Euphonium/Tuba

Colton Duy

Euphonium History
The Euphonium traces its ancestry to the Ophicleide and to
the Serpent.
The Euphonium is said to have been invented, as a "wide-
bore, valved bugle of baritone range", by Ferdinand Sommer
of Weimar in 1843, though Carl Moritz in 1838 and Adolphe
Sax in 1843 have also been credited.
Adolphe Saxs saxhorn is very similar to the Euphonium.

Euphonium
The Serpent

Ophicleide

Saxhorn

Euphonium CharacterisOcs

Non-transposing
3 valves/4 valves on professional models
IntonaOon Issues
Bass clef and Treble clef
Higher passages may be in tenor clef
Treble clef parts transpose down a major 9th

Euphonium/Baritone
Baritones have a smaller bell are than
Euphoniums
Baritone Ombre is lighter while the
Euphonium Ombre is darker
Baritones weigh less than Euphoniums
Baritones are usually used in BriOsh brass and
school bands
Euphoniums are more standard in American
bands

Baritone

Euphonium

Playing PosiOon
The Euphonium should be held diagonally across the body
with the lower bow in the waist to provide support. The
mouthpiece should come to you. The right hand ngers
should be placed over the valve caps and beneath the bow.
The leY arm must reach across the lower bow and grip some
of the tubing on the right side.

Tuba History
Like the Euphonium, the Tuba can trace its ancestry to the Ophicleide and
the Serpent
Prussian Patent No. 19 was granted to Wilhelm Wieprecht and Johanna
Moritz on September 12, 1835 for a basstuba
This forerunner of the tuba used 5 valves
Tubas were able to produce a smoother tone than instruments such as the
saxhorn and the serpent, this led to the tubas popularity.

Tuba CharacterisOcs
Eb/F Tubas are smaller while BBb and CC tubas are much
larger
Eb/F and CC are commonly used in Orchestras
BBb are used in Concert bands
Sizing: 3/4 (smaller tuba), 4/4 and 5/4
4/5 Valves
Either piston or rotary valves
Modern piston valves were developed from the saxhorn
family
Non-transposing
Tubaists learn correct ngering based on the type of tuba

Sousaphone and Contra

Used primarily in marching band secngs

Sousaphone

Contra

Playing PosiOon
The tuba should rest on the lap or the front of the chair and
be stabilized by the leY arm. Depending on what type of tuba
you have, nger placements will vary. Some will be similar to
the baritone while others you must wrap your arm around
the instrument. Both the baritone and tuba should be held
high enough so that the mouthpiece meets the embouchure
without the player bending downwards.