Switching instruments

[maddog]

So I grew up playing the tuba and it is pretty ingrained in my psyche. NorM and I got together one night to goof around on bass and learn a couple things. He asked if I think in terms of tuba fingerings while playing the bass and my initial thought was "No." Well, having a few more practices under my fingers I've found I have an annoying habit of trying to apply valve fingerings to the bass. I see a Bb and I think open so I don't fret. I see an Eb and I think first valve so I'm fretting the first fret. I don't know what is more frustrating, always hearing the same wrong note and trying to figure out why or knowing you're fretting the wrong fret but don't catch it until you hear the same wrong note. Time to practice more.

Anybody else experience this situation?

 

[Mobay45]

I played trumpet for years but have never read music while playing bass. Maybe that's why I don't relate valve fingering to the bass.

 

[NorM]

I still think sax fingering when reading standard notation. Guitar parts just get memorized. I like TAB notation.

 

[tkarter]

I have always been able to hear the note I am reading. Never thought about how I played the baritone while playing bass. For me to do that my bongo would need a mouthpiece.


tk

 

[Dr Stankface]

I did play a little tuba. My highschool marching band played in Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I had never played tuba but I learned enough just in time for it. A fun time that was.

I'm the one 2nd from the right. I also have no idea why my band director put a flute right in the middle of the tuba line.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I'm trained as a sax player, made most my living as a keyboard player and now play the bass, I just see it as half steps and whole steps... but I drink a lot.

 

[MingusBASS]

Hey Stanky-I'm pretty sure that's a sousaphone chief.

But...

to answer Tom's question: I started playing trumpet/french horn shortly before I started playing bass(quit the horns when I graduated high school) which was when I was 10. I've never had any trouble with fingerings but reading was sorta weird at first.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Yes. You are right my fellow Andrew. Although, it's the same fingering (except 4 valve tubas) as any other tuba would. So nyah.

 

[maddog]

Yes. You are right my fellow Andrew. Although, it's the same fingering (except 4 valve tubas) as any other tuba would. So nyah.

You guys are getting me all nostalgic.

Only difference between a tuba and a sousaphone is the shape.

4th valve is for intonation on C below the bass staff, replaces 1&3. Otherwise, I've never had much other use for it I've seen a picture of a 4 valve sousaphone but was perplexed on why somebody was so worried about a subtle intonation problem in the middle of a football game.

And in all my years of playing, I've never heard of a sousaphone section. (except I think syracuses tuba section are called "the suzies" but that didn't sit well with us VTubas so we shunned them but then again, they used to all go play golf as a section which seemed like a big waste of good beer money.)

 

[boyet]

Used to be a guitar player before I switched to the double bass then ended up playing electric. Not quite confusing with the fingerings on the electric but I do adapt some electric bass fingerings sometimes when I play the upright especially when the music is jazz oriented or has an improvisatory part. On the electric bass, I sometimes use a couple of guitar techniques.

 

[tadawson]

You guys are getting me all nostalgic.

Only difference between a tuba and a sousaphone is the shape.

4th valve is for intonation on C below the bass staff, replaces 1&3. Otherwise, I've never had much other use for it I've seen a picture of a 4 valve sousaphone but was perplexed on why somebody was so worried about a subtle intonation problem in the middle of a football game.

And in all my years of playing, I've never heard of a sousaphone section. (except I think syracuses tuba section are called "the suzies" but that didn't sit well with us VTubas so we shunned them but then again, they used to all go play golf as a section which seemed like a big waste of good beer money.)

It's been long enough since I played that I don't recall all the 4 valve fingerings, but you can use it for a heck of a lot more than just the low C. If you are a player with a desire to go below the low B flat, it helps a lot. I used to be able to get to the SECOND low E below the staff on a 4 valve, which 'taint that doable without it . . . In general, 4 valve is a lot easier to both play and intonate in the low registers.

Having said that, despite having been a tuba player for about 10 years, it has been long enough since I have been really active, that it has never crossed my mind playing bass. Though, now that the topic has come up, it presents me with a new and unique way to screw up . . . . . .

- Tim

 

[maddog]

It's been long enough since I played that I don't recall all the 4 valve fingerings, but you can use it for a heck of a lot more than just the low C. If you are a player with a desire to go below the low B flat, it helps a lot. I used to be able to get to the SECOND low E below the staff on a 4 valve, which 'taint that doable without it . . . In general, 4 valve is a lot easier to both play and intonate in the low registers.

Having said that, despite having been a tuba player for about 10 years, it has been long enough since I have been really active, that it has never crossed my mind playing bass. Though, now that the topic has come up, it presents me with a new and unique way to screw up . . . . . .

- Tim

Yes, the fourth valve helps in playing pedal notes but except for the times I wanted to piss off the director/conductor , I never had much call for them.

 

[tkarter]

I used to make the director mad without playing a note.

tk

 

[maddog]

I used to make the director mad without playing a note.

tk

 

[tadawson]

Yes, the fourth valve helps in playing pedal notes but except for the times I wanted to piss off the director/conductor , I never had much call for them.

We must have played different stuff. On a lot of the more symphonic type of stuff I played in college, it got pretty regular use . . . . .

- Tim

 

[maddog]

yeah, symphonic band/wind ensemble stuff rarely gets down as low as the orchestral stuff. And of course, marching band ... yeah. I wish I had been given a chance at the local orchestra but since I wasn't majoring I wasn't even asked to audition.