Tuba players playing other things

[b.williams]

The usual suspects: tuba, euphonium, trombone

[Three Valves]

I recently got into bass guitar again.

Stopped playing the upright in 9th grade (Marching/concert band more fun)

I also want to play the guitar.

Open D tuning and a slide have proved helpful.

[Worth]

Euphonium, piano, electric and acoustic guitar, trumpet
Bass trombone in the works
And some Ocarina!

[BMadsen]

I play

-Alto Trombone
-Tenor Trombone (both large and small bores as appropriate)
-Valve Trombone
-Bass Trombone
-Tuba
-Euphonium
-Bass Trumpet
-Tenor Herald Trumpet

I started as a trumpet player (still can play some, but wouldn't accept jobs paid or unpaid on it). When I switched to the low brass (first Euph, then trombone), I related everything to trumpet. Eventually, I started thinking as a trombonist or a euphonium player. I've found that to be true no matter what double I learn - first, I relate it to the closest thing I can compare it to, then I eventually think of it as it's own thing.

And that's the key to mastery - eventually you need to not think through the lens of another instrument, but just in that instrument. Same with learning other languages - mastery comes when you think in that language, rather than translating in your head from your native language.

[Tom Mason]

Here might be more of what you are seeking.

Bachelors degree in clarinets and education
Masters degree in bass trombone and education
Post graduate work in jazz string bass performance

In all of this I have performed professionally on clarinets, saxophones, trombones, tuba and string/electric basses.

All of them have differing performance attributes and some have shared attributes.
For example, clarinets and saxes have a few mouth and embouchure set up points that are usually are not shared.
There are some brass playing ideas that are not shared.
In both there are some areas that are shared.

[hup_d_dup]

Bb tuba in two community bands and a quintet
Eb tuba in a british brass band
Bass trombone in another brass band.
Euphonium as needed in pick-up groups.

Trumpet was actually my first instrument until I had some dental problems (now resolved). I'm working to get my trumpet chops back.

Hup

[molly28205]

Wow, there's a lot more saxophone people than I would have thought! I guess because I've always been so lousy on the reeds. I tried soprano sax for 2 months... 2 sad, squeaky months.

[Jerryleejr]

Wow, there's a lot more saxophone people than I would have thought! I guess because I've always been so lousy on the reeds. I tried soprano sax for 2 months... 2 sad, squeaky months.

Sadly most of us were trumpet players that were recruited into tuba..

JJ

[Donn]

I spent about 10 minutes on the soprano. I'm not sure anyone should play that instrument - I love to listen to Sidney Bechet, but he may be the exception that proves the rule, as his style is not one that anyone would emulate today.

One thing you may notice is there are more bass saxophone players here than average (seeing as the average is something like 0.001%.) And string bass, electric bass players. I don't know if any of us bring a tuba player perspective to these other instruments, or vice versa, but I do believe playing a bass line is a skill that we bring to bear on whatever bass instrument.

[Tom]

Most soprano saxophone mouthpieces sound like fingernails on a chalkboard.
With a Selmer Paris soprano what we bought (for resale) decades ago, there was a silver-plated brass Selmer mouthpiece in the case.
That particular mouthpiece (which we never sold) makes me, Mrs. bloke, and many others sound nearly as if we actually know how to play a soprano saxophone.
Of course, only a few makes/models of soprano saxophones are capable of being played close to in-tune. Someday, Kenny G may well discover which makes/models those are...

Kenny's got it covered!
http://kennygsaxophones.com/product/ken ... axophones/

[michael_glenn]

I initially started on electric bass. I then started tuba in high school. I added double bass my junior year of high school. I've dabbled in euphonium and I played bass trombone in jazz ensemble the fall semester of my freshman year of college. Currently, I play tuba predominantly and I play bass at my church. Sometimes I miss bass trombone.

[Reid C]

It is pretty interesting the different instruments you see. I play guitar, BBb tuba, bass guitar, ukulele, piano, trombone, melodyhorn, mandolin, and banjo (in order from most to least proficient). We probably double so much to keep ourselves occupied between the whole notes and the never ending rests.

[Aglenntuba]

I play the obvious euphonium, a mean jazz trombone, and the wild card- clarinet. Picked it up in woodwind methods, now I practice it a few times a week and play it in ensembles where tuba isn't needed. I have an electric bass amp... now I just need to find a bass so I can learn it. For the time being, it works well through my silent brass with the fuzz turned up

[tylerferris1213]

I started with tuba in middle school. I picked up bass guitar and dabbled with trombone and euphonium in high school. Now that I'm in college, I have gotten significantly better at trombone and euphonium. I also play ukulele for fun when I get burnt out on low brass instruments.

[Davidus1]

Started with Tuba.

Euphonium, Bass Trombone, Trombone, Upright Bass, Electric Bass. Played trumpet for awhile but was too much difference for me to be comfortable with plus there are only so many hours in a day. ( :

[ndh3425]

i am working on picking up the trombone again. preferably the bass trombone. because i am a tuba player. i want to audition for jazz clinic on the bass trombone

[hduong]

Besides playing tuba, I double on Bass Trombone and Electric/Upright bass frequently. For weekend church services I play piano and guitar/bass rotating with other musicians

[jbaylies]

anyone else 'double' on didgeridoo? not that there's any work for it but it is enjoyable

[The Big Ben]

Of course, only a few makes/models of soprano saxophones are capable of being played close to in-tune. Someday, Kenny G may well discover which makes/models those are...

Man.... Can't anyone show Kenny a little love? We used to hire his funk band to play our parties back in college (late 70s) and we got down and got pretty drunk... What more can you expect?

[MikeS]

Most of my non-tuba playing time these days is on viola and wooden flutes. The viola gives me something to do in my orchestra on pieces without tuba. I got really intrigued with the sound of the Baroque flute and took that up a while back. That led me to playing keyless and simple-system wooden flutes in Irish music sessions.

Jbaylies, it's been many years but I do recall hearing Ron Bishop play a mean digeridoo