Playing something by ear, I buzzed the note I wanted with the wrong fingering and got a passable low A on 4th valve. The A is better with 1-2, and 4 sounds better for G, but I was surprised to get some sort of bonus resonance one step above the 2nd harmonic. It worked with 1-3, too, so I don't think I can blame leakage in the 4th valve loop.
What's happening here? The tuba is a 186-sized German rotary 4V CC. I get the same kind of duality with 1-2-3 or 2-4 -- F# sounds good and G# is passable -- but not with any shorter combinations.
4th valve plays low A... !?
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
-
Mary Ann
- Posts: 3064
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:24 am
- Has thanked: 526 times
- Been thanked: 602 times
Re: 4th valve plays low A... !?
I have found that slots are wider the lower you go, so hitting notes with non-standard fingerings is much easier. On my horn, it's easy to bend at least a 4th in the low range, because it doesn't jump partials like it would higher up in the range.