Contrabass tuba

What it means

The contrabass tuba is the lowest form of construction of the tuba, common in C and in B♭. It sounds a fourth or a fifth lower than the bass tuba in F or E♭ and is notated in the orchestra at sounding pitch in the bass clef. Its tube is correspondingly longer, the bell larger, the bore wide and conical. Four to six valves are usual; the additional ones serve above all for intonation correction and for opening up the lowest register. Related and partly used with the same meaning is the name contrabass tuba for the bombardon widespread in wind bands.

Musical use

In the symphony orchestra it supplies the lowest foundation of the brass group and supports trombones and horns; its sound is round and broad rather than sharp, which is why it carries the overall sound without drowning it out. In many orchestras it is the standard instrument of the tubist, while the smaller tuba in F is used for high, soloistic parts; the choice follows the work. In the wind band and brass band it forms, together with further tubas, the bass group. Decisive for the overall impression is that it preserves clarity despite its depth.

Performance practice

Expect very high air consumption and plan breathing places early; the tone lives from calm, broad air flow, not from pressure. Use the additional valves to correct the low valve combinations, which in root position lie too high, and learn the usual alternative fingerings. In the low register the tone responds with delay — start earlier so that it stands in time in the ensemble. Watch for a posture in which the weight rests on chair or stand. Empty condensation regularly from all the bends and keep valves and slides well maintained.

Bear in mind that the choice between the large and the small tuba belongs to the repertoire: for high, agile parts an instrument in F or E♭ is often the better solution, for fundamental bass lines the large form of construction. Settle this before studying. Watch for clarity in the low register, because otherwise the tone becomes an indeterminate hum; short, clear articulation helps more than volume. Check the tuning again after warming up and control the low valve combinations by ear.