How to Play the Tuba
Tuba Fingering

School students in brass bands may have heard comments of confusion regarding the fourth piston valve. Being able to use the fourth valve increases the possibilities available to you, so there is no reason not to use it. Furthermore, some tubas have five valves. Let us also take a look at that fingering, since the fifth slide can lower the pitch by 4/3 of a tone in some cases, or by two tones in others.

• Even with four valves, fingerings change with compensating systems. Although it is possible to produce higher or lower notes than shown with these fingerings, you will need to consult an advanced player's manual or ask your teacher to help you.
• For some tonal ranges or different makes/models, ○○●○ may produce better pitch than ●●○○.

• The fifth valve may be slightly higher or lower depending on the instrument's make or model.
• You may need to find the right pitch by moving slide 1, slide 5, and so on. Also, you may encounter 6-valved tubas, or tubas other than the 4/3-tone or 2-tone models. Fingering guides are not absolute. Please ask your teacher for guidance and experiment to find fingerings that work well for you.
• In the low tonal register, you may find the pitch to be more obvious if you play one octave higher with the same fingering.

• The fifth valve may be slightly higher or lower depending on the instrument's make or model.
• You may need to find the right pitch by moving slide 1, slide 5, and so on. Also, you may encounter 6-valved tubas, or tubas other than the 4/3-tone or 2-tone models. Fingering guides are not absolute. Please ask your teacher for guidance and experiment to find fingerings that work well for you.
• In the low tonal register, you may find the pitch to be more obvious if you play one octave higher with the same fingering.

B♭ tuba fingering chart