![]() It would also have 2 common partials with Bb in the mid to low range, which reduces the number of partials where the Eb side is actually of any use (F has one common partial in that range, the next common partial is up in the range where the valve is not quite as useful).Įb would give you a low B and an easier low C, at the detriment of losing your very useful F and E in 1st and 2nd. Also, a fourth down is the furthest you can go while retaining 6 positions (barely).Įb would have one fewer position. It's closely related enough to Bb while offering nice alternative positions in the range where they are useful. ![]() Historical reasons aside, it just works and has very few tradeoffs compared to other tunings. There have been F attachments for almost 175 years. Why F? Because that's how it's been since the start of trombone attachments. Its intended for students with shorter arms but there are some who really like theirs as travel horns (like Doug Yeo!) In other words, its a few inches shorter than a Bb trombone and they make up for the distance by making a small loop in the bell section. The mechanism is engaged by default so that when you press the trigger, it actually puts you up into C rather than down into Bb. There's also the Yamaha 350C which is actually pitched in C, but has a Bb attachment. A lot of people seem to find it has the best set of tradeoffs but I've seen plenty of other tunings. Of course, with a G or Gb attachment you'd also need only 5 positions but it shifts things further away. With an F attachment, you only need 5 positions. you start to lose more notes if you go higher and then the most useful notes, C and B, become further out. The reason F attachments stuck on tenor and you really don't see much in the way of anything else is the utility it provides in giving access to the low range. I'm actually having one build right now that is in Bb/F/G/Eb but I'm having a second tuning slide for the F attachment hopefully made in Eb, so it should be Bb/Eb/G/~Db roughly. There are a minority of people who play with Bb/F/G/Eb and some other tunings too. ![]() Then independents came along and a lot of people stuck with Bb/F/Gb/D because that had a good fluency in the lower registers. Then people realized, oh well, I suppose if it was Bb/F/D then it makes the B natural easier to play and lets you play other notes closer to the 3rd/4th position. This started out as either Bb/F/E or Bb/F/Eb because it was intended to just add that note. After that, a second rotor was added so that one could reach B natural. F is useful because it gives you C and B natural and most of the notes down to the pedal range. It can't be worth carrying around two sets of attachments just one whole step apart can it? Thoughts? Clearly there is something useful about that Eb tuning, and if I can eliminate the middleman, so to speak, so much the better. 'F' Attachments? Would there be any problem getting an attachment that lived full time in some other key to link up smoothly with the Bb main horn? I've seen that most dual rotor horns are in Bb/F/Gb and D. So why F? What is it about the key of F that makes it the go to choice of just about all manufacturers. ![]() It would seem that for the price of some of the single rotor stencil horns, the cost of a modification to an F attachment to live full time in E or Eb might be a better investment than a double rotor instrument which I cannot seem to find in any other size than. That's the one that inspires this latest post. I've also seen another post mention a modified single rotor that played full time in Eb. I've seen horns that make this more reliable with a 'stop' that allows a quick pull to E without worrying about going too far. Someone mentioned a King 3BF as the F slide can be pulled to E (for an easier low C?). 547/8.5" 'Tenor' horn is probably going to be a better sound for duets with French Horn, I am thinking. Everything I want to do can be covered between Cello Low C and French Horn High C (concert G). Clearly it does not appear that I really need a double rotor Bass horn. Thanks to the incredible brain trust of knowledge and experience I've found in just a few days here on TC I am getting closer to my goal of an all purpose do everything I need horn. ![]()
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