something else to try: low C on F tuba...

[tubashaman2]

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[windshieldbug]

Do you suppose that these two examples are somehow related

Yes. They both involve notes.

[Matt G]

The small things really make a difference. You might also give this a try.

Good luck with that. No amount of brushing and/or flossing will turn your saliva into a pH neutral liquid. Also, saliva will continue to carry proteins and other organic compounds which will contribute to slime.

I was one of those who just about never brushed/flossed before playing. I would drink some water and swish a bit around before playing, but that was it. On the other hand, I didn't mind cleaning the horn every 3 months or so. When I did clean it, it wasn't all that bad anyhow.

[Matt G]

James,
I don't always want to be shooting down your ideas, but I would tend to want to tell you that changing your embouchure *just* to play the low C on an F tuba might possibly be exactly the wrong thing to do. In a recent thread about this, I suggested a "low C on F tuba" exercise that exaggerated just-the-opposite. I suggested playing an open F, depressing the 4th valve, and playing the C with *precisely* the same facial "set" as for the F...*only* relaxing the tension enough to allow the C to resonate.

This continues to go over a good number of people's heads.

When playing in the low register, you need a wider aperture. For many players, this is achieved by simply "loosening" the embouchure. The players that have a certain command of the lower register will still have an embouchure that is quite firm in some areas. I can still feel the effects of working on the "difficult" register of my 188 which was from about low A to pedal C. My corners were extremely firm, but pulled down to allow for a more open aperture. This strength also allowed for not only a rock-crushing low register, but the ability to play extremely soft in this register as well.

The same result is achievable on most F tubas. While just letting the corners go and a nice fat low C pops out of a CC tuba, the "German" F tuba says "WTFLOLBBQ" to your chops. When one concentrates on maintaining a good, controlled embouchure, the low C usually comes out fine. Sure, it has a different feel since it requires a good bit of cylindrical tubing, but the sound and resonance will be there with a embouchure that has a firm structure controlling it.

I wonder if all those German fellows who play primarily on F complain about the open BBb/CC on BBb/CC tubas?

[tubashaman2]

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