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Tuba tuning

Posted by Hold the phone on 4/9/2025, 7:50 pm

How do YOU keep the notes in the 3rd partial in tune? Because apparently I should be teaching adjusting the tuning slides mid-performance for intonation reasons?? Specific notes in question are Db2, Eb2, Gb2, and Ab2.

Re: Tuba tuning

Posted by low brass guy on 5/27/2025, 4:56 pm, in reply to "Tuba tuning"

Higher partials tend to run flat on tuba, lower partials tends to run sharp. If Eb2 is rough, I'm assuming D2 is probably rough as well, unless they're already using 3rd valve by itself for D2 (recommended for most tubas/students).

Anyway, here's the typical loadout (always tune the master/main slide first):

D/Db2/Gb2 - Set 3rd slide to Gb with tuner. Pull out 3rd slide when playing Db/D(assuming they're playing D w/ 3rd), push back to Gb position when not playing it (for low brass boy brains, bc they'll actually just leave it there sometimes).

Eb/Ab2 - Tune 1st slide to Ab. Pull out 1st slide when playing Eb/D(assuming they're playing D w/ 1&2), push back to Ab position when not playing Eb.

Tune 4th slide with C2/B1. B1 tends to run sharp on Miraphone tubas, even with the slide all the way out. This slide won't ever need to move in realtime. Y

You can fix those pesky B1 sustains by having them use the 1&2&3 Sousaphone fingering and pull out both the first AND third slides for that note, but you'll need roughly a quarter step of length (4-6 inches of pull combined).

2nd slide almost never moves for anything unless you've got a weird off-brand tuba or mouthpiece....or it's just dented up to hell.

Re: Tuba tuning

Posted by Julio on 4/19/2025, 9:24 am, in reply to "Tuba tuning"

Are your kids able to get F in tune without pulling the main tuning slide excessively? Start with that.
If they're playing wrong fundamentally, slides will be all out of wack. Usually kids play with too much tension or a tongue position that is too high.

Tune to Bb(2). If you're using 4 valves pull the 3rd valve slide and leave it. You can monkey with pulling slides or use alternate fingerings from there.

Re: Tuba tuning

Posted by Real Brass on 4/11/2025, 12:31 pm, in reply to "Tuba tuning"

A common mistake is to tune the instrument to F. Tune to middle Bb. F is generally very sharp on most tubas and euphs. THEN adjust 1st and 3rd valve slides accordingly. Typically, 1st will be out just a touch, and 3rd roughly a centimeter.

Re: Tuba tuning

Posted by Gaga on 4/10/2025, 10:53 pm, in reply to "Tuba tuning"

In my experience as a band director (retired) and a tuba player, the tubas tend to sound sharp, even if they are supposedly "in tune". A very wise director told me to tune my tubas 5-10 cents flat. That doesn't address the notes you mention, but it will help, and improves the band's sonority much more than you would think. The 2nd & 3rd valve combinations tend to be sharp, anyway. In that case, I pull the 3rd valve slide about a half inch and let it stay there. That will make the 1st & 3rd combination slightly flat, but if the tuba has a 4th valve, that's not a problem, anyway. On the 1st valve notes, different tuba manufacturers try to make that slide where 1st & 2nd combination is not so sharp. Best wishes.

Re: Tuba tuning

Posted by Me on 4/10/2025, 11:09 am, in reply to "Tuba tuning"

If you have a 4-valve tuba, you should be adjusting the third valve slide to play Db/Gb in tune and leaving it alone. C can be played in tune with the 4th valve, and the third valve isn't used for any other notes.

Eb/Ab should be in tune with the slide pulled out a bit. You may need to adjust that one as you play to compensate for C.

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