Posted by Gus Pratt on January 03, 2001 at 08:36:03:
In Reply to: number of valves on BB's and CC's. posted by Duke on January 02, 2001 at 13:59:30:
A lot of it depends on what type of playing you are doing. A majority of theory books state the low range of tuba to be low E (probably due to this note being the lowest on a 3 valve BBb); therefore most tuba music is not written below this note. Exceptions are music that is written for higher level playing, where the composer knows that proficient tubaists can go below the low E. For the music that only goes to low E, all notes are obtainable and in tune using a 4 valve BBb. That is not the case with a 4 valve CC. In order to play low F in tune you either need the 5th valve or you need to slide pull or lip the note.