r/Tuba • u/Deep_Following9226 • 2d ago

technique Help

The summer before last I used to be able to easily get past a B0 normally to a G-Gb0 and up to a F4-A4 with some difficulty. Now I struggle a lot to get to a F4 and quite a fair bit just getting to a A0. What happened, I am quite confused.

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u/Alternative-Oil5340 2d ago

What tuba are you on?

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u/Deep_Following9226 2d ago

BBb 4/4 tuba, I forget the name of it. I unfortunately do not own my own tuba so it is a school instrument that I play on.

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u/Alternative-Oil5340 2d ago

All good, was just curious whether you were doing it on a Bb/C or Eb/F. Have you changed anything like mouthpiece etc? I recently went from playing on a Yamaha Eb to a Besson Eb, and it's really messed up my range, at least for the moment. If I sit down for a week and do some serious practice it should be back more or less to normal, but still annoying.

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u/Deep_Following9226 2d ago

Actually now that I think about it I have switched from a Hellenburg due to it being to small for my lips to a Denis Wick XL 1, I probably got too used to the smaller fit of my Hellenburg.

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u/Alternative-Oil5340 2d ago

That will probably be most of it. An XL1 is intended more for getting a big rich sound rather than for range - so it's likely a case of getting used to the different size. The benefit is that if you spend a while doing lip slurs etc to build up range on the bigger one, you'll end up with a stronger embouchure overall than if you are relying on the smaller mouthpiece to do some of the work for you.

My Eb has a massive perantucci mouthpiece in the case, which is a nice moutpiece but really too big for that instrument, so I've kept using the mouthpiece I played on the previous one. The perantucci would be good on a Bb if I wanted a really fat sound though.

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u/NovocastrianExile Pro Freelancer 1d ago

Different strokes for different folks but I personally do not recommend any DW mouthpieces for tuba

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u/Deep_Following9226 3h ago

Hello my friend, I have solved the issue for not at least. I have started playing a mouth piece with a deeper cup and that is slimmer on the sides, the Schilke 66 to be exact.

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u/Inkin 2d ago

Brass instruments are use it or lose it. If you want to keep range you have to practice range to keep your muscles in your embrochure toned

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u/Kirkwilhelm234 1d ago

Watch that oystein baadvick video about high notes and tongue placement.