actual question about 5th valve

[iiipopes]

The 5th valve on a "conventional" 5-valve tuba (as most "modern" CC tubas) is just that: just another valve, with its own tubing, as any other valve on a conventional (non-comp) tuba.

Since pitch is proportional, not linear, its tubing is constructed proportionally longer to take into account the need of the proportionally longer tubing for lower pitches, whether the older style 5=2+3 or now "conventional" "long whole step" meant primarily to use with the 4th valve to get low F in tune on a CC tuba.

[Dean E]

. . . . I am asking because I recently tried the other day a Yamaha YCB822 and for example, the low F is "freer blowing" on 1-4 than on 5-4 but I have to really pull 1 to put it in tune.

Overall it's a great instrument, but if it's stuffy in the low range becaues of the valve plumbing, then that's okay, I can live with that at work around it, like on my e-flat - but if it is not "supposed" to be stuffy than maybe I should try a different horn?

Thank you

Apparently the 5th valve on this instrument has a larger bore, and low notes using the 5th valve should be easier to blow (compared with using 1st valve). Bore: 19mm (0.748â€