Posted by Joe S. on May 06, 2001 at 12:30:01:
In Reply to: Pedal Tones - Again posted by Tuba John on May 06, 2001 at 11:52:47:
I believe the word "pedal" to be a complete misnomer, as the term properly refers to the pipes on an organ controlled by the foot pedals (usually the longest pipes, although many organs have cross-overs whereby the pedals can control other ranks, too).
The "fundamental" tones (consisting of one l-o-n-g sine wave) are (on a BBb tuba) the notes beginning with BBb (six ledger lines) and extending lower with the use of valves.
Since no other pitches in the range of the tuba are oft referred to by the overtones on which they are located, could we adopt the (too simple??) term
"very low" ?...
or
perhaps we DO need to speak of:
* "EXTENDED LOW RANGE" - second partial pitches which are playable via the use of long lengths of cylindrical tubing, almost always including a 4th valve which lowers the instrument a perfect fourth.
* "FALSE TONES" - pitches which are the same pitches as found in the "EXTENDED LOW RANGE" which are mysteriously played with shorter lengths of tubing on tubas with larger bells.
* "FUNDAMENTAL TONES" - the lowest pitches playable on the tuba which resonate harmonically with the instrument. These pitches are those located acoustically on the first partial of the instrument.
Joe "no pedals on my tuba" S.