Posted by Joe S. on June 16, 2001 at 17:52:11:
In Reply to: Eb or EEb / Bb or BBb posted by Dan Schultz on June 16, 2001 at 13:50:59:
When people discuss Eb tubas are actually discussing EEb tubas, if they are around 13-something feet long in the open position.
When people are discussing Bb tubas, they are ALMOST always actually discussing BBb tubas, which are 18 feet long in the open position. "True" Bb tubas are 9 feet long, like a baritone horn.
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These notations refer to the fundamental note of the open air column.
The fundamental note of a BBb tuba is "BBb", which is the lowest Bb on the piano keyboard.
As you go up through the octaves, the "word" notation of these octaves appears as follows (from low to high):
BBb*
Bb
bb
bb1
bb2
bb3
etc.
(*Sorry, I don't know how to make the computer do a "flat" sign.)