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Vienna keys are common on rotary trumpets, but it's the very first time I see Vienna keys on a tuba

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7 ... 7668100690

Have you seen any other tuba with Vienna keys?

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7 ... 7668100690

I think that Tuba was designed by a Bassoon player.

Craig F wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 7:15 pm I think that Tuba was designed by a Bassoon player.

Or Rube Goldberg................

More options than a cello ...

If I had a tuba store, it would be worth buying that just as something to get people in the door to look at.
What are the tiny paddles accessible by the left hand for? It looks like they operate the valves that normally would be right hand, such that it was set up for someone who didn't have a functioning right hand but whose left could do amazing things.
French horns with pumpen valves have a unique sound, and not just because they are F horns.

The little paddles connect to the three Vienna keys on the main slide. They are vents, like water keys, that supposedly allow a note with a really wide, loose slot to be played more accurately without slipping into the next partial by accident. They are an offshoot of the keyed bugle and fairly common on rotary-valved trumpets.

The alternate paddles on the main block seem to be for slide extension.
Whoever operates that tuba must eat rocket scientists for breakfast!

the elephant wrote: Sat Jul 05, 2025 9:22 am The little paddles connect to the three Vienna keys on the main slide. They are vents, like water keys, that supposedly allow a note with a really wide, loose slot to be played more accurately without slipping into the next partial by accident. They are an offshoot of the keyed bugle and fairly common on rotary-valved trumpets.

Perfect explanation! As a trumpet player, I can say Vienna Keys are a blessing! Especially for piano high notes....

Oh that is weird -- you put a leak in on purpose and it plays better? I'm having trouble getting my head around that, but I'm not that familiar with Vienna valves. There are two fantastic CDs out with very high level horn ensembles; one is the London Horn Sound, and the other is Vienna horns. The sounds are distinctly different, and I far prefer the Vienna sound. But -- those are F horns!! In the London horn sound, they are playing triples. One thinks that horn pedagogy for the Vienna horns must be superior if they can do what they do on F horns.

Mary Ann wrote: Sun Jul 06, 2025 9:54 am Oh that is weird -- you put a leak in on purpose and it plays better? I'm having trouble getting my head around that, but I'm not that familiar with Vienna valves. There are two fantastic CDs out with very high level horn ensembles; one is the London Horn Sound, and the other is Vienna horns. The sounds are distinctly different, and I far prefer the Vienna sound. But -- those are F horns!! In the London horn sound, they are playing triples. One thinks that horn pedagogy for the Vienna horns must be superior if they can do what they do on F horns.

It may look weird, but it's very clever!
When we play a note, there is a sound wave inside the instrument with nodes and antinodes. If we open a hole on the correct place of the node there is no leak, but it locks the node on the right place so we don't play the wrong note

So the perfect cure for the rotary F tuba low C? (like that guy who dropped his mouthpiece, made a dent, and had a sudden easy low C.)
(And yes I get it about nodes and anti-nodes, but am not really cognizant of the complete concept.)

Valves and keys are unrelated.

These are Vienna valves.


What is on the tuba above are woodwind-style keys, specifically side keys that stay closed and are opened by pressing the key.

Keys open or stop holes. Valves add lengths of sealed tubing. Vienna valves are simply a different system of adding the tubing loops, whereas Vienna keys open or close holes.

Vienna keys are for use in the upper register where the partials are so close and where it is so easy to clam. The hole slots the pitch in by sort of damaging the flow of the node/antinode for the adjacent partials so that they cannot sound. The process sort of steers the wave to the intended target note and makes it more difficult to fall off the partial.

I think I got that but also got going on Vienna horns and pumpenvalves. Thanks for the clarification.

@Mary Ann Vienna keys are just like the holes of a baroque horn

https://youtube.com/shorts/IEDo1dU8hq8?feature=shared

Of course it's possible to play without holes (original natural horns had no holes), but these holes make it much easier

Maybe I missed it… but is there any video of this In action?

In concept I find it intriguing. In practicality….

what the heck is going on here?

Again, those are the Vienna keys we have been discussing. There are also several slide triggers, making it a real rat's nest of rods and levers.

I never thought about tubas having such valves. Fourth valve was acting odd on my Eb 3+1 Martin. Then I noticed my pant leg was wet. The forth valve water key was hitting my leg and opening. Maybe I could use that to my advantage on that high F I make 4th valve that the conductor complains about. Any other combination is worse.