3 Learning & Playing Tuba/Trumpet/Euphonium/Baritone/Flugelhorn/French Horn/Cornet

In this video, Brett Youens describes the specific intervals produced by depressing the valves on brass instruments, with the tuba used as an example.

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(Transcript)
Hi. Let's talk a little more about valved brass instruments and how they work. As you know, this is a tuba, but could just as well be a trumpet, or a euphonium, or a french horn, or a flugelhorn. They all work on the same principles.

We've talked before about how the depression of one or more of the valves lowers the pitch; today we will talk specifically about by how much you can lower that pitch.

So let's take a look at a piano keyboard. The distance between these two notes is known as a whole step, or a whole tone. And the distance between these two notes is called a half step, or a half tone. Now what's the difference? This is the whole tone; you see that there's an extra key between them. And here's the half tone; there's no extra key between them. That's the difference. So this is a whole tone and this is a whole tone; but this is a half tone. This would also be a half tone; this would also be a half tone. Another example of a whole step would be here because you see there is a note between them.

So here's a question for you: What's the distance between those two notes? Well, the answer is: one, two, three. That distance, or that interval is three whole tones, and there is a name for that in western music: It's called a "three-tone". But, of course, no one would say "three-tone", you have to say it in Greek: it's a "tritone". So, the distance between this note and this note is called a "tritone".

(By the way, the half tone is the smallest interval in Western music. Now, when I say "western music", what am I talking about? Am I talking about "Country and Western Music"? No, in fact I'm not. I'm talking about European music or North American music. I am not talking about Indian music, or indigenous music to tribes of South America, or African music, or Japanese music. "Western music" is generally the term you use to refer to music written either in the classical tradition in Europe, or, for example, the music that you hear in Pop radio in America.)

So, again: half step, whole step.

So let's take a look at a guitar to see these principles in action. If I play this note, and then this note, then we will have had a half tone. If we play this, it's also a half tone. But if I play this and then this, that is a whole tone, because you see, that there is one fret here that I didn't use. So: the same principle as on the piano.

So, now how does that work on brass instruments? How does that work on my tuba here?

If I want to lower a note by a half tone, I press the smallest valve: the "baby". If I want to lower it by a whole tone, I press the "daddy". If I want to lower it by one and a half, I press the "granddaddy". But, of course, if you think about it, you could also press the baby, which is a half step, and the daddy, which is a whole step, so one and a half. If I want two, I could press one and a half plus a half. If I want two and a half, I would press one and a half plus one. If I wanted three, I would press one and a half plus a half, plus one, which also adds up to three, and there's our tritone. So, the most that you can lower any given note on the tuba is by a tritone, which sounds like this.

So, now you know a little bit more about how brass instruments work.

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[123samko]

im playing trumpet right now and im switching instruments to euphonium. do you have any tips, and i hear that euphonium has almost the exact same fingerings as the trumpet.

[PianoWallaby]

@123samko Exact same fingerings, you are right. The biggest difference for you will be the mouthpiece, much bigger. Relax for the low notes. Best!

[cahsmbandsnarechick]

@PianoWallaby I play tuba now in concert band, and LOVE it so much! Along with that, I am my high school's drum major! I'll have to learn some good ways on teaching things that will stick into people's minds. My goal, is to have someone learn something from me. :)

[PianoWallaby]

@cahsmbandsnarechick I was very, very happy to receive your message. I think that is a great goal, to have someone learn something from you. My tip: try to understand not only WHAT is to be done, but also WHY it is to be done. Then you will find not only that others can learn from you, but also that you'll never stop learning from others. Thanks again for the comment, and best of luck with your goal!

[theredplumber]

@prt1667 nooooooooooo dont change to tuba D=, Please stay as a trombone like me =D

[prt1667]

Do you have any tips for a trombone going to a tuba? It's going to a slide to a valve.. so.. any tips?

[shaneThomas2011]

i think its time for a new one

[Purrplefreak12]

Do you have any air-control/lung-capacity advice for a flutist going tuba who's never played a brass before?

[stevenhamlin1000]

@elevatorfreak112 baritone's 1 octave higher & darker tone

you sure it's not a euphonium

[PianoWallaby]

@ag469 Sorry, no, I don't know where you can rent one, but good luck in your search. Thanks for stopping by!