A♭1 on the BB♭ Tuba
To play Low A♭ (A♭1) on tuba, press valve 1.
What’s a partial?
With the same valves down your lips can buzz several notes. Each one is a partial, counted from the lowest. Low A♭ is the 2nd.
Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.
With one valve down the tuning is honest, so it is a good note to check the first-valve slide on.
With one valve down the tuning is honest, so it is a good note to check the first-valve slide on.
Sound and display
Next moves
Teaching a class? Class mode keeps Stand mode and Test me on the notes your class is learning.
Same fingering, different note
Your lips choose between these notes: the fingering stays the same.
More for advanced players
Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works
About this note
Low A♭ sounds A♭1 (the tuba reads at concert pitch). It is on the 2nd partial.
Second partial with valve 1, a whole step below the open B♭. With one valve down the tuning is honest, so it is a good note to check the first-valve slide on.
- Primary fingering: Valves 1
- Written pitch: A♭1
- Sounding frequency: 51.91 Hz
- Harmonic partial: 2: the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure (the shape of your lips) select the partial.
Questions
How do you play Low A♭ on tuba?
To play Low A♭ (A♭1) on tuba, press valve 1. Low A♭ sounds A♭1 (the tuba reads at concert pitch). It is on the 2nd partial.
Is Low A♭ written or concert pitch?
The name on this page is the written note you read. It sounds A♭1.
BB♭ Tuba 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.