These are BB♭ tuba fingerings on a four-valve instrument.
The Tuba is non-transposing: it reads and sounds at concert pitch, in bass clef. This chart covers 54 notes, Bb0 to G4.
The chart
Every note with its valve combination. A filled valve is held down while you play, not tapped.
Octave 0 · Bb0 to B0 (2 fingerings)
Bb0
Pedal.
1-2-3-4
B0
Standard.
2-3-4
Octave 1 · C1 to B1 (15 fingerings)
C1
Standard.
1-2-4
C#1
1. Standard.
1-4
C#1
2. Alternate.
1-2-3
D1
1. Standard.
4
D1
2. Alternate.
1-3
Eb1
1. Standard.
2-4
Eb1
2. Alternate.
1-2-3
E1
Standard.
1-2
F1
Standard.
1
F#1
Standard.
2-3
G1
Standard.
0
G#1
Standard.
2-3
A1
Standard.
1-2
Bb1
Standard.
1
B1
Standard.
2-3
Octave 2 · C2 to B2 (14 fingerings)
C2
Standard.
0
C#2
1. Standard.
1-2-3
C#2
2. Alt (better intonation on 4-valve).
1-4
D2
1. Standard. 2. Alt (on
1-3
D2
compensating systems).
1-4
Eb2
Standard.
2-3
E2
Standard.
1-2
F2
Standard.
1
F#2
Standard.
2-3
G2
Standard.
0
G#2
Standard.
2-3
A2
Standard.
1-2
Bb2
Standard.
1
B2
Standard.
2-3
Octave 3 · C3 to B3 (14 fingerings)
C3
Standard.
0
C#3
1. Standard.
1-2-3
C#3
2. Alt.
1-4
D3
1. Standard.
1-3
D3
2. Alt.
1-4
Eb3
Standard.
2-3
E3
Standard.
1-2
F3
Standard.
1
F#3
Standard.
2-3
G3
Standard.
0
G#3
Standard.
2-3
A3
Standard.
1-2
Bb3
Standard.
1
B3
Standard.
2-3
Octave 4 · C4 to G4 (9 fingerings)
C4
Standard.
0
C#4
Standard.
1-2-3
D4
1. Standard.
1-3
D4
2. Alt.
1
Eb4
Standard.
2-3
E4
Standard.
1-2
F4
Standard.
1
F#4
Standard.
2-3
G4
Standard.
0
Alternate fingerings
8 notes carry more than one published fingering on the Tuba. Each option is shown in the chart above with the reason to choose it: C#1, D1, Eb1, C#2, D2, C#3, D3, D4.
Questions
What are all the notes on the Tuba?
This chart lists every note on the Tuba from Bb0 to G4 — 54 fingerings across 5 octaves: octave 0 (2), octave 1 (15), octave 2 (14), octave 3 (14), octave 4 (9). Each note is shown with a diagram and the written-out fingering.
How do you read this chart?
Each card shows one written note, a diagram of what to press, and the same fingering written out underneath so it can be read aloud or copied.
How does the Tuba transpose?
The Tuba is non-transposing: it reads and sounds at concert pitch, in bass clef.
What is the range of the Tuba?
This chart runs from Bb0 to G4.
Which Tuba notes have alternate fingerings?
8 notes carry more than one published fingering: C#1, D1, Eb1, C#2, D2, C#3, D3, D4. The chart shows each option with the reason to choose it.
Ole Miss Low Brass Studio (Micah Everett) — Chromatic Fingering Chart for BBb Tuba.
Norlan Bewley — BBb Tuba Fingering Chart (Non-Compensating 4 Valve). (Note: Alfred Music BBb Tuba chart was found to depict a 3-valve system and was discarded in favor of verified 4-valve sources).
