George Frederick McKay · section 21 of 111

The Tuba

The tone of the tuba is only moderately interesting as melody. Its real contribution is the intensity and depth which it can give to the bass line when needed. Its shortcomings are its lack of mobility and its difficulty with staccato articulation. It is very effective when needed for unusually deep power, but otherwise should be used with caution. Unless it is given a part which it can articulate with enough ease it will slow up the pace for the other instruments.

Tubby the Tuba by Kleinsinger, a children's piece, illustrates tuba potentialities.