What is the most common key for tubas?

Answer 1

There are two considerations: the horn and the music.

The fundamental pitch of the modern tenor Trombone is B-flat. That is, it is the lowest note one can play with the slide in first position. All the notes in this position are part of the B-flat partial series, like you would hear in a bugle call. So, the trombone itself is pitched in the key of B-flat.*

What confuses many is that the trombone plays music in "concert pitch" (the key of C) just like a flute or a piano. Concert pitch means that the written note is identical to the sounding note. For example, a "C" on the trombone is written "C" on the music staff. Compare this to a "transposing instrument" such as the "B-flat trumpet" -- to get the trumpet player to play a concert "C" you would write a B-flat on the music staff. The same is true of the "B-flat Clarinet" or "Bb Tenor Saxophone". When they play a written C, it sounds a B-flat. Likewise, when an Eb alto sax player plays a written C, it sounds an E-flat.

*There are trombones pitched in keys other than Bb. The Alto trombone is pitched a fouth higher, in Eb. Bass trombones used to be pitched primarily in F, but other variations exist as well.

Answer 2

The trombone is what we call a Bb non-transposing instrument. What that means is that the fundamental pitch (first partial in first position) is a Bb, just like Trumpet. However, trombone reads music in C therefore the pitches that are written are the pitches that sound. This can also be stated that trombones play in concert pitch.

Trombones with a trigger are said to be in the key of Bb/F because the trigger lowers the fundamental pitch by a perfect fourth.

Answer 3

Many. The most common are B flat, C, E flat and F.

Answer 4

Most commonly it is in the Bb or Eb key, although it has rarely been seen in the F or C key.

Answer 5

B-flat and C.

Answer 6

Three

Answer 7

3-5