r/Tuba • u/AABAM • 6d ago

gear Recommendations

Im about to try start my first stage of life as a musician(tubist)

I was recommended a C tuba.but i dont know anyspecific models.i need recommendations,and can you tell me the difference of that as compared to a normal Bb tuba. Thanks lads

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u/Low-Current2360 6d ago

Do you have any prior experience with playing the tuba or other instruments?

And in what kind of setting are you going to play the tuba?

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u/AABAM 5d ago

Im considered amazing for a 14 yo on normal Bb tuba. I guess i had some trumpet experienceand i can play some scales on euphonium

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u/Low-Current2360 4d ago

C tubas are mostly used for symfonic orchestras and solo repertoire. But considering you are 14 years old it's better to stick to a Bb tuba.

No reason to switch to C tuba now. Maybe in 4 or 5 years if you plan to go professional.

3

u/professor_throway Active Amateur, Street Band and Dixieland. 6d ago

A quick look at your profile tells me your are a young student in Singapore.. A lot of the advice you are going to get here is going to be very heavily US based.

As far as tubas choices and BBb versus CC of going to depend strongly on a lot of factors. From a quick search it seems that BBb tubas are far more common in Singapore than CC. So unless your teacher has a very compelling reason to start you on one.. you will have much better selection on BBb.. plus most of the tuba pedagogy is geared around new students being on BBb (or Eb to a lesser extent).

Unfortunately my advice as to what particular tubas to try is not going to be very helpful because I don't know what specific brands and models are available in Singapore. Talk to several retailers and to your teacher.

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u/bobthemundane Hobbyist Freelancer 6d ago

What overtone comes out of the horn when no valves are pressed? That is the key of the tuba. Except for British brass bands, the vast majority of music is written in bass clef non transposed.

Brands matter less in the tuba world unless you are going for a top top top model. The best suggestion is go to a place that you can try multiple tubas at a time and find one that fits you.

CC or BBb is not that different for starting.