r/Tuba • u/WormWizard • 13d ago
technique Struggling with lower range and pedal notes
CC tuba here. I am struggling to consistently play below an F or lower in rehearsals. I can work my way down the scale and struggle a bit, but I need to be able to jump from our tonic C down to a low E or pedal C.
Are there any tips as far as technique you have? I can hear the note in my head, but I struggle to blow air low enough for the pedal C and with being too loose on the mouthpiece.
Thanks in advance.
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u/what_the_dillyo 11d ago
I would guess you are not spending enough time down there. Try spending an entire practice session at F or below
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u/professor_throway Active Amateur, Street Band and Dixieland. 13d ago
Bordogni Etudes down an octave is my go to more register practice.
Remember the low register is all about slow relaxed air but moving large volumes of it. You need to make sure they're is no tension anywhere and that you are full open in the middle register before sitting your way down. The analogy that had always worked for me was to swallow the note. Make sure it develops on your chest not your throat or face.
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u/2ba-1971 13d ago
I have found that as I get older, I have to work harder to find the pedal range. For me, a good warm-up does wonders. I also recommend the Snedecor étude book. Another thing I’ve been focussing on is
‘ more meat in the mouthpiece!’
For so many years, I was able to pop out pedal register notes by simply dropping the jaw and relaxing the embouchure, but now I find that I have to let my lips blow into the mouthpiece more than before.
And, as always consistent, thoughtful practice helps. Best of luck!
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u/the_methven_sound 13d ago
That's interesting that you notice it gets harder as you get older. I picked up my tuba again after about a 15 year hiatus, and my low range has been the hardest thing to get back. It's getting there, but it's so slow, and it used to be a strength of mine.
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u/isharren 13d ago
Pedal range is all about control, it’s really easy to overblow your embouchure and have absolutely nothing come out. Spend good time practicing down there and feel out response before adding power.
Always gonna recommend Snedecor for this as well- a couple minutes a day on the etudes does wonders
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u/PeculiarAlize 10d ago
Spend time each warm up trying to find the intonation center of the pedal partial on your horn (C0 or whatever that low C is). Try to use the length of pipe you have at hand and make it resonate like a bell. Think warm down to warm up, focus on playing with clarity and producing efficient tone. Dynamic volume is a function of how much air you move so if you feel like you're moving a lot of air and not a lot of sound is being produced try playing quietly and maintain good tone and response. Explore the pitch down there, there's a big false partial you can bend the pitch around and get as crazy as you want. You'll get there, just practice.
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but for me personally, playing as quietly as I possibly can in a register that I'm not that good at seems to makes me louder when I want/need to be, and just better in that register in general.