Fingering Chart Tuba

An interactive chart that helps you learn tuba fingerings by exploring the range. Simply click on the notes with your mouse and listen. Alternatively, if you have difficulty, you can also uses your computer keyboard to operate the chart. It’s intended as a learning aid so spend some time slowly tapping through the range developing muscle memory.

On the left-hand side is main grid which lists all available notes in ascending order. You can tap any note to highlight it and will notice matching valve combination appears in enlarged diagram to the right. These corresponds to your valves: The three large circles are your valves (with one being the nearest to you). If the circle is full then that’s the valve you should of press down to get this pitch. To listen to each note click play on the selected pitch. There is also a play all button which will cycle through the notes automatically. It starts at the bottom and works its way up to the top, which is perfect if you don’t feel like clicking your way around! You can get a feel for the valve combination changes as you travel up and down.

How to Use the Tuba Chart

There is a stop button that comes into view while it’s running allowing you to pause whenever you wish. If your practice is in communal surroundings, be aware of volume slider which reduces the sound to allow you to concentrate on visual fingerings without bothering others. There is also a help button which provides a short guide to keyboard shortcuts and basic ways to use the valves. You can turn this panel on or off if you need a reminder of how to use the interface.

Alternatively, if you don’t wish to use the mouse, you can play with your computer keyboard. Simply tab around the parts until you get to the note on grid and hit space bar or enter to select it. You can travel through the notes one by one this way without having to aim precisely at tiny spots on the screen. If you’re trying to check some fingerings while keeping your music in one hand, this comes into its own.

You also have an option to switch to full screen which provides some extra space around your chart so it’s easier to see. This is great for those with small tablet or computer screens. The chart scales up well too and makes viewing the note labels and valve diagrams easier from further away. Just keep in mind that if you want to leave this mode simply click the button again or press Escape.

Notice also the spaces between the notes that have no valves pressed down on them. Many musical passages include notes that don’t require pressing any fingers; F and D, for example, often act as anchors in a piece of music. If you can be aware of these naturaly harmonics it will help you position the other notes within the scale.

Patterns is important too. Which valve combinations drops a note by which interval? This will speed up your learning. Instead of using it as a reference sheet, make this widget into a drill tool you practice daily. Slowly repeat any awkward transitions until they become second nature. Seeing the fingers while hearing the pitch helps cement together your physical technique and what you are hearing in your head.

It’s a quick way to revise arpeggios and scales too, without having an instrument at hand. Begin by picking out some lower notes and work upwards one note at a time. Focus on hearing what happens to open basic sound as you vary valve combinations. When you feel confident in the lower register move towards the middle range to extend your comfortly levels there. Whenever you’d like a prompt visual (or audio) reference it’s there for you.