The tuba is an important and often underestimated tool. In a band you don't play the most exciting parts, you have to sweat to carry it around with you and become the subject of so many silly jokes. However, the tuba is an essential tool, as it provides structural support to the entire instrumental ensemble. Without a well-played bassline, the whole song would fall apart. If you have strong arms and strong lungs, this is a fantastic musical instrument.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Getting the Right Equipment
Step 1. Make sure the tuba you choose fits your build well
The tuba is an expensive instrument, but it shouldn't be too difficult to find a used one for 1500/2000 euros, or even less. If you play in a band, you can usually rent one. Most concert tubes are available in different tones, which may be more or less appropriate to the style of music you want to play. There are tubas in B flat, C, E flat and F.
- The tuba in E flat is used in brass bands (almost exclusively) and for some solo parts.
- The F tuba is used for passages that require the ability to play higher notes, and for solo parts. It is also found in smaller ensembles (brass quintets or quartets, etc.).
- Tubas in B flat and C were created for the most numerous ensembles (bands, orchestras, etc.). They are the most used in European orchestras, while in the United States the tuba in C is more common; as for the bands, the choice depends on the individual case and on the instrumentalist himself, but in general the most used in Italy are those in E flat and F.
Step 2. Use a mouthpiece of the right size
Mouthpieces come in different sizes, so make sure you buy one that fits you and the size of your mouth. They are generally made of fiberglass or composite metal. A good quality mouthpiece is the essential complement to a well tuned and comfortable playing instrument.
- If you decide to buy or rent a used tuba, get yourself a new and personal mouthpiece. A good quality mouthpiece is important for developing proper blowing technique and good breathing support.
- As an alternative, fiberglass mouthpieces are often used, as the intonation is not affected by temperature changes, as is the case with metal mouthpieces. Fiberglass mouthpieces may work well and are cheaper, but they result in a loss in harmonic quality and richness of the sound.
Step 3. Find an appropriate chair
The tuba is not an instrument that is generally played standing, unless it is a helicon (or "helicon"), which is played resting on the shoulders. To practice you will need a good chair that allows you to maintain the correct balance and posture, and thus develop the right technique to obtain a pure and crystalline sound.
Get a chair with a rigid back and without armrests, or a stool to sit on comfortably. Avoid exercising on the sofa, in a reclining chair, or in any position where your back is not straight; you would not have the necessary support for proper breathing, and bad habits would creep into your practice sessions
Step 4. Get a method
It is useless to learn the mechanics of the tuba if you then cannot read the musical notation to apply what you have learned. While it is difficult to learn to play any musical instrument by simply following a book, it is still a great way to learn the basics, begin to understand how to start playing pieces of music on the tuba, and learn how to hold and play it correctly.
It is not easy to keep a laptop on a lectern. It's okay to start looking for material online, but getting a professionally printed method is the way to learn to play an instrument. Once you have mastered the basics, you can use the information available online to troubleshoot any problems
Part 2 of 4: Hold the tuba
Step 1. Sit on the edge of the chair and stay relaxed
Your back should be straight and your head raised slightly so that you are looking at the conductor of the band or orchestra (if this is your case), or look straight in front of you (if you are playing alone). The back must not touch the backrest and the soles of the feet must rest completely on the floor.
Step 2. Place the tuba on your lap
Depending on your height, it may be more comfortable to rest the tuba on the chair between your legs, or gently on top of your thighs. If it's a full size tuba, you may prefer to use a dedicated stand.
It is important to position the tuba so that you don't have to lean out to reach the mouthpiece. Bring the final section of the tube towards you, not the other way around. If you try to fill the tube with air, you will notice a big difference
Step 3. Learn the correct way to place your hands
If it's a right handed tuba, you'll need to tilt it slightly to the left, using your left hand to support it. Place your right hand on the keys (if it is a tuba with the valves operated by keys - called "rotary tuba" in English) or on the top (the keys) of the cylinders if it is a cylindrical piston tuba.
- Most tubas have a small ring that you can stick your thumb into. It serves to keep the hand steady in the right position, thus also performing a support function. Find the ring (if your tuba has one), and position your hand accordingly.
- If it's a left-handed tuba, you'll need to place it on your left leg - that's why using a support is so important for left-handed people. The right hand will have to reach the pistons, but also fulfill an important support function. The left hand will help keep the instrument in balance.
Step 4. Relax your shoulders
Let the womb support the tuba, not the arms. Try to relax your shoulders and let your arms stay free. Treat your tuba like a loved one, not someone to wrestle with. The more you can move comfortably while holding it, the better you will be able to play.
Part 3 of 4: Developing Breathing and Embouchure
Step 1. Breathe with your diaphragm
Remember, the tuba is a large instrument, so you need to blow air in large quantities and very quickly to get the sound out of the instrument. Breathe deeply with your diaphragm, not upward, with your throat. The air will have to travel a long way, so it is important that it comes out with some power.
Unless you are playing a helicon in the band, your aim should be not to blow all the air into the tuba at once, but to keep the diaphragm taut. If someone punches you in the stomach, you should stay steady and not fall. Tense your abdominal muscles as you play and as you blow
Step 2. Vibrate your lips
As you blow, close your lips until they vibrate inside the mouthpiece. Keep blowing and vibrating them so that the sound comes out of the tuba. The tuba is a very big brass… try making a "raspberry" inside the mouthpiece. This is the kind of vibe you will need to get. Once you understand how to make your lips vibrate in the right way, start producing the note by saying the syllable "ta" or "da" into the mouthpiece, depending on how you want to articulate the note.
- Maintaining the correct bit is of the utmost importance for playing brass. It's not easy to get your lips to vibrate the right way when you start playing.
- Do not puff up your cheeks. It is a precious waste of breath that should be channeled inside the instrument; it's also silly to look at and you'd end up with sore cheeks in no time.
Step 3. Practice changing notes without using pistons
Each position and configuration of the pistons (closed or open) allows to produce several notes, usually three. Some beginners have a hard time producing the right note right away, but if you're just starting out don't worry too much. Practice and try to develop the sensitivity and the habit of understanding where the different registers are.
- As you blow, squeeze your cheeks and lips to control the amount of air emitted by vibrating: this is the way to change the pitch of the note produced, raising or lowering it.
- Try to associate the sound of the note produced, its position on the staff, the sensation on the lips and the combination of the pistons. Many beginners associate only the position of the note on the staff and the combination of the pistons, and in so doing they get confused when they have to play notes that adopt the same combination of pistons but for which it is necessary to blow differently by assuming different positions with the lips.
Step 4. Push the pistons right
Once you become familiar with the register of the tuba, start experimenting with fingering. Practice pressing the pistons in time with the notes you play. Whether you're studying from a book or taking lessons, start practicing using all the fingering and playing clear, distinct notes with the help of the pistons.
- Most of the methods contain diagrams that illustrate the fingering and correspondence between the finger positions and the various notes of the scale you wish to play. Studying these patterns and using them to practice is a great way to learn how to play.
- Press the plunger (cylinder or key) into the center of the fingertip area, not the edges. Pressing on the edges could block the valve.
Part 4 of 4: Developing Your Sound
Step 1. Practice playing the scales
Start by learning fingering and playing scales to develop the foundational skills needed to play pieces of music. Scales won't be the most exciting thing to learn when starting out, but before you know it you'll be able to play all the notes you need to play Star Wars' "Imperial March" (tuba's "Stairway to Heaven") and move beyond.
Step 2. Practice keeping time
The tuba is both a rhythmic and a melodic instrument, providing the basic framework of the band's sound, with its thick, “solid” sound. To become the best tuba player possible, it is important to practice playing with the right rhythm, so not only playing the right notes, but also playing them at the right time. The best tuba players have the rhythmic precision of a drummer and the tonal clarity of a trumpet player.
- Practice with a metronome. Even when you play scales, play them in time. When playing the exercises, play them in time. Learn to assimilate the rhythm by tapping your foot and paying attention to the rhythmic movements of your body.
- Practice counting. Sometimes the notes played by the tuba are very distant from each other; it means that for some songs you will spend most of your time counting the empty bars between notes. Develop a good way to count rests and make sure you play your important notes at the right time.
Step 3. Join the gang from your school or town (or city)
The tuba is an instrument that is appreciated much more when played in a group, along with other instruments. Sometimes the tuba part in some pieces has only a few notes, which can be learned quickly but which, if played out of context, become boring just as quickly. Once you add trumpets, trombones, flutes and clarinets, however, they become so much more. You're making music.
Also consider taking private lessons. Like most musical instruments, the tuba generally requires the guidance of a teacher to play well. Whether it's band lessons or private lessons, having a teacher who can follow you individually is a good way to avoid developing bad habits, and to progress technically. Find out which teachers and courses are available in your area, and sign up
Step 4. Learn double and triple tongue strokes
These slightly more advanced techniques are useful for playing fast passages when required. Even if these are not techniques that you need to learn right away (when you start taking the first steps on the instrument), learning to move the tongue quickly is useful for developing timbre clarity, tonal quality and speed.
- When doing double tongue strikes, think "ta-ka-ta-ka" or "da-ga-da-ga". Try to pronounce these syllables first, and when you try double tongue strokes, think about moving your tongue in the same way.
- Triple tongue strikes have four possible approaches: Ta-ta-ka, ta-ka-ta, da-da-ga, or da-ga-da. Try them all, choose the one that works best for you, and keep adopting it.
Step 5. Take proper care of your tuba
The tuba is not as delicate as other instruments (for example the violin), but it can still be dented or scored. Always use a case to carry it, and learn to take care of it to always get the best possible sound.
- Frequently empty the condensation that forms inside the tuba: to do this, press the water key and blow inside the instrument without vibrating your lips.
- Check the individual valves by pressing each piston, one at a time, and blowing; if there is water left in the pipes you will notice it, both from the sound and from the sensation. You may need to remove some piping, or turn the tuba upside down to drain it properly.
- Find a tubal repair expert (or brass instruments in general) as close as possible. A professional might ask a lot for a repair, but he knows what he's doing, and it's always better to spend a little more than lose a big investment trying to get your hands on the tool without having the necessary knowledge and experience.
Advice
- If you play the trombone or euphonium (or "euphonium"), you will need to practice producing the pedal notes. If you play one of these instruments and want to switch to tuba, the transition will be much easier.
- Empty your pockets before picking up the instrument: it is not comfortable to play with the keys in your pocket pressing against your thigh.
- Prefer keys over pistons to cylinders. If you can, try various tools to figure out which one you are best with.
- If you want to play in a band, consider playing the helicon, more comfortable to carry around and play while walking thanks to the shape that allows you to "wrap" it around your body. The traditional concert tuba can be tiring on the arms when carried around, and it may slip as you walk. Most Italian bands, however, normally use the traditional tuba: if this is your case, get a special case that you can use on the go, while playing.
- Tubes (like other musical instruments) lose their value very slowly, so you can resell your instrument as used for just under the price you paid to buy it. The average resale price for a professional orchestral tuba is 4/5000 euros.
Warnings
- Always close the pistons or wrenches when pulling a pump - the suction of air could cause the valve housing to bend (expensive damage to repair).
- Always use a case to carry the tuba. If you don't have one, buy it.
- The mouthpiece is delicate and breaks easily, so try never to drop it.
- If you play a full size tuba, be sure to place it between your legs to play it. The full size tuba is very large: placing it on your lap you risk blocking the circulation to the legs.
