E flat and F tuba question

[Cthuba]

This question is posed namely to people who have played both bass tubas.

Is F more versatile than E-flat when it comes to key signatures.

I love E-flat tuba, but I remember a friend of mine saying once that it's easier for him to switch key signatures on F as oppose to E flat. I just wanted to entertain some opinions with this.

[tylerferris1213]

I agree. F is a little more neutral on the sharp/flat scale.

To add to it, the difference in sound between an Eb and an F tuba is pretty big. This isn't always true, but for the most part, F tubas have a brighter and more delicate sound. Eb tubas sound a little bigger and darker. Again, this isn't always true, but that has been my experience with them.

Go with whatever sounds good to you. Each has their tuning quirks, but they both can play well in any key signature. Sound is more important than key.

[PaulTkachenko]

Someone is going to say this, so I'll go first ...

Which F tuba vs which Eb? There are so many types ...

[Cthuba]

Why does there need to be a model or make? I just wanted to compare which horn would be more versatile against various key signatures.

I guess for arguments sake. (Forgive me I am not very knowledgable of f tubas)

Miraphone Norwegian star and 181 bel canto 5 valve

Or

Meinl Weston 2141 and Meinl Weston 45slp

Again. These are just what I think are comparable but if I'm wrong please correct me

[swillafew]

I could understand a treble clef oriented person having some practical reasons to go straight to Eb and never consider an F. The F tubas are still easier to find for sale, at least in Illinois. I have stopped shopping, having found a very nice one.

[modelerdc]

I remember John Fletcher once said that he spent some time playing orchestra tuba parts on all four common pitches of tuba to see if any one of them worked better than the others. He concluded that modern music is fairly chromatic so it was a wash, none of the common tubas, F, E flat, CC BB flat was much better than any other as fair as playing in various keys in modern music. Of course there are other things to consider as well such as breadth of tone, and what register the part is in. Asked why he played E flat, Fletcher said that when he started playing he had a good E flat but didn't have a good F. This is not a knock against F tubas, there were not as many good ones around back then. But the point, I think is the key of the tuba is less important than if it's a good instrument that suites both you and the part.

[Ulli]

I own and play F, EEb and BBb Tubas- just at my whim.

But I am not able, to give you an answer to your question.

Of course, the instruments sounds diffently, but addicted from their summation of conditions,
not from the key they have.

[J.c. Sherman]

Answer: No.

Better answer: everything's easier on a 3+1 compensating Eb

[Bob Kolada]

I played Eb on everything for years but went to a piston F a year or so ago. I never had a problem playing sharp keys on Eb or super flat keys (Dixie and concert band) on F. Hell, B natural on Eb is sweet!

[ursatz]

Fantastic Symphony is a piece of pie, easy as cake, and tons o' fun on an Eb.

And E Major presents some minor brain damage, but only minor. So ALL of my exercises are in E (and the sharp keys in general) when I roll up my sleeves to practice the high horn.

If trying to decide between the two, I'd say SOUND/FEEL of the individual horn will trump any sort of key/fingering issue.

[PaulTkachenko]

All keys are fine on all (well made /designed) tubas.

However, if they made a 621 in Eb, I would probably have gone for that rather than the F. It's tricky getting your head around all 4 pitches of tuba. Reading is fine, but jazz doesn't seem to sit as well on the F - this is because much of it is written on Bb and Eb instruments (saxes/trumpets/trombones) - it's totally do-able on both.

[eupher61]

for about 15 years I didn't have a BBb tuba, just an F and a souzie. I played an awful lot of dixie on my F. When I had a PIggy, I did a lot of CC jazz playing. When I had an Eb 10 years ago, and again now, I play a lot of Eb jazz, but F or BBb is no problem either.
It's not a matter of lying well on any specific key tuba, it's how comfortable YOU are as a player of that key tuba. Check out Eli Newberger, playing CC. It certainly isn't a "lies well" issue for him, and it isn't for me either. There is no "Difficult" key/scale, only less familiar.