Posted by dmmorris on January 03, 2001 at 01:16:30:
In Reply to: Re: number of valves on BB's and CC's. posted by Lew on January 02, 2001 at 15:06:04:
I like to think of the flat-whole-step 5th valve as an alternative first valve in the low-register. On my B&S rotary BBb, low Eb is much more centered using 5&4 rather than 1,2&4...and it's easier on my brain. Having extra valves does come in handy for the low stuff, but occasionally the alternate fingerings work well in the middle registers. My tuba plays F#(Gb)in the mid-staff just fine with 1&5 instead of the usual 2&3....no big deal I guess, unless you need to slur real-rapidly back and forth between C, Gb, Eb ....using the alternate for Gb, the air stream is much less disturbed and the notes smooth out nicely. Other examples exist I'm sure. If you can swing the exta scratch, more valves can be helpful....but are certainly not essential on the BBb contra's.