Holding a Tuba

[scottw]

Baltimore Brass tuba stand!

[bort]

I don't like tuba stands. The benefits are nice, but it becomes one more thing to carry around, and I guess I'm kind of a minimalist -- I want to have my tuba, my mouthpiece, and that's it. I don't want to depend on ANY other stands, straps, or whatever else to make it comfortable to play.

If holding a tuba or the playing angle isn't comfortable as-is, or with a mouthpipe modification, then it's not going to work out for me.

At most, I'll use a piece of shelf liner to keep the horn from slipping. But a lot of times I can't be bothered to get that out of my bag either.

Tuba, mouthpiece, go.

[Dan Schultz]

I've owned probably 100 tubas in the last 20 years... some I thought would become my 'forever tuba' and I moved leadpipes to suit me. It turned out that I no longer own any of them. The mouthpipe on my 5/4 Rudolf Meinl BBb is waaay too high to rest the horn in my lap. I COULD easily move the leadpipe because it's what I do. But..... these days I prefer to just use a tuba rest. The tuba rest fits either inside the bell or in my stand bag and it can be adjusted to work with almost any chair that any venue might provide.

[edsel585960]

I just hold the 20j on my right thigh. Gets kind of heavy sometimes.

[MikeMason]

Stand all the way. Just changed to a Hercules. Heavy,but rock solid. Takes all the muscle tension away so I can focus exclusively on not embarrassing myself (with limited results)

[phaymore]

Every horn I've ever owned I have sat in my lap. I've also never owned a 6/4 horn so that could be one reason. I did use a stand years ago when I got a compensating valve top horn but eventually got rid of the stand. Just like bort said, it's just one more thing to carry around.

[Donn]

I kind of squirm around. I put it here, and then there, when I get tired of here, (or if I need to see if there's anyone standing in front of the band, who would normally be hidden behind the bell.) I can't really keep track of all the places it's been, but mainly the weight is carried by the left leg, maybe 6 inches back from the knee, and the right leg splays out and down to catch the bottom bow. Holton front valve BAT, 24 inch forward bell. Works out pretty well, really, but not so much when I experimented with regular slide-pulling - this position uses both arms.

[Erik_Sweden]

I sit on a piano stool turned 90 deg and put bottom bow on the pall and lean the tuba to the left so mouthpiece is in correct position. Good thing with this is I can play for hours since no weight on my lap and as a bonus I see the music stand and conductor very well.

[happyroman]

In one of his YouTube videos, Chris Olka says he super glues pieces of a mouse pad to two spots on the bottom bow of his tubs, corresponding to where the tuba comes into contact with his thighs. He uses black to match his concert dress pants and the mouse pads provide some padding and enough friction to keep the tuba from sliding around.

Of course, he is a big, strong guy so the tuba probably feels pretty light to him (even a YamaYork).

[wisekwai]

I would like a Deg stand, just to keep handy for performances where I might encounter a strange chair that won't hold my horn.

[tubeast]

Bottom bow sits on middle of both thighs. Horn is mostly upright.
During loooooong all-day rehearsal sessions, yesterday´s newspaper folded and shoved in pant´s legs (resembling Football protective pads, but not quite as humongous) helps a little. I don´t care who chuckles at the sight, as long as it does the trick.

THE BEST clothing for tubists: Lederhosen. Therefore pant-wise, Bavarian folk-band must be the best gig there is. Rigid, protective, non-slipping surface.

[PaulMaybery]

I would normally suggest using a rest such as the BBC. These can position the tuba with the mouthpiece just about anywhere that is comfortable and ergonomic. BUT - recently a tuba friend in a top tier orchestra suggested wrapping a friction surface material (such as drawer liner - found the kitchen section of many home stores) around the 1st branch/bottom bow ferule were it contacts the left thigh. I was surprised at how easy the tuba just sits there, and without trying to slide down the leg of my pants, was comfortable for several hours of practicing. It just so happens that on that particular horn the mouthpipe position and angle are compatable. I had tried the same trick on the other side of the bottom bow and it never worked, though to me that seemed logical as that is where the tuba butts into the leg. But alas, the sliding can better be prevented from the left side. If I can avoid carrying a tuba rest, I will be happy with one less item to schlepp.
I will also confess that it did recently purchase a wonderful (foldable) chair that I likely will schlepp to gigs. (Adjustrite by Vito) It has adjustable legs and a slightly tilted seat. It was designed for cellists and I love it though not cheap at $179) One thing to consider though, is that the seat is not very deep and there is not room in the front to rest the tuba on the chair, so if that is your plan, forget using it. For a lap position it works very well.

[Worth]

The heavier the horn the more it makes you sink in your chair without the use of a stand. I don't use a stand, thus like to use a square boat cushion to sit on which offers some lift to overcome either especially saggy chairs or someone with a big head in a row in front of you. Got a non-descript black cover for it from IKEA and good to go.

[MaryAnn]

I went the rounds with my NStar. Tuba stand.....bell leans towards me, and I need the bell to lean *away* from me to get the mouthpiece at an angle that works. So, bye bye tuba stand cost. I have ended up carrying a phone book (plan to replace with styrofoam) and some shelf liner and a guitar footstand with me. All less hassle than the tuba stand. I sit kitty-corner on the chair, on the phone book which is shoved all the way to the back, leaving room for the bow in front of me on the chair. And I am skinny, so the corner of the chair that sticks out has plenty of room for the bottom bow. The shelf liner goes around the phone book and out on to the chair so neither slips. I'm on and off with the guitar stand (which I already owned;) it does take some stress off my left arm but I also find myself forgetting to use it (left leg.) But at least I've got the height and leadpipe angle at a place that works now, and my neck is not killing me after an hour. And the tuba still is just the cat's meow.

[Uncle Markie]

I play large Martin tubas - they weigh in at 30 lbs. each. I use (currently) the new Hercules stand, with some Yoga mat (black) foam material contact cemented into the cradle to keep the front action horn from tipping/sliding away to my left. I find it to be a lot better made than the old DEG - less rocking, etc.

As to moving leadpipes - I've done this in the past, but the problem remains the seating. If the chair is cushioned, things don't line up. If the chair has a slick surface like the dreaded steel folding chair, it may not work. Meanwhile you've altered the horn to fit a chair you may never sit upon in a performance situation.

The ubiquitous steel folding chair is the bane of my existence, especially on the summer concerts, etc. These days I am usually the entire tuba section, and the horn is "up" all the time. I have constructed a "chair insert" made of plywood and some scrap pieces that raise the seat level, bring up the back so I'm not sitting in a crouch, and it has a front extension with a little bit of plumbing parts to create a post upon which the cradle from a DEG stand sits. It pops in the folding chair snugly, keeps the horn where it should be, is stable and eliminates the wasted effort wrangling the horn all through the gig. I will try a raised platform for the horn cushioned with the yoga mat foam in the next version of this contraption. I have made different versions for the top action action horn and the front horn. Once I get it "right" I'll post plans so that anyone with a saw and some basic skills can make their own.

I've noticed several of my colleagues (not tuba players) carrying around the wedge-shaped orthopedic cushions to deal with the folding chairs. These things create a lot of lower back pain; designed to comfortable for pretty much nobody.

Oddly, the very adjustable leadpipe of the sousaphone eliminates nearly all of this!

Mark Heter

[Toobist]

experimenting with classic guitar footrest (lowest possible position) to elevate my left leg and support the (5/4 size) tuba.

- weighs 1.5 lbs.
- collapses flat, and slips in gig bag pocket

Yes! I thought I was the only one.

[ScottM]

I quite short so have a different issue as most mouthpieces hit me in the forehead. I use a DEG stand with one horn. I like it as it is easily adjustable and I can make it short enough so I am not wrestling with the horn. It is one more thing to carry to a gig but the comfort of a better playing position makes it worth it to me. I use it with my PT20. It isn't heavy and I installed a bicycle seat adjusting screw to make adjusting it easier.
I have a Mirafone 184 also. This horn is a little short so I just use a hand towel which I can fold multiple ways to make the horn the correct height regardless of the chair I am using.
I think having the horn be in a comfortable position is important for musical and ergonomic reasons. I already have enough physical challenges due to the size of the horn so anything I can do to make life easier is good.
ScottM