Contrabass Tubas

[TubaCoopa]

Alright alright, I know the whole BBb vs. CC thing is a rather hot topic, and I'm not necessarily looking for opinions here, mainly just previously posted topics about this that I can read. (It's surprisingly hard to search for) I suppose if you must say something, then you may, but don't let this get out of hand.

[Bill Troiano]

That's why I have have 2 CC's and no Eb or F.

[sloan]

That's why I have have 2 CC's and no Eb or F.

Bigamist!

[SplatterTone]

God plays a big bore B-flat. Here is the proof.
http://tinyurl.com/6kofhf

[TubaCoopa]

Your responses are hilariously unhelpful!

[Rick Denney]

Alright alright, I know the whole BBb vs. CC thing is a rather hot topic, and I'm not necessarily looking for opinions here, mainly just previously posted topics about this that I can read. (It's surprisingly hard to search for) I suppose if you must say something, then you may, but don't let this get out of hand.

The audience won't be able to tell the difference between the tubas (they might notice a difference between the players, though).

There is a difference in the way they feel to the player. This is pretty subtle in my experience, especially when comparing the same notes (rather than the same fingerings).

Pros and anyone studying to be a pro should be comfortable on all tubas, and should have some experience with all of them. No pro wannabe in college should ever offer an excuse for not switching from Bb to C--just do it. But it's not "switching", it's "adding".

No amateur (and I include music educators who don't play professionally) needs to switch to C unless they want to. The audience won't know it, and for amateurs who buy tubas with grocery money, there are better deals to be had in the Bb world than in the C world. My Holton Bb was considerably cheaper in Bb than it would have been in C, even in the same condition. It keeps up.

But if you want to play a C tuba, then go for it. If the C doesn't have any particular big advantage for most folks, it doesn't have any disadvantage either, except price. One person switched solely to force himself to start and and for him it reinvigorated his playing. Nothing wrong with that.

Back to those college kids. Most college teachers will not be too persistent about switching to C unless the student is being lazy about it. But a student playing a Bb will always have that little bit extra to prove than their C-playing buddies. They'll have to prove why it's a good idea for them to stay with Bb. (If they want to earn a gig, however, they'll have to be better than their buddies no matter what they play. But that's a different issue.)

Rick "a Bb amateur who also plays F" Denney