BB♭ Sousaphone
F2 on the BB♭ Sousaphone
Written F2. Tap the diagram to hear it.
F2
3rd partialBeginner note
F2 is an open note on the 3rd partial: no valves down, so the lip alone picks the slot. 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
F2 is an open note on the 3rd partial: no valves down, so the lip alone picks the slot. 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: Open (no valves)
- Written pitch: F2
- Sounding frequency: 87.31 Hz
- Harmonic partial: 3 — the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure select the partial.
Alternate fingerings for F2
- 1-3: Valves 1 + 3. A 4th-partial fingering for the same pitch, used for lip-flexibility work; it inherits the sharpness of 1-3.
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.