The tuba, which is Latin for ‘trumpet’ or ‘horn’, is the largest member of the brass family.
How much does a tuba weigh?
A tuba usually weighs between 20 and 30 pounds (9 to 13 kg).
Interesting Tuba Facts:
Tubas are big instruments. A person usually holds this instrument on their lap.
There are also specially-modified versions of a tuba called a sousaphone. It wraps around a tuba player’s body so that they can play while standing, walking, or marching.
It is also a relatively new addition to this family of instruments. It was invented by Wilhelm Wieprecht and Johann Gottfried Moritz in 1835.
Since its introduction to the music world in the 1800s, the tuba has become one of the most iconic and popular instruments of them all.
It has become so popular that every year, on the first Friday of May, people all around the world celebrate International Tuba Day!
Tubas produce a deep, low-pitched sound, and they are normally played in orchestras, brass bands, and jazz bands.
Played in the same way as all other brass instruments, their unique sounds are produced by the tuba players’ lips when they blow into a tuba mouthpiece.
The mouthpiece of a tuba is designed to focus the sound, which is then amplified by the tuba itself.
A tuba consists of as much as 16 feet of tubing! Other key components of this brass instrument include its bell, first valve, second valve, third valve, water key, mouthpiece receiver, and mouthpiece.
How Much Does A Tuba Mouthpiece Weigh?
Tuba mouthpieces weigh between 5 to 10 ounces (141 to 283 g).
~ Fun Fact ~
Before the tuba we know today was invented, an earlier version of the tuba existed that was made out of wood. It was a long, curved instrument that included holes instead of valves. Because of its shape, this tuba-like instrument was often referred to as the ‘serpent’!
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuba
http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php?/topic/87028-tuba-weight/