Air is what matters for this.

alright I see then, so basically, take huge huge amounts of air in at one time and tighten the embouchure, correct?

What is your goal?

[Mark]

It is time. Someone post a food or beer pic. This thread is pointless.

I'm always slow to remember: it's TubeNet in the summer.

[Tubaryan12]

alright I see then, so basically, take huge huge amounts of air in at one time and tighten the embouchure, correct?

No. The only thing that changes is more air.

[Tuboss2]

He just wants to play really, obnoxiously loud.

Well I got that down already. I just want to make it not sound Blatty and kazoo like.
Low notes tho(Bb below the staff and lower), turn up the horsepower!
But yes that's what I'm tryin to accomplish...having a good loud.