Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio
F E A T U R E
Explore an Instrument: Tuba
F E A T U R E
Explore an Instrument: Tuba
What is the tuba?
A descendant of Edmé Guillaume’s noble Serpent, a wooden instrument with a metal mouthpiece used to accompany plainchant as far back as the sixteenth century, the Tuba is the largest and lowest instrument in the brass family and boasts one of the widest ranges of any wind instrument; a typical professional is expected to be able to produce more than 5 octaves!
The growing size of the orchestra through the classical period into the romantic period put immense strain on the low end of the orchestra, with many groups needing several serpents, ophicleides, and contra bassoons to balance out the increasing number of high voices. In 1835 instrument inventor Johann Moritz, in collaboration with military bandmaster Wilhelm Weiprecht, were able to produce the first ever bass tuba using Heinrich Stölzel’s patented Berliner pump valves that, for the first time, allowed for a wide enough bore size to facilitate the lower tones of the new instrument. Almost 200 years later, we have a whole family of tubas in all shapes and sizes tuned in Bb, C, Eb, and F.
Many may think the tubist only finds their home as a sonic weight in the back of the orchestra, but that couldn’t be further from the truth; that is only their home sometimes! This versatile instrument can also be found in wind ensembles of all levels from elementary to the President’s Own, brass quintets, tuba quartets, brass bands, marching bands, pop bands, polka bands, jazz bands, funk bands, there are even several notable professional soloists!
Why pick one key over another?
Yup! Bb and C are contrabass tubas and are pitched lower than the other two, Eb and F, which are bass tubas. Contrabass tubas live in a lower tessitura and offer a bigger, darker sound fit for low playing and balancing out an orchestra. The bass tubas are pitched higher, and offer a brighter, more direct sound that make them a great fit for pieces that stay consistently high, chamber groups, and solo repertoire. As a professional, I am expected to own and operate both a contrabass and a bass tuba.
Did you say keys? As in plural?
Yup! Bb and C are contrabass tubas and are pitched lower than the other two, Eb and F, which are bass tubas. Contrabass tubas live in a lower tessitura and offer a bigger, darker sound fit for low playing and balancing out an orchestra. The bass tubas are pitched higher, and offer a brighter, more direct sound that make them a great fit for pieces that stay consistently high, chamber groups, and solo repertoire. As a professional, I am expected to own and operate both a contrabass and a bass tuba.
How much do tubas cost?
I’ve seen tubas range from a couple hundred dollars to upwards to $35,000+. That said, the average equipment costs for an undergraduate student would probably be expected to be around $8k-$10k for a contrabass tuba and $6k-$8k for a bass tuba.
Does the tuba take a lot of air to play?
Yes, but don't let something like that stop you! If Arnold Jacobs could be the principal tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 44 years with a 3 liter lung capacity (average lung capacity is 6 liters), anything is possible!
How much does the tuba weigh?
There are many factors that go into the final weight of the tuba. Some tubas are bigger than others, a system we calculate in “quarters.” For example, a 3/4 horn is smaller than a 4/4 (the two sizes you’ll likely see in a high school setting). A silver-plated horn will be heavier than raw brass, different valve sets and modifications can affect the weight, and more. That said, according to the manufacturer, my PT6-P (a 5/4, silver-plated C tuba) is about 22.7lb.
How long is the tubing that makes up a tuba?
Unwrapped, the tubing of a tuba would stretch 18ft for Bb, 16ft for C, 13ft for Eb, and 12ft for F.
Is the euphonium just a baby tuba?
HAH! No. I don’t suggest asking any euphonium player that either, as it tends to upset them. The euphonium is actually a descendent of the flugel horn and was invented in 1843, almost ten years after the tuba, and is closely related to the baritone (which has a smaller bore and only 3 valves), and the saxhorn (invented by Adolphe Sax, the same person who invented the saxophone). Since the dawn of their creations, all three instruments have had their niche in the world of military band.
A descendant of Edmé Guillaume’s noble Serpent, a wooden instrument with a metal mouthpiece used to accompany plainchant as far back as the sixteenth century, the Tuba is the largest and lowest instrument in the brass family and boasts one of the widest ranges of any wind instrument; a typical professional is expected to be able to produce more than 5 octaves!
The growing size of the orchestra through the classical period into the romantic period put immense strain on the low end of the orchestra, with many groups needing several serpents, ophicleides, and contra bassoons to balance out the increasing number of high voices. In 1835 instrument inventor Johann Moritz, in collaboration with military bandmaster Wilhelm Weiprecht, were able to produce the first ever bass tuba using Heinrich Stölzel’s patented Berliner pump valves that, for the first time, allowed for a wide enough bore size to facilitate the lower tones of the new instrument. Almost 200 years later, we have a whole family of tubas in all shapes and sizes tuned in Bb, C, Eb, and F.
Many may think the tubist only finds their home as a sonic weight in the back of the orchestra, but that couldn’t be further from the truth; that is only their home sometimes! This versatile instrument can also be found in wind ensembles of all levels from elementary to the President’s Own, brass quintets, tuba quartets, brass bands, marching bands, pop bands, polka bands, jazz bands, funk bands, there are even several notable professional soloists!
Why pick one key over another?
Yup! Bb and C are contrabass tubas and are pitched lower than the other two, Eb and F, which are bass tubas. Contrabass tubas live in a lower tessitura and offer a bigger, darker sound fit for low playing and balancing out an orchestra. The bass tubas are pitched higher, and offer a brighter, more direct sound that make them a great fit for pieces that stay consistently high, chamber groups, and solo repertoire. As a professional, I am expected to own and operate both a contrabass and a bass tuba.
Did you say keys? As in plural?
Yup! Bb and C are contrabass tubas and are pitched lower than the other two, Eb and F, which are bass tubas. Contrabass tubas live in a lower tessitura and offer a bigger, darker sound fit for low playing and balancing out an orchestra. The bass tubas are pitched higher, and offer a brighter, more direct sound that make them a great fit for pieces that stay consistently high, chamber groups, and solo repertoire. As a professional, I am expected to own and operate both a contrabass and a bass tuba.
How much do tubas cost?
I’ve seen tubas range from a couple hundred dollars to upwards to $35,000+. That said, the average equipment costs for an undergraduate student would probably be expected to be around $8k-$10k for a contrabass tuba and $6k-$8k for a bass tuba.
Does the tuba take a lot of air to play?
Yes, but don't let something like that stop you! If Arnold Jacobs could be the principal tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 44 years with a 3 liter lung capacity (average lung capacity is 6 liters), anything is possible!
How much does the tuba weigh?
There are many factors that go into the final weight of the tuba. Some tubas are bigger than others, a system we calculate in “quarters.” For example, a 3/4 horn is smaller than a 4/4 (the two sizes you’ll likely see in a high school setting). A silver-plated horn will be heavier than raw brass, different valve sets and modifications can affect the weight, and more. That said, according to the manufacturer, my PT6-P (a 5/4, silver-plated C tuba) is about 22.7lb.
How long is the tubing that makes up a tuba?
Unwrapped, the tubing of a tuba would stretch 18ft for Bb, 16ft for C, 13ft for Eb, and 12ft for F.
Is the euphonium just a baby tuba?
HAH! No. I don’t suggest asking any euphonium player that either, as it tends to upset them. The euphonium is actually a descendent of the flugel horn and was invented in 1843, almost ten years after the tuba, and is closely related to the baritone (which has a smaller bore and only 3 valves), and the saxhorn (invented by Adolphe Sax, the same person who invented the saxophone). Since the dawn of their creations, all three instruments have had their niche in the world of military band.
Recordings:
Ottorino Respighi, Fountains of Rome- The Fountain of Trevi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCDGuLTypXc&ab_channel=NewYorkPhilharmonic-Topic
Hector Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique- 5th mvt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cao6WyF-61s&ab_channel=RobertoMastrosimone
Michael Daugherty, Reflections on the Mississippi- Carol Jantsch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPnurVsbQwU&t=63s&ab_channel=umsymphonyband
To learn more about tuba instructors, please visit our Brass Page.
Ottorino Respighi, Fountains of Rome- The Fountain of Trevi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCDGuLTypXc&ab_channel=NewYorkPhilharmonic-Topic
Hector Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique- 5th mvt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cao6WyF-61s&ab_channel=RobertoMastrosimone
Michael Daugherty, Reflections on the Mississippi- Carol Jantsch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPnurVsbQwU&t=63s&ab_channel=umsymphonyband
To learn more about tuba instructors, please visit our Brass Page.
