How to get a better sound on tuba

A good tuba sound is big, round, and even: the floor the whole band stands on. It doesn't come from blowing harder. It comes from full, relaxed breaths, an open mouth and throat, even breath support, and a few minutes of tone practice every day. This guide shows what to listen for and what to check when the sound is fuzzy, thin, or flat.

It's written for the BB♭ tuba (often just called B♭ tuba), the kind most school bands use. The exercises are in bass clef at concert pitch, with BB♭ tuba fingerings under the notes. E♭, F, and C tubas use different fingerings.

What a good tuba sound is

Tone is what your sound is like, apart from which note it is. A full tuba tone has a warm, dark center and fills the room without being loud. Listen to these computer-made examples:

These examples are made by the computer, so they only hint at a real tuba. Listen to recordings of good tuba players, pick a sound you love, and try to match it.

Big, relaxed breaths

A tuba note takes plenty of air, and running short is one common reason for a small or fading sound.

• Sit tall. Slumping or bending down to the mouthpiece makes a full breath harder. Bring the tuba up to you.
• Take a comfortable, full breath. Let your ribs and stomach area expand, and keep your neck and shoulders relaxed.
• Breathe through an open "oh." An open mouth and throat let the air in quickly and quietly.
• Breathe often. Take a breath before you run out, even in the middle of a long phrase if you have to. Mark breaths in your music.

For more, see breathing exercises for brass players.

Open throat, loose lips

Extra tension in your throat, jaw, or lips can make your sound thin, or "pinched." Check these while you play:

• Throat open, like saying "oh" or starting a yawn.
• Room inside your mouth. Teeth apart. Many players let the jaw drop a little as they go lower, to give low notes more space.
• Loose lips, firm corners. The middle of your lips buzzes freely; the corners hold their place.
• Light mouthpiece pressure. Pressing pinches your lips and tires them out. Use only enough to keep a seal.
• Medium volume. Very loud playing can turn the tone buzzy and harsh before it makes it any fuller. Build your full tone at a medium volume first.

Steady air

Even breath support helps the sound stay even. Listen to the difference: the wavering example goes up and down in pitch and volume.

• Breathe and play in one motion. Move smoothly from the breath into the note. A tense hold before the note can make the start late or bumpy.
• Think warm air. Many players find it helps to blow like fogging a window, not like cooling soup.
• Keep blowing to the end. The end of a long note should sound like the start.

Long tones

A long tone is one note held for a long time, with a clear, even sound. Long tones give you time to listen and adjust. These walk down by half steps, one fingering at a time:

• Start medium-soft. Range and loudness can come later.
• Same sound start to finish. The note shouldn't fade, wobble, or swell unless the music asks for it.
• Play with a drone on the same note. Listen for the "wah-wah" beats and adjust until they stop. See playing in tune.
• Check your pitch with the tuner. The tuner checks pitch only, so listen separately for an even volume and a clear sound.

Lip slurs

A lip slur moves from one note to another without changing the valves or using your tongue. Only your air and buzz change. Lip slurs help your tone because they ask you to keep the air moving while the note changes.

• Go slowly. Every note should sound as clear as a long tone.
• Keep the air moving between notes. The sound shouldn't dip or bump.
• To go up, try a slightly faster stream of air or a higher tongue position, like moving from "toh" toward "tee." Relax back to come down. Don't press the mouthpiece harder to reach the top note.
• Let your jaw move if it needs to. Many players drop it a little for the low note.
• Cracked a note? Slow down and try it again, softly.

Fuzzy, thin, or flat sounds

Common tone problems sound fuzzy or airy, thin or pinched, or flat and dull. The table lists what to check first. One sound can have more than one cause, so change one thing at a time.

Buzzing on the mouthpiece alone can help you narrow it down. If the buzz is fuzzy there too, start with your lips and air. If it's clear there, check mouthpiece placement on the tuba and look for water. To go back to the basics, see how to make your first sound on tuba.

A 10-minute tone routine

• 1 minute: breathing. In for 4 counts, out for 8 on an even "hoo."
• 1 minute: mouthpiece buzzing. Long, low buzzes and slow sirens.
• 3 minutes: the long tones above, with a drone or tuner.
• 2 minutes: one lip slur pattern above, slow and smooth.
• 1 minute: four clean starts each on F, D, and B♭. Every start should sound like the first.
• 2 minutes: a song you know, played at a comfortable volume with your best sound. Record it and listen back.

Then use Play the Note in Brass Trainer. Hold each note for a moment before moving on. The microphone checks the pitch.