Switching from trumpet to tuba...?

Question

I was wondering if anyone would know this... would it be easier to figure out tuba's notes in relation to trumpet's, or buy an essential elements book (like I bought when I started trumpet) and learn the notes by playing the songs?

Answer 1

If you will be playing an Eb tuba then there is a direct and obvious relationship to the trumpet and tuba fingerings (you finger the tuba the same as the trumpet by reading the bass clef as though it were treble clef and changing the key signature. ie: F immediately below the staff on an Eb tuba is fingered the same as D immediately below the staff on a trumpet - same staff position, different clef, same fingering)

If you will be playing a BBb tuba then you will need to learn a new set of fingerings altogether. There is a direct relationship between baritone BC and BBb tuba and many trumpet players find that transitioning to baritone/euphonium first and then to tuba is a little easier.

For me, the way I learned the fingerings was to learn the relationship of the overtone series. I learned all of the notes that are open for example, then what was 1st valve, etc... I then applied that to reading the music. This assumes that you already read bass clef fluently. I used that same mathematical method with trombone (ie: 1st position plays (bottom up) pedal Bb, Bb, F, Bb, D, F, Bb -- 2nd position plays A, E, A, C#, E, A) ☺

On BBb tuba, you'd do open plays Bb, Bb, F, Bb, D, F, Bb, D, F... on trumpet, if you play open start with the really low pedal notes you have concert pitch Bb Bb F Bb D F Bb or in trumpet pitch pedal C, middle C, G, C (in the staff), E, F, high C... see a pattern here? ☺ The pattern is the same for all of the brass except French Horn.

Answer 2

All brass instruments work the same. The valve combinations are the same; you just call the notes a different name. The trumpet is in Bb so when you play open, it is called a C, but sounds Bb. When a tuba plays open it sounds Bb and is a Bb. That's called concert pitch. You won't have any trouble with fingerings. Tubas do read bass clef and that won't be too hard to pick up since you've played before. And yes, the mouthpiece is bigger, but it's easy! Have fun - it's a great instrument and I'm sure your band could use the help.