INTRODUCTION
Notes are played on a
tuba by pressing keys. These
keys are
attached to valves which
regulate the
flow of air through the various passageways on the
horn. There are
two types of valves used in tubas -
piston valves and
rotary valves. While the
mechanical specifications of each kind of
valve are not relevant to this node, the combinations of keys pressed to generate specific tones from the bell of the
horn are.
There are four widely used types of tubas.
Tubas are classified in two ways: size and natural key. For the purpose of this
node, we will ignore the size classification and focus instead on
natural key classification.
Natural key
classification of tubas can be most simply defined as the tuba
nomenclature assignment based on the tone that is emitted when a tubist blows into the leadpipe with a relaxed jaw.
There are four tones that may
emit, and the tone that emits defines the type of tuba you are playing. These four
tones are BBb (Double B Flat), CC (Double C), Eb (E flat) and F.
In the following charts, you will notice that some notes have
multiple fingerings associated with them. This is not a mistake. Because the tone that emerges from the
horn is generated by the
vibration of
air in the horn travelling through varying lengths of
tubes, certain tuba makers have included an extra (fourth and/or fifth) valve to alleviate the need to press certain key press combinations which are traditionally considered
awkward while maintaining the same
distance between leadpipe and
bell.
BBb TUBA
FINGERING CHART-
CHART STARTS AT "E" (six spaces below bottom of bass clef)
Note - Fingering , Alternate Fingering(s) (If any)
E - 123 , 24
F - 13 , 4
Gb - 23
G - 12 , 3
Ab - 1
A - 2
Bb - 0
B - 123 , 24
C - 13 , 4
Db - 23
D - 12 , 3
Eb - 1
E - 2
F - 0
Gb - 23
G - 12 , 3
Ab - 1
A - 2
Bb - 0
B - 12 , 3
C - 1 , 4
Db - 2
D - 0
Eb - 1
E - 2
F - 0
Gb - 23
G - 12
Ab - 1
A - 2
Bb - 0
B - 12
C - 1
Db - 2
D - 0
Eb - 1
CC
TUBA FINGERING CHART
CHART
STARTS AT "E" (six spaces below bottom of bass clef)
Note - Fingering , Alternate Fingering(s) (if any)
E - 234
F - 45 , 14
Gb - 24 , 235
G - 4 , 13
Ab - 23
A - 12 , 3
Bb - 1
B - 2
C - 0
Db - 24 , 235
D - 4 , 13
Eb - 23
E - 12 , 3
F - 1
Gb - 2
G - 0 , 13 , 4
Ab - 23
A - 12 , 3
Bb - 1
B - 2
C - 0
Db - 12 , 3
D - 1
Eb - 2 , 23
E - 0 , 12 , 3
F - 1
Gb - 2 , 24, 235
G - 0 , 13 , 4
Ab - 23
A - 12 , 3
Bb - 1
B - 2
C - 0
Db - 12 , 3
D - 1
Eb - 2 , 23
Eb
TUBA FINGERING
CHART
CHART STARTS AT "E" (six spaces below bottom of
bass clef)
Note -
Fingering , Alternate Fingering(s) (if any)
E - 1234
F - 134
Gb - 234
G - 124
Ab - 14
A - 24
Bb - 4
B - 23
C - 12
Db - 1
D - 2
Eb - 0
E - 24
F - 4
Gb - 23
G - 12
Ab - 1
A - 2
Bb - 0
B - 23
C - 12
Db - 1
D - 2
Eb - 0
E - 12
F - 1
Gb - 2
G - 0
Ab - 1
A - 2
Bb - 0
B - 23
C - 12
Db - 1
D - 2
Eb - 0
F
TUBA FINGERING
CHART
CHART STARTS AT "E" (six spaces below bottom of
bass clef)
Note - Fingering ,
Alternate Fingering(s) (if any)
E - 2
F - 0
Gb - 12345
G - 1345
Ab - 1245
A - 234
Bb - 45
B - 235
C - 4
Db - 23
D - 12
Eb - 1
E - 2
F - 0
Gb - 24
G - 4
Ab - 23
A - 12
Bb - 1
B - 2
C - 0
Db - 23
D - 12
Eb - 1
E - 2
F - 0
Gb - 12
G - 1
Ab - 2
A - 0
Bb - 1
B - 2
C - 0
Db - 23
D - 12
Eb - 1
GOOD
LUCK, and happy playing!
Cheers!