Loveland Music Boosters

TUBA
SOUSAPHONE


Ancient Roman instruments used during military and ceremonial occasions were called "tubas". Actually, these bronze or brass instruments were ancestors of the trumpet.
For centuries, several attempts were made to invent a bass instrument for the brass family. These instruments included the serpent and the ophicleide. The modern tuba, featuring 3 - 5 rotary valves, was developed in the lates 1820's in Germany.

The tuba is the deepest-voiced member of the brass family, and tuba bells either point straight up or curve forward (a recording bass).

In 1898, John Phillip Sousa developed the sousaphone for marching bands. It is circular in form and supported by the player's shoulder and left hand.

The tuba family includes the BB-flat (the most common), EE-flat and E-flat, F and C Tubas. Tubas are the important bass foundation instruments of the concert band. They play the bass line, blend with other instruments and play solos.

Fingering Scheme For The Tuba

Note Note Appearance BB-Flat Fingering (three-valved) E-Flat Fingering (three-valved)
E
123 none
F
13 none
F-Sharp or G-Flat
23 none
G
12, 3 none
G-Sharp or A-Flat
1 none
A
2 123
A-Sharp or B-Flat
0 13
B
123 23
C
13 12
C-Sharp or D-Flat
23 1
D
12, 32
D-Sharp or E-Flat
1 0
E
2, 123 123
F
0, 13 13
F-Sharp or G-Flat
23 23
G
12, 3 12
G-Sharp or A-Flat
1 1
A
2, 13 2
A-Sharp or B-Flat
0, 23 0
B
12, 3 23
C
1, 13 12
C-Sharp or D-Flat
2, 23 1
D
0, 12, 3 2
D-Sharp or E-Flat
1, 13 (?) 0
E
2, 23 (?) 12
F
0, 13, 3, 12 1
F-Sharp or G-Flat
23 2
G
12, 3, 13 (?) 0
G-Sharp or A-Flat
1, 23 1
A
2, 13, 3 2
A-Sharp or B-Flat
0, 23, 123 0
B
12 23
C
1 12
C-Sharp or D-Flat
2 1
D
0 2
D-Sharp or E-Flat
1 0


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