Posted by Eugene Whitmore on January 27, 2003 at 00:32:30:
In Reply to: Difference BBflat and CC tubas posted by Temi Daramola on January 26, 2003 at 18:02:27:
You're right the fingerings are different. The reason is that the lowest open on the horn sounds the key of the horn. That is, on the BBb you're playing, the lowest note with all valves up is a Bb. On a CC, it would be a C, one whole step higher, and on an F, a fifth higher than the Bb.
British brass bands use both Eb and Bb tubas and the music is all written in the treble clef, just like a trumpet part.
You can play an Eb using your normal bass clef music, but you have to read it as if it were a treble clef trumpet part and add 3 sharps. It sounds complicated, but with practice, it's not too tough.