G1 on the BB♭ Tuba

To play Low G (G1) on tuba, press valves 1 + 2.

Now showingBeginner note

Low GG1

Valves 1 + 2

Written: G1
Sounds: G1
Partial: 2nd

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 G is the 2nd.

Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.

Tip · Low G

Drop the jaw and open the throat: if the note will not start, the aperture is too tight, not the air too soft.

E1Low E F1Low F G♭1Low G♭G1Low G A♭1Low A♭A1Low A B♭1B1 C2 D♭2D2 E♭2E2 F2 G♭2G2 A♭2A2 B♭2B2 C3 D♭3D3 E♭3E3 F3 G♭3G3 A♭3A3 B♭3High B♭

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Speed72BPM

Tip · Low G

Drop the jaw and open the throat: if the note will not start, the aperture is too tight, not the air too soft.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteLow G♭Valves 2 + 3 Next noteLow A♭Valve 1 Full chartAll 31 tuba notesThe whole fingering chart ScaleConcert B♭ majorWritten B♭ major, fingering under every note TrainerNote trainerRead bass clef notes PrintPrintable PDFLetter · A4 · blank

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Alternate fingerings for G1

Each alternate has its own link. Send it to a student and the page opens with that fingering on the big diagram.

Alternate 13Valves 3. Valve 3 alone lowers the same minor third as 1-2 and often sits truer in tune this low.

Same fingering, different note

Your lips choose between these notes: the fingering stays the same.

D23rd partial G24th partial B25th partial G38th partial

More for advanced players

Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

Low G sounds G1 (the tuba reads at concert pitch). It is on the 2nd partial.

Second partial with 1-2, or valve 3 alone. Drop the jaw and open the throat: if the note will not start, the aperture is too tight, not the air too soft.

Primary fingering: Valves 1 + 2
Written pitch: G1
Sounding frequency: 49.00 Hz
Harmonic partial: 2: the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure (the shape of your lips) select the partial.

Alternate fingerings for G1

3: Valves 3. Valve 3 alone lowers the same minor third as 1-2 and often sits truer in tune this low.

Questions

How do you play Low G on tuba?

To play Low G (G1) on tuba, press valves 1 + 2. Low G sounds G1 (the tuba reads at concert pitch). It is on the 2nd partial.

Is Low G written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. It sounds G1.

Is there another fingering for Low G?

3: Valve 3 alone lowers the same minor third as 1-2 and often sits truer in tune this low.

BB♭ Tuba fingering data last updated 22 October 2026. Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.