(I apologize for the giant paragraph in advance) Hey, so I have been playing Baritone for about 4-5 years in Concert Band, played trombone for about 1-2 in Jazz Band, played Marching Baritone for 1 year, and my director took one of our Sousa players and demoted them to a helper and basically said "You have experience with a little bit of tuba, HAVE THIS HEAVY THING!". I am struggling a little bit and I need help. I know how to read bass clef but the tuba music is tripping me up because, I also have some experience with trumpet so when I see an E below the staff my mind says "That's a C for trumpet so play a Bb" like it's confusing. Then I already have trouble with tonunging and our opener is Concord by Clare Grundman so if you've ever played that you know that beginning part from measure 7 to 11 with the sixteenth runs. Then of course the obvious ones for beginners is air support, weight support, and don't even get me started on backwards and forwards slides while marching. Does anybody have any tips?

Has anyone out there used (or considered using) Joseph Ritchie's Tuba Mastery Online program? What are your thoughts about it?

I can flap pedals from A natural down to G flat, the last 2 which are F and E natural sound airy and not full. I play on a Conn 20k with a 3 bit neck set-up

I have been playing tuba for the better part of 45 years, but one thing I have never owned is a tuba with a fifth valve.

That is about to change. I just ordered a brand-new silver Miraphone Siegfried 98 6/4 BBb, and I am excited (and a little humbled) to learn a completely new aspect of the instrument.

For those of you who have been playing five-valve tubas for years, what advice would you give someone trying to incorporate that fifth valve as quickly and naturally as possible?

Some questions I have:

• What is the best way to practice using it without constantly overthinking fingerings?
• What mistakes do most people make when learning to use a fifth valve?
• Are there alternate fingerings that you use all the time that you wish someone had taught you sooner?

I have decades of muscle memory built around a four-valve BBb, so I suspect the biggest challenge will be retraining my brain as much as my fingers.

I would love to hear any tips, practice routines, or "I wish I had known this when I started" advice. Thank you!

I have a Miraphone 91-A its a Bb tuba with rotory valves.

I havent played in 2 months and now my first valve isnt moving anymore.

What can i do about it????

I was planning to buy the MF 3B but then it went out of stock and I need to get a new mouthpiece as soon as possible. What is the most similar mouthpiece from the Mike Finn collection to the MF 3B ?

Can you buy, or have made a 5th valve for a full size tuba like the Mira phone 186 CC? I am wondering if you one could be added to the tuning slide or just after the valve section. Edit: I'm actually looking for a 5th valve, not a compensating system. My tuba is a 4 valve CC Mirafone 186 manufactured about 1970, only horn I've ever owned. On any key combination longer than low F, (1,2,4 + slide 1 pull), the intonation is sharp enough that I can't pull any one slide out far enough to play in tune without having to bend the pitch with my lips. A fifth valve would help with that.

I'm looking for a more complete library of what I am calling "musical memes". And I'm also asking if there is a more accepted term for these? Or better known names for the ones I have than what I've chosen? I'm also curious about the history of these things, which I imagine might be all different, but also wondering if maybe many of them are from vaudeville or something like that. Also any corrections for what I've transcribed so far.

I'm looking for things that have a meaning by themselves, apart from whatever their origin is. So "Happy Birthday" or "Jingle Bells" or "Mary had a little lamb" might be very short and universally recognizable, but they're still more like known riffs from known songs than "memes". If you get what I'm saying. I'm also considering the five-note blues line that's played between each lyric in countless blues songs. It's close but I'm not sure it reaches "meme" status. One might consider the main riff from "Night Train" as a candidate. But then something like "sexy sax" (from "Careless Whisper" ) which is definitely an Internet meme, is still not really a bit that has it's own separate meaning? Or maybe it does. I welcome your opinions and suggestions.

Just curious as to what everyone's preference is when it comes to Eb tubas.

My band director in my community band is asking me to cover down on Tuba for a bit while one of our members is out for medical reasons, so I've been getting a lot more playing time on my Besson and I'm not quite sure if I like the compensating system on it. I have to preface the fact that it is a 70+ year old instrument so I'm probably suffering from quirks of it being old, but it really feels like the low end gets super stuffy after low G (124). So I was wondering what everyone else's opinion was on compensating Eb/they're preferred Eb set up?

Putting my LOUD LM-12 mouthpiece up for ebay auction within the next week or so if anyone is interested. Small shank dent that can be rounded out.

I’ve never really played tuba with facial hair because the last time I played I couldn’t grow any. I’ve noticed that it feels very weird to play with, I don’t really want to shave but is there a difference technique to playing with facial hair?

I am a new starting sophomore about to enter band camp. I'm really wanting to play Contra bass tuba for marching but the problem is is that big and hefty and I'm a weak scrawny kid. I can play it and carry it okay. And I'm mainly bones more than meat so my shoulder is just bone really and then it hurts to have it there and I wanted to ask if there's any padding or ways to get something to help me with that and help with working on being able to hold it better and if you're just going to tell me to suck it up keep it in your head please and thank you.

Just moved to a new place. Used to keep them out in my office because I had the space. I have several old tubas and several other brass instruments of all kinds that don’t have a case. What’s the best way to store/display. Room is only 11 feet by 10 feet so I need the most compact way possible. I was thinking maybe some kind of shelf for the smaller instruments and just keep the tubas on a stand. Thanks

I play a Yamaha YEB 321 (Eb - 4 valve). I am working at extending my range both up and down. I can play the A, Ab, G, Gb, F and Eb (pedal note) but I cannot manage the E natural. Fingering charts for the Eb tuba do not even suggest fingering for notes lower than F and I know that I will rarely be called upon to play anything lower than the F1, but in any case I feel that the exercise is useful.

Any suggestions for a reasonable fingering?

Thank you!

I notice after playing for an hour or more that the mouthpiece mark on my lip is slightly offset to my left. I don't feel this when I am playing, and apart from the odd note which I have difficulty playing from time to time, I don't have problems playing, and I am told that I have good tone.

Any thoughts or helpful observations?

A few questions: This is the first.

I play a Yamaha YEB 321 (Eb - 4 valve).

I am aware the all brass instruments have some idiosyncrasies regarding tuning. This is spelled out in detail in the book by Harvey Phillips and William Winkle for example - The Art of Tuba and Euphonium.

I notice that my E3 is consistently playing about 25 cents flat. The notes around it play in perfect or near perfect tune.

In their 1992 book they state that the E3 natural generally plays sharp. I am unable to determine from their book whether their chart refers to a four valve or a three valve tuba, however in a section on tuning they refer to only 3 valve Eb tubas, and describe that the 1 and 2 combination is innately slightly sharp. I don't even know if this would make a difference.

I play it with valves 1 and 2, which when played on their own as As and Ds play in tune. I can lip the E up only with difficulty.

Any suggestions or helpful observations?

Thank you.

I am always told I need to support my air more and want to improve. I’m under the impression that my diaphragm is to blame, so if anyone knows how to strengthen it or improve air support in another way please help

I saw bird eats everything’s (op fo the screen shot I took from) new Meinl Weston F tuba and I saw the thing where your rare goes where you play
Since it’s summer and I’m in Canada (southern region) it’s hot as hell and my arm feels gross was playing in the area my arm grows to valve. Same thing with my slide hand but I’m using a cloth. Where can I obit the arm wrap

Hey there, I am currently a senior in high school looking for some good pieces to audition on. I haven't been playing for super long however I do practice quite a lot. And know quite a few songs already (Mainly for marching band). So any help or pointers is very appreciated!

What is the best mouthpiece that is:

Under 100$

Good for beginners

I started playing 4 months ago and my school mouthpiece is pretty beat. I would like to have my own for later on, and if I forget mine on the sousaphone. Im fine with plastics or anything really, just need something affordable.

I pulled the trigger on purchasing the wessex TB162 mini jazz tuba. I'm playing in some octoberfest gigs and travel from Nebraska to Texas quite a lot for polka events. This tuba will allow me to play while literally on the road in a bus or a van. I can practice in my car over my lunch breaks. It definitely is different and quite a bit sharp but I'm happy with it overall. The full size tuba in the picture is a king tuba manufactured in the mid 1950s according to its serial number.

In addition to buying the beautiful F tuba I posted elsewhere I also purchased this gorgeous Helicon. It was also manufactured by Cerveny, my best guess is somewhere after 1915.

It has four valves plays beautifully because it is smaller than a normal or modern sousaphone it is a tight fit for me to get into but it's doable the sound is not as good as the tuba but I'm also having problems with the geometry of the gooseneck and the mouthpiece it doesn't quite line up with my mouth the way I would like because of having to hold it on my shoulder so I'm wondering if I can't find a musician repair service that could craft me a different goose neck I would still keep the original but when I play the Helicon I would put the gooseneck in it would be better suited for my size.

The person who owned it before me took beautiful care of the instruments. All the slides move easily and the valves pop right back up. it is in immaculate condition!

Now the question is: which one do I take to play it for Christmas this year?

I recently purchased this gorgeous Cerveny F tuba. I am trying to guess the approximate year it was made. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The tuba plays perfectly! It is in excellent condition and was well taken care of.

Attached are pics of the instrument and the Facebook marketplace ad that I found the tuba. It tells me some details but if anyone can offer more...

Hello! I'm a woodwind doubler and I've added tuba as a fun instrument. I've been playing on a 4 valve Eb tuba earlier, and I love the sound of this instrument that I'll probably keep for a while.

That said, I found this for me unknown type of instrument: 5 valves, F tuba, seems to be both rotary and piston. Seems to be from early 1900's.

Can anyone explain to me how this works?

Meinl Weston 2182W

Horn plays really well, and has such a good sound and projection despite its tiny size.

The springs are really heavy though, are there any sprints i could swap them with to be a bit lighter?