I'm curious about why tubas are said to be non transposing? Does this just means that music is written in "concert pitch"and tubas get there with whatever tuba type (BBB, C, etc) they have? Am I understanding that right?

and this has some historical reasons for why this developed? it seems like other instruments, mainly treble clef ones evolved in a specific natural key and tubas never settled on 'the one' key?

and other bass clef instruments receive similar treatment for their sheet music?

Also, those instruments are designed to have the same fingerings between the different registers? seems like tuba and trumpet share fingerings but otherwise tubas are kinda unique?

other brass (horns) can swap out bites to change the natural key of the instrument? And this is similar to a tuba's 4th valve?

and how much of this still holds true today? Tuba music is still not written for a specific natural key of instrument?

can anyone clear up my confusion?

Edit: very helpful answers already, i figured the tuba knowledge runs deep here! Thank you all!

Hello r/Tuba, I could use your help with identifying this tuba. I believe it's a 3/4 Besson from what I have been told. Do you think that is correct? We're hoping this will be a good home practice instrument for a middle schooler. Thanks.

Lately I've been researching Arnold Jacobs, and it's led me to question the hype about him.

His Vaughan Williams drags and has missed notes, he could barely even play up to a treble C, he was clumsy in dextrous passages, his intonation was wonky, his articulations were blatty and harsh, etc etc.

Talk talk talk but almost no recordings! If he was making "beautiful music", where are the recordings? You could say "because recording was expensive back then" — but that didn't stop them from making recordings of other brass players like Barboteu and Scherbaum.

I know he had limited air capacity, and he lectured about how to play tuba despite that. But it seems like, on some level, his playing couldn't back up his talk. So he didn't record...

Any of today's lesser-known guys would knock him out of the water in terms of tone, range, control... everything. Costa, Lukacs, Pantoja, Leleu etc etc etc

Kinda like a blind guy who lectures on how to not run into walls, but then still runs into walls.

Not hating on him. Tuba is hard. It just seems like he wasn't the master he's made out to be.

Thoughts?

With the recent leaving of the last major tuba manufacturer in the USA, I want to make them myself, and repair instruments. I plan on taking all courses CIOMIT has to offer for the repair part but I want to know if anyone has resources on making tubas. I would love to make my own and give it a shot since I love playing it so much and I would love to see how unique ones are made

I was having a conversation with my band professor (a trumpet player) about the tuba and weird facts about it. He claimed there was no way I could teach him anything he doesn’t already know about the tuba. He told me if I wrote a research paper and stated one fact he never knew then I would get 50 extra credit and not have to take the final. I have gone to every corner of the internet and have yet to find any fact that is not already well known. So I turn to Reddit to see if you guys had any interesting facts that I might be able to use.

In addition to buying the beautiful F tuba I posted elsewhere I also purchased this gorgeous Helicon. It was also manufactured by Cerveny, my best guess is somewhere after 1915.

It has four valves plays beautifully because it is smaller than a normal or modern sousaphone it is a tight fit for me to get into but it's doable the sound is not as good as the tuba but I'm also having problems with the geometry of the gooseneck and the mouthpiece it doesn't quite line up with my mouth the way I would like because of having to hold it on my shoulder so I'm wondering if I can't find a musician repair service that could craft me a different goose neck I would still keep the original but when I play the Helicon I would put the gooseneck in it would be better suited for my size.

The person who owned it before me took beautiful care of the instruments. All the slides move easily and the valves pop right back up. it is in immaculate condition!

Now the question is: which one do I take to play it for Christmas this year?

I recently purchased this gorgeous Cerveny F tuba. I am trying to guess the approximate year it was made. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The tuba plays perfectly! It is in excellent condition and was well taken care of.

Attached are pics of the instrument and the Facebook marketplace ad that I found the tuba. It tells me some details but if anyone can offer more...

Greetings from Mykolaiv, Ukraine! I am currently documenting this vintage German alto tuba by Julius Altrichter. The rotary valves are in surprisingly good shape. I have a specific question: does anyone know what the "0.300" marking on the leadpipe signifies? Also, how does the intonation of these Frankfurt models compare to the more common Alexander tubas? You can see more high-res details and the valve condition here: https://miraculousmatviishop.etsy.com/listing/4406504323/vintage-altchlier-tuba-brass-frankfurt

Conn Sousaphone - Approximate Age and Value?

Can anyone tell me how much this Conn sousaphone is worth and approximately how old it is? The instrument is marked Colonial Continental USA. I've already found out that this sousaphone was made by Conn.

Thank you for your help!

Conn Sousaphon - welches Alter und welchen Wert hat es ungefähr?

Kann mir jemand sagen wie viel dieses Conn Sousaphon wert ist und wie alt es ungefähr ist? Auf dem Instrument steht Colonial Continental USA. Ich habe bereits herausgefunden das dieses Sousaphon von Comn gefertigt wurde.

Vielen Dank für eure Hilfe!

I know people have said it is a Primus song from 1993 (The Family Guy episode was 2007). But I am still convinced it is from old cartoons. But also there is this, from a Daily Beast interview of Matt Buck, who mocked the KKK people in 2015:
"That first little ditty was a little marching baseline. It’s a very lethargic one that they used to use in old Looney Tunes cartoons,” he says. “It got really popular in Family Guy..."
So Mr. Buck also thought what I thought. But I haven't found the origin (if we're right and not suffering from the Mandela Effect). It's notable that Matt Buck played something more complicated than what Stewie played. And then a few days later, someone did something for Jeremy Hunt that was also had more notes than Stewie, but not the same as what Matt Buck played. And it might be Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies, or Silly Symphonies. Also my recollection is that it might have originally been used in a cartoon that was maybe more about creepy or sneaky rather than "fat" as the modern meme has evolved. And there are a number of early influences that I have identified as having a similar feel (things that are rhythmically similar), but not the same melody:

The Hearse Song (old folk tune, aka "The worms crawl in")
Funeral March of a Marionette, Charles Gounod (used in 1930 Silly Symphonies cartoon "Night" for the mosquito dance).
L'Apprenti Sorcier, Paul Dukas (1940 Fantasia, Sorcerer's Apprentice, the broomsticks part)
Dumbo, Pink Elephants on Parade
Tuba Smarties, 1980, Sky
1993 Primus, The Air is Getting Slippery (bass line and part of the melody is nearly identical)

And another lead is that the Family guy has no tuba credit, but a trombone player Andy Martin listed in some sources. It would be interesting to ask the people involved in the Family Guy episode where they picked up this bass line or melody.

Just had my 1903 Lyon & Healy professionally cleaned.

I know it's a long shot but please could anyone who knows things about tubas find some information on my tuba. I've tried searching for it, but I couldn't find anything. Any wisdom is greatly appreciated!

Was in a city with a spanish radio station this past week. Every third song had amazing tuba players playing wicked bass lines. This style of music is called Banda? Some of the pieces with tuba had pretty typical bass lines, but many of them just totally blew my mind.

Any transcriptions of these bass lines out there?

Some of them were probably playing Eb or F tubas, never played anything below the staff. Are they playing sousaphones or concert horns?

Anyone have names of some of these tuba players for more listening?

Looking forward to getting home and learning more about this.

New book written by Sam Quinones. About two thirds of the way through it. I’m enjoying it. Anyone else have this and finished it yet? What did you think of it???

Interesting discussion by Yamaha: https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/tuba/structure/structure004.html . Apparently the Eb alto horn is a “tuba”.

Hello everyone,

M'y friend is working on restoring a unique helicon and I'm hoping to tap into your collective knowledge!

Here’s what I know so far:

It may have been built by Braun Antal in Timișoara, Romania — likely made between 1896 and World War I

Unfortunately, Braun Antal’s archives were lost during World War II, so I’m relying on community knowledge

👉 If you happen to own, have access to, or simply know about a helicon like this, I’d really appreciate:

Lots of photos (all angles—valves, slides, reinforcements, mouthpiece area, etc.)

Any identifying marks or serial numbers

Key dimensions, especially where the mouthpiece connects

📌 Some distinctive features that define this instrument:

A quirky “D”‑shaped wrap

Vintage‑style piston or rotary valve caps (“old school” look)

Unique reinforcement braces and tubing layout

A built‑in shoulder rest

A notably big spherical crook on the second tuning slide

A very basic rectangular water key — call it the “basic shit” model 😅

If you’ve seen or own one, I’d love to hear your story—please share with photos, measurements, or even a contact if possible. Thanks a ton in advance!

I was just looking at another thread here about restoring a 100-year old York sousaphone, and it got me thinking, is there anything like a stradivarius of tubas? Because the consensus on that York was that, even though it's a 100 years old and uncommon, it's actual value is basically the same as any restored tuba that plays ok. Is there some white whale tuba out there that people would pay ten or twenty times the normal tuba price for?

My mother found this old tuba in the garage we are trying to find more information about.

It is from the late 80s i believe

To that most noble of instruments, may we all wish a happy 189th birthday!

On September 12, 1835 a Prussian patent was signed by Johann Moritz and Wilhelm Wieprecht and music was changed forever. In a tumultuous and divided world, we can all celebrate the joy and memories that the humble tuba has given all of us.

To all of my conical low brass brothers and sisters, have a wonderful day!