The tuba is essentially the subwoofer of the brass section: the bass. As well as orchestras, the tuba takes on the bass role in smaller jazz and blues ensembles.
A Tuba or a Sousaphone?
The most recognisable tuba is the one you'd see in an orchestra, while the sousaphone is essentially a tuba that's been made so you can comfortably walk around or march with your instrument wrapped around your neck. With an orchestral tuba, the gigantic bell points up to the heavens, while the bell of a sousaphone points forward.
Why So Many Instruments Look Like a Tuba
For any newcomers, the tuba can seem a bit confusing. It's pretty easy to tell the difference between a trumpet and trombone but there are a lot of instruments out there that look a lot like the tuba. Are they all tubas? The answer is actually more simple than you might think. In the distant past, it was discovered that changing the shape of the tubes of a brass instrument didn't actually make any difference to the sound. This is an important detail to bear in mind when you consider the fact that, if you want a low pitched instrument, you need a much longer tube. For example, the tube of a Bb tuba is around 5.5 metres long, so while the tube needs to be a certain length, it can be bent in any way you want, all to make things more comfortable for the musician. There are a lot of low-pitched brass instruments that feature a long tube, and that long tube has to be rolled up and tucked away somewhere. This doesn't mean that every instrument you're looking at is a tuba, it just means that the same concept has been applied.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tubas
Is the euphonium the same as a tuba?
The euphonium is a completely different instrument, but is a member of the same family as the tuba. In essence, the euphonium is a tenor tuba so has a higher note range and a softer sound. Very occasionally, you'll see a euphonium in a symphony orchestra, but the euphonium is more common in marching bands and philharmonic orchestras.
