Tuba Lesson - High Register Playing Tips - Part 2 of 2

[codenameREIMIZU]

I've been playing for 4 months now, and my lowest note that I can hit accurately is low-G, and my highest is D, sometimes E. Is this good progress?

[cubbieboy38]

i have trouble tounging fast,... any advice??????

[ihateall95]

srry but this aint helpful and you piss me off

[arande3]

It seems that no amount of expanding my range helps with the tone in that range above Bb 3 (2 octaves above normal Bb). It continues to have that ehh tone up through Bb 4 (another octave up, Trumpet high C), the limit of my current range. I think it's just the nature of the harmonic series of the tuba.

What are you recording with? Camera mic? Assuming you respond..which you may not considering your absence of videos lately.

[emyrs]

For me i play tuba with my mouth peace slightly to the side. I suffered from facial paralyzes on my left side. So i canot tighten my lips evenly. I tighten from right to left but cant tighten from the opposite way

[Piano4Lyfex3]

you're absolutely right about the pufffy cheeks. grr i'm in the habit of it and i can't get out of it! like you said it isss only the really low registerssss. but that's definitely why i'm having trouble playing high..

[sidewindermack]

I want to learn to play the Tuba and play in a Heavy Metal Band!!!

[Yoyocita2]

it isn't a bad thing to stick out your lips into the mouthpiece as the inner lip is actually where you get your nice round sound from. However, it is bad to overdo it to the point where your whole mouth is inside the mouthpiece.

Also, puffing your cheeks isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact my master clinician puffed his cheeks and he was an excellent player. Although I believe it is necessary not to puff your cheeks on higher notes.

When you're playing high notes, think light and small.

[GenesisX001]

You look a little like peter Griffin 8D

[danytuba64]

of course that you can play high notes on tuba if you are practicing also on the trumpet mouthpiece

[stickom]

not bad, -buddy you are a french horn palyer!!! Thin lips, blessssss@@@

[perrosdemaiz]

Hear it in your head. very good advise.

Same for every horn.

[lukie117]

that looks like a bigger than normal trumpet mouthpiece

[jocobo99]

for concert band i use a Helleberg, and for marching band/drum corps i use an IYM Corp Maximus L mouthpiece. its a great mouthpiece with an EXTREMELY deep "funnel" shaped cup for a rich dark tone in the lower register. it kind of looks like the Jet-tone tuba mouthpiece.

[ninjaoroma2]

what mouthpiece do you use. right now i borrow one from school and i want to get a good mouthpiece any suggestions

[ubertuber6]

well...I have a helleberg, it works fine for me. Its pretty standard when coming to tuba mouth pieces. I also have a perantucci, pt64. And may I say, its AMAZING!

so yeah, those are my suggestions..

[Blitzhild]

a gold plate helleberg is excellent

[like1omfg9its9stephy]

I have a question for you, Tubadylan.

I'm attempting to play trumpet as well and I'm a 4th year tuba, freshman in high school, and I want to know, whats the best way to get into trumpet. I'm having problems with it because of the difference between my mouthpieces.

Advice?

[Bobofwestoregonusa]

longtones

[ulysseshotmice]

do you have a large variety of mouthpieces, tubadylan?? i just wanna know like some good brands i should look into. i know its all personal choice, but theres a pretty big variety to choose from.

[tubasister20k]

We all know you mean well but when it comes down to it you are a total goof dick. Good luck with the tuba I don't think it's your thing. But to each his own.

[kampori]

Hey tubadylan, these videos have been a real help! Thanks a lot.

I used to have problems with the high register, but I've got it sorted now. But 1 thing ironically I do have a bit of trouble on is getting to the really really low register, way past pedals. Any tips?

I play an Eb Wagner Tuba at the moment, and I'm waiting for my Miraphone Eb Norwegian Star tuba to arrive in 3 months!

So yeah, any tips would be great. Thanks!

[Irock124]

I'm curious, tubadylan, how many scales can you play all together? (major and minor)

[legofan4evelol]

whats a good mouth piece to use on a trumpet if you play the tuba

[tvmadguy]

I'd suggest playing around on them to see what's best for you.

[FortitudoWolfhart]

I must say, these two videos have given me some great tips for what I hope will help me get that high register. My main range seems to exist between a low E up to around the middle C or D, and it seems a lot of pieces I play like to throw notes into the higher areas, so I've been attempting to increase my range into the higher areas. I'm gonna try a few of these suggestions and see if I can improve. Thanks again!

[ndstumme]

god, you're the man. These have been so helpful

[tvmadguy]

He might be good, but he isn't God. Sorry.

[ndstumme]

My bad. Are you God then? :P

[johndeere10000000]

You've got some really good advice, one thing though, I once saw a horn player that puffed his cheeks, i have no clue how he was able to play that high with puffed cheeks.

good tips for the trumpet, I'll have to try looking for that spot, I've played tuba for 4 years and never really thought about where I hit the high notes.

[ivan1127]

if you dont place your lips inside the mouthpiece then where do you put them?

[gullygunz000]

hmmm..ive been playing tuba for a few days now..i can play up to a high b flat with relative ease..probably because i also played euphonium for two years

one problem though..

I CANT PLAY THE LOW B FLAT!! lol

when i play naturally the lowest i can get on an open note without trying is F..i have to REALLY try to get that low b flat, and alot of the time i cant lol

=./

[tubadylan]

Push your lower jaw foprward and relax the lips.

[kikon16]

Może ktos chciaż troszke napisać po polsku o co chodzi ?? Gram na Tubie już kilka miesięcy i zapewne przydałoby mi się kilka wskazówek. Bede bardzo wdzięczny :)

[tubaplayer247]

For the comment below me that said blow into the top of the mouthpiece...i use to tuck in my lips into the top part of the mouthpiece and blow faster air into the top and then i started getting lessons from my college proffesor and he saw what i was doing. now my higher register was amazing and was full of good tone but i always had to stop on say a passage that went from a lower note like a low Bb or C and went up to say maybe a Bb above the staff because i had to re-adjust my ambiture

[jimmy5bes]

when tring 2 hit a high note say for exaple an high f blow into the top of the moute peice

[Noogit1]

for puffers: If your in school or just sittin around watchin TV, take a pencil, put in your "spot", and hold it streight out using only your lips.

[OGjamesOG]

I used to puff my cheeks when I first started too. What my teacher told me to do was practise in front of a mirror, and force myself to tighten my cheeks. It's hard getting used to, but it all comes within good time.

[JillBaumann]

I am having trouble getting high notes because I have the habit of puffing out my cheeks. But, whenever I don't puff out my cheeks on low notes like B flat, It sounds weird. I am going CRAZY. ]:

But, thanks for the info!!

[:

-Jill

[BassGirl09]

ahhhh!! im a puffer. hah. ive been doing that ever since i started to play and my instructor did tell me that it was a bad habit... but he didnt really stop me after i continued to do it. i guess i will have to do it on my own. thanks for the video. :D

[DarthHenert]

I own a B.E.R.P. and it helps tremendously. every tuba player that has issues with high register you should definately pick one up

[germanharp]

Tobadylan, can you post more videos? I live in germany and find your information/videos a great help.

How often should I new student practice when just starting out?

And here is an odd question for you....what do you do with your tung when producing sounds? I heard a couple of things, one being that tuba players make tatata or dadada with the tonge. And inbetween tones is your tonge on the roof of your mouth blocking air?

Thanks for you time.

[Tubacca]

There isn't a spot for the mouthpiece. It should be in the middle of the mouth. If you have to change embouchure for high/low pitch it's a sign of bad technique. You should develop lip muscles of steel around the centre so shut up about the 'SPOT'. You my friend should stop teaching incorrect technique. YOU NEED CHOPSTCKS FOR BRASS PLAYERS. Google it my friend!

[tubadylan]

Whatever works, works.

[jbaylies]

I always heard that chopsticks were useless. Everyone has such different opinions, can't make up my mind. grr...

[Trombone0817]

There's brass players that play all the way to the left/right side of their mouth, that are absolutely incredible players. Jorgen Van Rijen, for example. You should start playing in the middle of your mouth, probably, but...If it feels better somewhere else, is easier somewhere else, and sounds better somewhere else...Why would you continue to play in the center of your mouth?

[tubadylan]

Exactly!

[moddedcyborg]

Not really acording to Arnold Jacobs he said to be free with your mouthpiece. That he even moves around on his mouth piece.

[moddedcyborg]

The last comment was for the other person that said that u shouldnt move.

[bassc2ba]

Ahh, chopsticks. Another gimmick, like B.E.R.P. How do you run faster? Practice sprints. How do you do more pushups? Practice pushups. How do you play higher? Same thing. You do well what you do often. There may be some value in these gimmicks, but I've always found that practicing on your weak areas (with the instrument) brings about the quickest improvement.

[cometiusnj]

Why dont u do YOUR research jackass. Go grab the nearest copy of Arnold Jacobs "Of Song & Wind." And obviously u've never heard of tilting u're mouthpiece for ease of pitch. Lesbian.

[frenchyblue92]

That was great. I have also found that if you stretch your upper lip as thin as it can go over your teeth, and do the same with your lower lip, but tuck your lower lip back over your teeth, you can hop up there pretty easily. By the way, what kind of mouthpiece is that?

[berne9]

tubas whoooooooooo(bbflat prefably)

[eple06]

Thanks :D I will try.

[lonewonder08]

I have big lips, so they go into my mouthpiece redardless. I dont puff my cheeks out though. I'm I doomed forever because I've been having a hard time breaking out a high B?

[pcrom]

Hei Tubadylan, that's a worthfull lesson for me ! I'll try your tips. Thanks !

Patrick (PCROM)

[ilikepie456]

i have that problem

[kazomatic]

thanks for the tips its hard to play a tuba

[benandsam2]

Really helpful. I went from d^5 being my highest note to g^5. Thank you.

[MoreheadBruski]

I agree. I am in college right now and I am a Tuba Major. Playing in the upper register is all about wind speed. Playing in the lower register is the best way. Playing Rochut's down two octaves is awesome. Great advice.

[Tubachick94]

Thanks... I'm in my first year, and that helps, cause I pretty much suck on the high notes, unless I go up the F scale, thats about it. So yeah thanks.

[tubadylan]

You are so very welcome. Keep practicing with a positive attitude every day and results will come faster than you could ever imagine. Daily dedication and making goals will help you go far in music and in life. -Dylan

[jjsk8erkid]

haha damn man, you should post a vid of you holding out some solid high notes on your trumpet ;), that was some crazy air, wish I could push it through like that but I cant seem too... any tips on putting air through the horn? (yes Im a trumpet player =])

[FlipForever]

wow nice man, i play tuba and im in 7th grade, thanks so much

[tubadylan]

You're so very welcome. Keep practicing!

[Greggorion]

i am too

[tubadylan]

Nothing is impossible on the tuba.

[FungoBoy]

lol play it loud and proud :D

what's the highest note possible on a tuba?

i play flute and my highest note is a d flat :o