BB♭ Sousaphone
E2 on the BB♭ Sousaphone
Written E2. Tap the diagram to hear it.
E2
3rd partialBeginner note
E2 is the 3rd partial with valve 2, 1 semitone below open F2. The 3rd partial tends a little sharp; relax the aperture rather than pushing. Keep the sound full and steady; these notes carry the band's bass line.
About this note
E2 is the 3rd partial with valve 2, 1 semitone below open F2. The 3rd partial tends a little sharp; relax the aperture rather than pushing. Keep the sound full and steady; these notes carry the band's bass line.
- Primary fingering: Valves 2
- Written pitch: E2
- Sounding frequency: 82.41 Hz
- Harmonic partial: 3 — the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure select the partial.
Alternate fingerings for E2
- 1-2-3: Valves 1 + 2 + 3. Reaches the same pitch from the 4th partial; much sharper, so it is kept for trills and awkward slurs.
BB♭ Sousaphone fingering data last updated . Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.