Flattened or arched fingers?

[basslizard]

Due to hand size and strength, I played flat on rotors. If I have to play pistons, such as on a euph, I simply cannot play as fast by a long shot. I even for a while tried a front action Conn short stroke baritone, and it was ergonomically impossible.
On piano, I can barely reach an octave, and if I'm playing shorter intervals than that, my fingers are "naturally curved." But you do what you have to in order to reach.
I don't know how Carol Jantsch does it, because she does not have huge hands, although they are bigger than mine. But she is still young.

This is partially why I prefer three valves. I struggle with four valves, and not just because I have rarely had the chance to play with more than three. The exception was the full sized tuba I played in college. Unfortunately, as a non-music major, I wasn't taking lessons, and the internet was still based on telnetting into the university. I barely had time to practice, let alone master a 4th valve. The only horn I played with rotors is a bass trombone with two triggers. I wonder how much faster my fingers could be with rotors - first I'd have to get faster with my lips.

[tbonesullivan]

This is partially why I prefer three valves. I struggle with four valves, and not just because I have rarely had the chance to play with more than three. The exception was the full sized tuba I played in college. Unfortunately, as a non-music major, I wasn't taking lessons, and the internet was still based on telnetting into the university. I barely had time to practice, let alone master a 4th valve. The only horn I played with rotors is a bass trombone with two triggers. I wonder how much faster my fingers could be with rotors - first I'd have to get faster with my lips.

This is why I prefer the 3+1 setup on horns, compensating or not. My right hand pink just isn't up to speed.

[MaryAnn]

This is why I prefer the 3+1 setup on horns, compensating or not. My right hand pink just isn't up to speed.

In my "find the right euph saga" I went through quite a few before ending up with my Sterling Perantucci compensator, which I love. For quite a while I was hacking away on a four-valve King, and I had to reach around with my left hand to play the 4th valve. So the switch to an actual compensator was easy, and it plays in tune easily, while the King was a dreadful drag.

[jperry1466]

I taught and practiced arched fingers as I felt it gave greater speed and technique, especially with piston valves. But at my age, with small and arthritic hands, rotary paddles and flat fingers are my only option. I had right shoulder surgery last week, so it's no fingering at all for a couple of months.

[timothy42b]

I had right shoulder surgery last week, so it's no fingering at all for a couple of months.

I played trombone left handed a couple of years, after a rotator cuff/impingement problem. But a tenor trombone is easy to put together either way. I'm trying to picture how to do it on a tuba, must be awkward past 3 valves.

[basslizard]

I had right shoulder surgery last week, so it's no fingering at all for a couple of months.

I played trombone left handed a couple of years, after a rotator cuff/impingement problem. But a tenor trombone is easy to put together either way. I'm trying to picture how to do it on a tuba, must be awkward past 3 valves.

I had right shoulder surgery over the summer and I was definitely out of playing for a few weeks. I had to resort to playing my part on a keyboard so I was at least familiar with the music for an upcoming concert.

I'm currently loving on my Eb tuba - it's easier on my shoulder and arthritis because the valves are on the front. It's just as big and heavy as my Bb.

[Rick Denney]

I see such a variety that I doubt my own practice of playing straight-fingered at times and curved at times is that unusual.

I have this feeling that the more brain cells we task to finger curve while playing, the fewer will be tasked with doing something important.

Rick “who changes the curve—one way or the other—when fingers get noticeably tired or cramped” Denney