Ever since I picked up the tuba in high school, I haven’t gone back.
It’s my main instrument and the one I love the most of all I’ve ever played.
And no matter how many people I play for or who they are, I’m always asked to play the lowest note I can play (it’s pretty low).
The real question everyone wants to know is: What is the lowest note a tuba can play?
The lowest functional note a tuba can play depends on its key or tuning and the number of valves it has, but the general answer for a BBb tuba is E1. This note uses all three standard valves pressed down below the fundamental pitch.
Is this the lowest possible note?
Not at all, but this topic is somewhat complicated.
Read on for those details on low notes for the tuba.
Hey! If you like tuba stuff, check out my Instagram!
Table of Contents
What Is The Lowest Note On Tuba For Normal Composition?
If you’re composing or arranging for the tuba, you need to keep in mind the level of tuba player you’re writing for.
Most tuba players at a high school level with have a three-valve BBb Tuba (commonly called a Bb Tuba).
This means their open valve low note is Bb1 (two octaves and a major second below), middle C or C4.
From here, if they push down all of their valves, making the horn as long as possible, they’ll play E1.
Without more valves, this is the lowest practical pitch.
A good player may be able to pop out a pedal Bb0 (yes, a zero), but they won’t be able to play the notes in between without valves.
Note: This note isn’t practical, though. Low E1 is the lowest note you should write for.
If you’re writing for higher levels of music (such as orchestra and concert band pieces for a really good high school or beyond), then it’s safe to assume notes down to low D1 are fair game.
For tuba solos, really, any note is fair game.
It’s possible to play your pedal tone (one octave below the standard pitch) and then add more valves and “lip down” to pay even lower.
This takes practice and adjusting your embouchure or mouth shape to get these notes out.
See more in our tips for playing lower on the tuba in the later section.
Lowest Tuba Note Written
In Tuba solos, there are a few modern pieces that use the pedal range.
Pedal notes refer to when the player has to open their jaw and play below their fundamental pitch.
All brass family instruments can technically use these notes, but the smaller mouthpieces of the trumpet and french horn make these notes sound weak and airy.
Trombones and euphoniums (also called baritones) can play pedal tones fairly well, but not quite as well and easily as the tuba, which has the biggest mouthpiece.
The lowest tuba note actually written for any piece is largely considered to be in the piece Encounters II by William Kraft.
In it, he calls for a C 4 octaves below the middle C or 5 ledger lines and one space below bass clef.
This is C0 and can only be played by a C tuba (technically, a CC tuba).
Here’s a link to this piece if you want to listen to the whole thing.
On top of this, it’s common practice for higher-level bands to have a tuba player “drop the octave” at dramatic points if there is more than one tuba player in the band.
As a result, there are times when a good play may even play below C0 if they wish and can.
Most of the time, the vibrations are so slow the notes won’t even be heard. But the wavelengths are so long that they can be felt.
Better yet are times when there are four tubas playing special music like those brass bands or professional win ensembles.
In these cases, you might end up with tubas spread over four octaves, including these pedal notes for a unique pitch reinforcing effect, which strengthens the low and deep tuba sound for the ensemble to sink into.
Lowest Note Chart By Tuba Key And Valve Combination
Tubas are, in essence, one long pipe you buzz into.
The length of the pipe or tube directly correlates to the pitch that comes out.
The longer the tube, the lower the note.
When the tuba pushes down no valves and plays its lowest note (not pedal), it’s playing the fundamental pitch of the brass instrument.
Each valve, when pressed, add a bit more tubing to the instrument, making it longer and allowing it to be played lower.
So to figure out the lowest note by the types of tuba, we need to know:
- Its fundamental pitch.
- How many valves it has.
This chart is a quick cheat sheet for the lowest practical note on each type of tuba, considering how many valves it has.
This isn’t a list of all the tubas out there, but they are the most common ones.
| Key Or Type Of Tuba | Number of Valves | Lowest Practical Note |
|---|---|---|
| F Tuba | 4 | Ab1 |
| Eb Tuba | 4 | Gb1 |
| CC Tuba | 4 | Eb1 |
| CC Tuba | 5 | Db1 |
| BBb Tuba | 3 | E1 |
| BBb Tuba | 4 | Db1 |
F Tuba and Eb tubas are more specialty tubas seen at higher levels of play.
Check out our list of the best F tubas.
They kind of fit in between the standard tuba and the euphonium.
They’re also called solo tubas.
You’ll usually see them in professional players who are playing solos.
You may also see them in brass quintets and brass bands.
A CC Tuba (often just called a C tuba) is a standard-sized tuba for people playing at a really good high school, collegiate, or professional level.
CC tubas are used over BBb tubas because the fingerings are based on the key of C, making them more versatile for sharp keys as is used in many orchestra pieces and solos.
Band brass instruments play in mostly flat keys. Orchestral brass plays mostly in sharp keys.
9 Tips: How To Play Low On Tuba
Playing low notes on the tuba takes practice and adjusting your embouchure to a more relaxed and open position. General tips for playing lower include:
- Play with more air (think dense air, not forced).
- Allow your lower lip to do more of the work.
- Adjust your embouchure, so the lower lip and jaw are slightly “pouty.”
- Practice by going down slowly from your fundamental pitch, one half-step at a time.
- Play along with a recording of the notes you’re playing, but the recording is an octave above to help you hear the pitches better.
- Don’t puff your cheeks! This lessens your air focus.
- Play etudes and studies as written, and then down the octave.
- Focus first on playing low and slow, then speed it up.
- Aim your air more horizontal or slightly down into your mouthpiece.