Posted by bloke on February 24, 2004 at 17:56:16:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: 5th valve on BBb. Good Idea? posted by Would you on February 24, 2004 at 17:12:27:
yes to all
Due to general playing requirements,
- 4 valves is almost always plenty for a BBb tuba.
- 5 valves is a "borderline" requirement for a CC tuba...Low F becomes "not" a problem.
- 5 valves - or a compensating system - seems to be nearly essential for Eb tubas to play all tuba music without false tones nor octave shifts.
- 6 valves are a nice option for an F tuba...fully chromatic, and hopefully with little or no slide manipulation nor compromises.
The written range never really changes for the tubas, though players like to change instruments to facilitate various passages/pieces. The higher pitched the tuba, the more gadgetry is required to address "low" pitches that become "not that low" and more "essential".
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- a fully chromatic and nearly-in-tune "compensating" system - and hopefully with little or no slide manipulation - seems to be required by quite a few Bb baritone players.