CC Horn with an Easy Real *Low* Range

[Mark Horne]

I've read about a number of tubas being described as "having an easy low range" with examples like Thor and Tuono being mentioned frequently. I can vouch for the monstrous low G that will pop out of these horns, but in my limited play time, never really got a handle on how easy they were below that - specifically low D and Db (all five valves down). I ask this because I have a program coming up that features quite a few notes in this range down to pedal C - and they need to be loud upon occasion. It has definitely caused me to spend more practice time developing better projection in this range.

Of the horns I have access to, I find that the Neptune does a pretty solid job in this range, with the Alexander 163 nearly as good but requiring more work.

I have heard that some of the York-type 6/4 horns - the Yorkbrunner specifically, can do very well in this register but it requires much skill from the player to pull it off.

What horns do you consider to be the "easiest" in this lowest register (intonation, projection, resonance), and for those of you having played Neptunes or Alexanders - how would you compare them?

[MartyNeilan]

Dirty little secret:
Many 3/4 to 4/4 tubas have "easier" low ranges than most 6/4 tubas.

[bort]

The notes are always there, it's just a funky register in which to play loud and resonant. I think once you get down in that range, you should just try a bunch of different fingerings and slide combinations and see what works the best. The best fingerings aren't always what the math says it should be.

The 1291 I used to own had a very good low register, and I thought it didn't have that low G syndrome you're talking about. I also think that low Eb is a tricky note on CC tubas, and is a note I have to be able to live with if I'm going to buy a tuba.

I will also say that every 4 valve CC tuba I've played does "have" these notes, but it's not necessarily "fun" or "easy" to play them on demand. For me, at least.

My 188 is highly capable in this range, no problems with response or volume, but the difficulty comes with the depth and presence of the notes. It's NOT York-like, and it can be annoying when conductors think all tubas sound like Yorks.

[dsfinley]

I usually use privileged tone fingerings in the low register and I get really good results with them. My 2 cents for what they're worth.