Posted by Gus Pratt on May 24, 2001 at 11:42:34:
In Reply to: Revisiting Dixie posted by Cathy on May 24, 2001 at 08:16:14:
Most dixie players use BBb. The key to the type of horn you are using is projection, therefore recording basses and sousaphones are extremely common. Dixieland playing requires a lot of outdoor playing at times so projection becomes a big factor. As far as a 5th valve, you'd never use it. The 5th valve is mainly used when you play in the lower octave which you rarely do in dixieland music. As a dixieland tubist, the job you are most concerned about is keeping rhythm. If you try playig too much in the lower octave your more likely to drag. A lot of dixie players use horns with only 3 valves. Red Lehr uses a 3 valve student model York sousaphone, and I think the 3 valve helicon used by Rich Matteson in the Dukes of Diexilands was only a 3 valver.