Re: Re: Sousaphone muting!?


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TubeNet BBS ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Leland on February 07, 2004 at 23:56:24:

In Reply to: Re: Sousaphone muting!? posted by Adam on February 07, 2004 at 16:08:04:

If that's what the composer wanted -- a soft tuba sound -- then why didn't he just specify a single tuba played softly?

Obviously, there's an intent to change the character of the sound, and the only way to get a sound like "a tuba with a mute" is to put a mute in the tuba.

Of course, this requires the player to play more loudly on the mouthpiece end to equal the same dynamic as an open horn. That is, to get a perceived piano dynamic with a mute, they'll have to put out enough effort to play mezzoforte. A mute makes an already barely efficient instrument into a very inefficient instrument, and the player needs to compensate.

Plus, it's just not going to sound like a soft tuba. There has to be some amount of buzz or raspiness (or complete lack thereof in the case of bucket mutes).

When a mute isn't available, having one tuba playing softly is pretty much the only way to get by. But, if it's possible to either purchase or borrow a mute, then one should be used.

What I don't get is why tuba players seem to be so afraid of using mutes. Trumpet & trombone players don't seem to have any problems. Why not have a little more tonal variety than the horn came with from the factory?


Follow Ups: