french tuba

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:34 pm

Clifford Bevan's "The Tuba Family," 2nd Edition has a description on pp 345-6. The six valves lower the innstrument's pitch by:

1 whole tone
2 half tone
3 two tones
4 two and a half tones
5 half tone
6 three and a half tones

I'm sure there is some real craft in tuning all of these valves.

There is a full-page fingering chart which I can scan and send you if you send me a PM. Of course, I recommend that all tubists own this book.

Cheers,
Allen Walker

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:32 am

snufflelufigus wrote: thanks... err... so 2 and 5 are the same?

I doubt it. It's probably like 2 and 6 on a typical 6-valve F tuba. They are both half steps, but 6 is much flatter than 2. Similarly, 1 and 5 are different versions of a whole step. That's why I suggested that the tuning scheme of the six valves on the French c tuba was probably complex.

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:44 am

If you join

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMasterPublicPhotosV/

you will be able to download

Pages illustrating fingerings and scales from a 1913 book on 6 and 5 valve versions of the Courtois French tuba in C. A commented attempt, by YM, to translate the history behind the development of the 6 valve version has been added (1551KB)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMaste ... 1913Bk.pdf

Klaus