Problems with holding the big tuba

[panderdoti]

I occasionally play a 20j instead of my Holton sousie for alumni band sit down gigs. When I do I have a rubberized cloth that is used to keep rugs from slipping. I tuck it into my belt so it stays in place.

I tried a stand in college with my big CC 1290 and for me it didn't work well because I tend to move my horn around a bit to the music.

[bone-a-phone]

This is maybe a little more out-of-the-box that what's helpful, but I play my euphonium while sitting in a recliner. It makes everything so much easier (except turning the pages of the music). I'm careful not to lean back so far that I get condensation back in my mouth. Can't do that with trombone.

[Art Hovey]

I used to have a big tuba that had the mouthpiece too low for me if it rested on my chair and too heavy to support on my legs for long times. This was my solution:
http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/tuba/tuba-support.html
Now I have a big tuba that wants me to be taller, so I sit on a small cushion while it rests on my chair.

[marccromme]

The easiest, cheapest, and most lighweight solution is to buy a yoga block or similar hard foam cushion and cut it to the right height using a bread knife. Then place it between you legs, on the chair, and place your tuba on it. Problem solved, and it travels inside the gig bag without denting the tuba.

In the opposite case, torso to low, take a hard foam cushion under your butt, an place the tuba on the chair with a bit of yoga mat to prevent it from sliding and denting. That's what I use with success. Cheap and efficient.

[SouthernOhio53]

Hi there. You may have already solved your problem, but I have a nearly new Tuba Essentials stand that I used a few years ago when I had wrist surgery. It was for my Miraphone 187 5-valve BBb (bell facing to the right from the player). I would be happy to send it to you for just the cost of shipping if you think it might help. Check it out at TubeEssentials.com, and let me know.

[MikeW]

Three possibles:
First: One tuba player I know (he had a big old bell-front conn) cut two or thee feet off of the front end of an old wooden ironing board, and padded the square end. He could then put the square end on his chair and sit on it to hold it down, with the tapered end projecting between his legs to support the tuba. Of course this only works if the mouthpiece happens to be at the right height.

Second: I love the yoga-block idea, and I saw some blocks in Winners, about ten bucks a pair. If they still have them when the Covid scare lets me back in there I shall have to try it.

Third: I had similar problems myself when I was playing an old Salvation Army model besson/boosey Bb. I got round it by looping a leather marching sling around my thighs and letting it hang down to make a nest between my legs for the tuba to sit in. Not perfect, but I already had the strap so it was cheap and mostly got the job done (but I was a lot younger and possibly more limber in those days).

Best of luck.

I

[Bobmecum]

Obviously, most of us prefer a tuba stand.
I like and use the DEG Easy Tuba Rest.
Does the job and has an optional extension tube when standing is required.
But money is an issue here.
Get a thick piece of plywood, 5/8 or 3/4.
Cut it to 12 x 24.
Put it on top of your chair and sit on it with the long part between your legs.
Rest the tuba on the plywood.

[pjv]

To answer your question: a book. Use anti-slip shelving liner to keep it from moving around. Sometimes having something too cushy to put your tuba on can work against you. To figure out what height works for you you can use a couple of books and stack the up until you know what you want.

Though many prefer their tuba to slant diagonally to one side, others prefer the tuba to be as straight up as possible so that the tuba almost doesn't fall in any direction. In this way you use the least amount of muscles in your arm to hold the tuba which is certainly a win for freer breather.

As to what others think about stands; they are not you and you are they one plying your tuba. Use whatever works. You might be sold on Ising a book or a stand or a yoga block for years and then give it up and then go back and, really, who cares.
It's your gig.

[Matt G]

Lot's of good ideas here.

An alternate could be using something like a Blue Note tuba strap (no idea if anyone makes these anymore...). Snug but comfortable in a seated position, the tuba should not be moving around much. You may not like this, though.

[markhays1012@aol.com]

from my hips up, i'm 6'4" from my hips down i'm 5'10"... i have a very long torso with short legs so i usually don't find horns that are too tall for me. most of the time the horns are too short so i use a YOGA block (which i saw mentioned earlier) and i have an old neoprene knee brace that has velcro on the ends.

i put a divot in the block to give the horn a place to rest. i put it on the bottom of the horn and wrap the knee brace around it and the tubing... i use a bag and leave the hard case at home... so in the bag i can leave the block on and just slide it around a little.

i never liked holding a horn in my lap, so i have a folding keyboard bench that i take with me. it's long enough so that when i straddle it, i have room in the front for the horn to rest.

I have a new Eastman Tuba that is way too short for me to sit it on the chair. I am trying to construct something like your yoga block set up. Do you think you could take a photo of your set up and reply or send it to me? It might save me some time and I would greatly appreciate the help.

[EdFirth]

From your post it sounds like the leadpipe is where you are comfortable with it and the issue is your horn sliding around on your lap. I had the same issue with my King rotary Bb. It was set up right but wanted to slide around on my lap, especially with tux pants so I bought a bass strap(black) , tied it to the marching rings and it just sits there...with no hands. They don't cost much or take up any space. Good luck working it out. Ed

[Ace]

If you want to experiment with a stand but don't to invest first, look for a trash can that is the height that you need your tuba to be, turn it upside down, and place the tuba on it.

That is a clever idea, Mark. Although, the concept of tubas and trash cans together gives me the chills. Ha.

Ace

[MartyNeilan]

A lot of the issues are due to leadpipe height. If the pipe was moved up or down a little, you may find the instrument much easier to hold. Newer instruments where the leadpipe is "off the bell" instead of soldered all the way around are easier to move with less scaring. Sometimes there is enough play/flexibility to go up or down a small amount without rebending the pipe, otherwise it needs to be filled with pitch (or similar) and rebent. The majority of times I have used a tuba stand in the past were to get the mouthpiece lined up with my mouth, instead of forehead.

[toobagrowl]

Since all tubas have different leadpipe heights, just use rubber-grippy shelving liner. Cut a sheet to drape over your leg and place your tuba over it, between your legs. There isn't much need for a tuba stand, imo, unless you have a big, heavy-*** recording bell tuba or similar that you are playing for long periods of time.

I've been using the cheap rubber-grippy shelving liner for my tubas for years, and it works best for me. It comes in rolls - in black or cream color - and is easy to cut the amount you need.
You will need to replace whatever you cut after a while because the liner loses it's grippy-ness after dozens of uses. Luckily you can cut many sheets off a roll, so it lasts a long time

[aqualung]

. . . . look for a trash can . . . . .

I will sometimes use a common-as-flies 5 gallon bucket, inverted. Cover it with a dark cloth for formal concerts.

[bone-a-phone]

I don't have a big tuba, but I use a single leather bandolier strap. It goes over my left shoulder and under my right arm. And then I'm able to rest the tuba on my right leg, with some shelf liner to keep it where I put it. That works pretty well. I've been tempted to get one of those fancy Neotech harnesses, but I had the strap sitting around, and it works. It's easy enough to get on and off, and with gravity, it kind of self-adjusts. Plus, I can stand up and walk with it if need be.

Kind of like this, except a full on strap instead of those skinny strings. And of course, I'm much better looking.

[Lebowitz]

I built tuba stand from scratch. luckily I had most of the stuff laying around so kept it fairly cheap. Here is the parts list:
Old snare stand
1/2"x18" black iron pipe
4" pvc coupling (schedule 40)
1/2" metal flange
yoga mat (or something similar to protect horn)
bolts

I cut the PVC coupling in half and connect the flange to it with bolts. Screwed that onto pipe. Removed snare holder from tripod and slipped pipe into tripod to give me height I wanted, then removed and drilled hole through pipe for bolt to add security in case pipe would slip down from weight of my tuba. The bolt rests on top of the tripod. I had an extra PVC rubber boot that I used for padding over the top of the bolts of the flange for the top of the PVC cradle. I still want to add some extra holes along the pipe for more adjustment and maybe some gap filler along the flange and paint to dress up and make it look pretty. I think I had less than 25 bucks in it.


I seen something similar for this on Youtube and it works quite well. And I use a drum throne with the stand and its is very comfortable. Thinking of building another that is taller that I could use to play standing up with a harness for extra protection.

[tubeast]

Unfortunately, the sliding motion the OP is struggling with hasn´t been described yet.

If the horn is pushing Your knees apart, sinking straight down in the process:
Try planting your feet further apart than your knees.
It helps to just move the heels outward, toes pointing slightly inwards.

This way your shin bones will coincide with the resulting force on your thighs, so those muscles Bloke mentioned won´t have to pull the knees toward each other as hard.
Many People sit with their knees wider apart than their feet, toes pointing outwards. Bad idea.

If the bottom bow is sliding away from you in a motion parallel to your thighs, try a lower chair or shoes with a thicker sole, making sure your thighs are about parallel to the ground.
If you find out your gut is resting on your thighs, so raised knees will affect your breathing: Lose some weight. (been there, done that).
In case that´s not possible or inconsistent with Your desired lifestyle, use a strap.