I'm back playing again

[Low Brass Man]

Hi All,

After taking a decade off from playing, I'm back in the groove! I play in my church's orchestra and back then I was playing a Besson euphonium. However, this time around I have ventured out and started playing tuba! It's a Yamaha YPP 641. (My primary instrument is the piano--this will a fun chance to serve by playing the tuba.)
Back when I played the euphonium I used my trust Bach 1 1/2 G... But, with the tuba, finding the right mouthpiece is my mission and I will need to get some good advice.
I'm using a Helleberg (no number listed) and I'm trying to find one that can hit those notes below the staff--G, F, E, etc.). Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[scottw]

First, welcome back! Many of us here were in the same boat as you are, coming back from time off.
I will respectfully suggest, though, that you might well direct your energy to practicing with the equipment you now have instead of going through a mouthpiece hunt. You have not only a long layoff from brass playing, but you are also moving down the scale to another instrument than the one you used to play. It stands to reason that the low range will be harder for you for both those factors. Give it time and practice and you will likely see improvement. There are numerous low range studies for you to work on; try to work one note lower, not worrying about all of them at once. If after time and practice you are still having trouble, then would be a good time to try out new equipment. Good luck and have fun!

[Donn]

That Helleberg is a really good mouthpiece for those low notes.

[Low Brass Man]

I appreciate your encouragement! I've discovered, with the tuba, it's harder to hit the low notes... You're right, it will take some practice time to build my chops up... (I've been pulling out my piano music--working Bach's Invention No. 8, left hand/bass clef... That is helping me tremendously.)

[scottw]

That Helleberg is a really good mouthpiece for those low notes.

You said there is no number on the Helleberg, so that is good. The marked one--2-S?--is not so good down low. Keep at it and keep expanding your "cash register"---------the low ones will come!

[Low Brass Man]

Thanks very much!

For this situation, what's everyone's thought for the Perantucci PT 50 or PT 88? I've been reading feedback for both of these on various websites.

[Michael Bush]

That Helleberg is a really good mouthpiece for those low notes.

+1

I completely get the desire to try mouthpieces. They replicate themselves on my shelf, I'm convinced. But if you don't already have the mouthpiece accumulating disorder that afflicts some of us, your Helleberg is not going to make it hard to play those notes. The solution is probably long tones.

Do as I say, not as I do!

[Donn]

Seriously, any mouthpiece will do at this point.

As for Helleberg models ... in recent times, unmarked is 120S, no? 7B is always marked (I think), and those are the two Conn Hellebergs. Am I right?

[Low Brass Man]

We'll folks, I found the mouthpiece! As you'll see in my previous post I was using a Helleberg, which is a very good mouthpiece. However, I couldn't get the sound I was looking for--hitting the low notes, with volume that would fill up a large venue (a 3000 seat church sanctuary). And the mouthpiece piece is ... drumroll please... a Perantucci PT 50! All I can say is wow! (Thanks to the folks at Baltimore Brass!). We are getting ready for our Christmas program The weekend of December 10--the mouthpiece will be just right for this (live streamed on fbcj.org).

If you are looking for a mouthpiece, I highly recommend the Perantucci PT 50.

Thanks everyone for your help and input!

[Alex C]

You need a more structured approach to getting back in the groove other than the left hand part to Bach's music. You ought to be able to find some progressive etudes or an Arban book fairly cheaply. It would help you get better faster, IMHO.