Low(er!) Etudes for Tuba - Phil Snedecor (Bass Clef)

If Low Etudes for Tuba develops the low register, Low(er) Etudes takes you right down into the basement.

This is a brilliant book for working on the extreme low register, with studies that really test airflow, response, clarity, flexibility and control. As with Snedecor’s other books, they’re not just technical exercises — they’re genuinely fun to play and give you something musical to get stuck into.

A particular favourite is No. 18, “The Pirate”, which is based around the famous tuba excerpt from Respighi’s Fountains of Rome. This one alone is almost worth buying the book for! Have a watch of Derek Fenstermacher’s absolutely insane performance below to see what can be done with it.

I’d recommend this to anyone wanting to make their ultra-low register more secure, responsive and usable — not just louder or lower.

For euphonium and other treble-clef players, have a look at Snedecor’s Euph’Tudes, also available in the shop.

Composer: Phil Snedecor

Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced

Suitable for: Advanced students, conservatoire/college players and tubists

Clef: Bass Clef