Re: BBb Tubas


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Posted by Gus Pratt on February 10, 2001 at 08:11:26:

In Reply to: BBb Tubas posted by Austin H. on February 09, 2001 at 23:09:09:


Some of the advantages of playing BBb are:

1. Availability of cheaper used horns. Since most all schools use BBb there is a wide array of cheap BBbs available. Lots of times you can get them cheap at school surplus auctions.
2. Being able to read treble clef music in brass bands using treble clef fingerings. Knowing your teble clef fingerings also will give you a wide array of music to play. You can play clarinet, tenor saxophone, and trumpet music. (Of course a CC can play flute, guitar, and piano music with treble clef fingerings).
3. Being able to switch back and forth from sousaphone or helicon.
4 Being able to double more efficiently on euphonium. Since BBb tuba fingerings are nearly the same as bass clef euphonium it is a lot easier to double on the 2 instruments if you play BBb.
5. You have a wider selection of horn shapes to choose from. People who prefer recording basses, compensated 3+1 fingerings or top action pistons are extremely limited in their choice of instruments if they play CC.
6. Better able to teach younger students who play BBb. As a teacher you often need to play along with the student during warm ups etc. If your both playing BBb then you can do your flesibility exercises together, long tones warm up exercises, etc. without throwing the student off.



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