Intonation on an F tuba

jmerring · Post by **jmerring** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:55 pm

I was attempting to play on a friend's F horn, recently. I do not play an F, but was considering trying to learn. Using a tuner to verify notes, I could not come within 20 cents of ANY pitch in the F major scale (the only thing I was attempting). Does intonation improve with practice on an F? When I learned BBb and CC, there was never an intonation problem of any consequence.

Opinions, please?

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:54 pm

Sad to say, but Joe is probably right. However, many of the better F's can be manipulated into tune if you know how to treat them. Approach it as a different animal from the big horn; it will take some getting used to (unless it is a Yamaha piston, they do play more CCish). Afterall, you wouldn't blow a euph or a bass trombone exactly the same as a tuba, would you? Also, make sure you are using an appropriate mouthpiece; the ultra large shank super deep Wagner earth mover probably won't cut the mustard on a horn that needs more finesse. FWIW, I can play every note on my Cerveny F on or very close to in tune, BUT (a) it has taken some work to get there (b) I have to use alternate fingerings on some notes (c) I don't even bother with the 5th partial - I just valve down from the 6th and (d) spend a LOT more time practicing in the low register than in the upper. On the good side, with six valves I don't have to pull any valve slides like I have had to on most CC's I have owned.
Figure - different types of women respond to a different approach, why not different tubas?
Marty "who has to keep remembering to treat his Southern wife much differently than a Yankee" Neilan

cambrook · Post by **cambrook** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:57 am

[quote="bloke"] There are only one or two makes/models of F tubas that (in some cases) play anywhere close to in tune. Am I going to name those models? quote]

Come on Joe, tell us what they are

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 11:48 am

cambrook wrote:
bloke wrote: There are only one or two makes/models of F tubas that (in some cases) play anywhere close to in tune. Am I going to name those models?
Come on Joe, tell us what they are

Hmm. I don't know what he'd say....but my f tuba plays in tune ok for me; of course I'm a horn player, very accustomed to what I have to do to get that overtone series to behave. I have a MW 182.

MA

PS: Both my tubas were pre-owned by "famous" players, who of course picked them out from the factory. Both of them have good scales, it seems! I figure that very high-level players are a whole lot better at picking out tubas than I am, and I'll continue my practice of buying used instruments that were culled by the great, if I can.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:44 am

My yamaha 621 plays in tune. Plain and simple.

It really is the ear more than the horn. Once a player can hear it, then it is all a matter of how much effort a particular horn takes to play in tune. I think almost anything can be modified to play in tune if a player is willing to work out additional muscles and techniques to accomplish it.

I have learned to appreciate a horn that is easy to play in tune. I can play scales while I do dishes on this Yamaha.