Posted by Frederick J. Young on January 06, 2002 at 09:23:21:
In Reply to: Re: Re: False Tones posted by Heather on January 05, 2002 at 14:37:24:
If the tuba is a BBb and is any good you should be able to get the Eb easily! Experiments at C. G. Conn and various calculations indicate that it is indeed the fundamental of the BBb tuba and the socalled pedal note BBb is only a priveledged tone. My guess is that you mouthpiece is too small ( not deep enough and has too small a back bore). Try a much larger one on that tuba and also on a large sousaphone so you can get the feel of low Eb. It should be easy as oftimes beginners get low Eb when trying for the Bb above it. It is too bad that people refer to it as a false tone. Arnold Jacobs called it a priveledged tone and his book describes how useful it was to him. Bill Bell also told me how useful it was.