Buying a Tuba
So you want to buy a tuba. Congratulations on being ready to take your band to the next step. Depending on make and model, tubas can range in price from under $2,000 to nearly $30,000 USD. They come in a variety of keys. F, Eb, CC, and BBb are all common. Tubas can have anywhere from three to six valves. The valves can be rotary or piston valves. They can be compensating or non-compensating. "Sizes" or bore diameters vary as well. Tubas commonly come in lacquer or silver plating. A Sousaphone might even be a better choice for you than a standard tuba. There are so many different types of tubas available, you're going to need to know exactly what you need.
Key - F, Eb, BBb, or CC?There are two main types of tubas: bass and contrabass. F and Eb tubas are considered bass tubas. They play in a higher key than the contrabass tubas and have a somewhat brighter sound. This allows them to project more, especially on higher melodic lines. Andrew Cresci, principal tubist of London's Philharmonia Orchestra, introduces the tuba and demonstrates his Eb tuba at the Philharmonia Orchestra website.
Tubas in C and Bb are considered contrabass tubas and are often called CC and BBb tubas. CC tubas are popular with symphony orchestras, especially in America. If your band is playing standard American concert band literature, however, you'll probably want a BBb tuba. This is a large tuba pitched in B-flat like the one on the right. BBb tubas are the lowest pitched of the standard tuba sizes. They produce a full, warm sound that provides a strong foundation for an ensemble. |
Sizes
Tubas are available with a variety of bore sizes. Actual bore sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but are generally referred to as 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, and even 6/4 sizes. Smaller bores make the tuba more compact and easier to handle for small players, but remember that your students will grow. Even small players can learn to handle larger instruments as seen at the 19 second mark of this video of a Japanese elementary school band playing "Slava!". The variety of sizes has more of an effect on the projection of the instrument. Tubists needing a deep, full sound for a large symphony orchestra may prefer a 5/4 or 6/4 size tuba. For small to moderate size ensembles, a 4/4 or even 3/4 tuba should be fine.
When selecting a tuba, the most important thing is to get one in the desired key as mentioned in the previous section. Then, look for one that fits the sound you want and then the size of your players if necessary. If your ensemble is small, a 3/4 tuba may be your best bet. Otherwise, a 4/4 size tuba is a good way to go.
When selecting a tuba, the most important thing is to get one in the desired key as mentioned in the previous section. Then, look for one that fits the sound you want and then the size of your players if necessary. If your ensemble is small, a 3/4 tuba may be your best bet. Otherwise, a 4/4 size tuba is a good way to go.
Rotary vs. Piston ValvesOne of the first differences between tubas most people notice is that some are made with rotary valves like a horn and some have piston valves like a trumpet. There are advantages to both systems. Rotary valves are thought to make transitions between notes smoother while piston valves make articulate and technical passages easier. The instrument repairmen in Yangon have more experience with piston valves, so if you choose rotary valves, you'll want to learn something about rotary valve repair. Dr. Jeffrey Funderburk has a great series of videos on tuba repair which can be found at the following link: Tuba Euphonium Repair and Maintenance.
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How Many Valves?
Tubas come with anywhere from three to six valves. Since the 6th valve, which is used to extend the lower range of the instrument, is usually only found on F tubas, we'll only discuss three, four, and five valve systems here. As on other brass instruments, only three valves are needed to play a chromatic scale in the full range of the instrument; however, the intonation problems that arise when valves are used in combination (positions 4, 5, 6, and 7) are much more extreme on tubas than other brass instruments.
The worst of these intonation problems occur whenever the 1st and 3rd valves are used together, which results in a pitch that is very sharp. The 4th valve lowers the harmonic series by a whole step and a half, the same as the 1st and 3rd, but is slightly longer, eliminating some of the sharpness. Having a 4th valve is very useful for intonation in the lower range of the instrument. It also extends the range of the instrument's fundamental pitch, but band composers typically do not write notes for tubas in that range.
The 5th valve is used to lower the harmonic series even further (the amount varies depending on the 5th valve slide length) and gives more options for correcting intonation problems. With so many valve combination possibilities, fingering charts for five valve tubas can be challenging to read.
For young students, a four valve tuba is probably the best option since it will help solve some of the intonation problems without the complexity of a five valve system. Read more about tuba intonation tendencies by clicking the Tuba Intonation link in the Tuba menu at the top of the page.
The worst of these intonation problems occur whenever the 1st and 3rd valves are used together, which results in a pitch that is very sharp. The 4th valve lowers the harmonic series by a whole step and a half, the same as the 1st and 3rd, but is slightly longer, eliminating some of the sharpness. Having a 4th valve is very useful for intonation in the lower range of the instrument. It also extends the range of the instrument's fundamental pitch, but band composers typically do not write notes for tubas in that range.
The 5th valve is used to lower the harmonic series even further (the amount varies depending on the 5th valve slide length) and gives more options for correcting intonation problems. With so many valve combination possibilities, fingering charts for five valve tubas can be challenging to read.
For young students, a four valve tuba is probably the best option since it will help solve some of the intonation problems without the complexity of a five valve system. Read more about tuba intonation tendencies by clicking the Tuba Intonation link in the Tuba menu at the top of the page.
Front Valves vs Top ValvesAnother very noticeable difference between tubas is where the valves are located. Some tubas have the valves on top, facing upward, parallel to the wrap of the tubing similar to a trumpet. Other tubas have them facing forward in the center of the instrument, arranged vertically. Most tuba players prefer the forward-facing front valves since the top valves put the hand in an uncomfortable position. Another benefit of front valves is that the valves slides are positioned upward, making it easy to adjust them with the left hand while playing. This is important for correcting some of the intonation problems natural to the tuba.
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Lacquer or Silver?
The choice of the covering of the brass of a tuba is mostly a matter of visual preference. There are conflicting opinions on whether the choice of silver plating or lacquer affects the sound, but most people would agree that, if there is an effect, it is very small. From the perspective of the author of this website, I prefer to have all my brass use the same color for a unified look. If my euphoniums are silver, I choose silver tubas.
Sousaphone?As mentioned on the What is a Tuba? page, the Sousaphone is a common substitute for the tuba. If you plan to have your ensemble stand or march frequently, your musicians may have trouble holding the standard tuba. Sousaphones wrap around the player's body and do not need to be held up by the player's arms when standing. They can be made from brass or lightweight fiberglass. Although many professional tubists consider the sound of the Sousaphone inferior to a standard tuba, Sousaphones do produce a large, full sound, providing a very solid foundation for an ensemble. This would not be your first choice for concert situations, but it's worth considering if you can only afford one instrument for both in-door and out-door situations.
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Where to Buy
Tubas can usually be purchased from many woodwind and brass suppliers. In Myanmar, shops like the Moonlight Musical Company on Theinphyu Road in Yangon will probably be able to sell a tuba; however, you should insist on being able to check the instrument for quality. For such a large investment, avoid the cheapest brands like PowerBeat and other Chinese made instruments. Miraphone, Conn, and Yamaha are among the brands preferred by most professionals. These tend to be quite expensive, however, ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 USD for a decent model tuba. If you cannot afford these high-level instruments, Jupiter makes good mid-level instruments. Many tubists are also taking a close look at tubas sold by the Tuba Exchange, especially the St. Petersburg model 202, which costs under $4,000 and is made in Russia. Another cheaper option that is gaining notice are tubas from a company called Mack Brass. These tubas cost under $2,000 and are based off the design of some of the more expensive models mentioned earlier. These tubas are made in China, but Mack Brass backs up their instruments with great service.
Within Asia, instruments can be purchased easily from Singapore, Thailand, and elsewhere. If you don't feel confident selecting a tuba on your own, ask a professional tuba player for advice. You can find tuba players online who are willing to help. A tuba professor at a university would be a good contact. Also, be sure you have joined the Band Directors Facebook group to ask questions of over 13,000 band directors around the world (English only).
Within Asia, instruments can be purchased easily from Singapore, Thailand, and elsewhere. If you don't feel confident selecting a tuba on your own, ask a professional tuba player for advice. You can find tuba players online who are willing to help. A tuba professor at a university would be a good contact. Also, be sure you have joined the Band Directors Facebook group to ask questions of over 13,000 band directors around the world (English only).
Tuba pages site map: What Is a Tuba | Setting Up for Success | Making a Sound | Tuba Positions | The Overtone Series | Tuba Intonation | Practice | Buying a Tuba | Caring for the Tuba | Introducing Students to the Tuba | Bibliography & Image Sources | About