Sousaphone - wikipedia Sousaphone This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2010 ) Sousaphone A sousaphone. Brass instrument Classification Wind Brass Aerophone Hornbostel -- Sachs classification 423.232 ( Valved aerophone sounded by lip movement ) Inventor ( s ) J.W. Pepper & John Philip Sousa Developed 1893 Playing range Related instruments Tuba Euphonium Contrabass Bugle Baritone horn Wagner Tuba Helicon Cornu ( horn ) Part of a series on Musical instruments Woodwinds Piccolo Flute Oboe Cor anglais Clarinet Saxophone Bassoon Contrabassoon Bagpipes Recorder Garklein in C ( c ′′′ ) Sopranino in F ( f '' ) Soprano in C ( c '' ) Alto in F ( f ′ ) Voice flute in D ( d ′ ) Tenor in C ( c ′ ) Bass in F ( f ) Great bass in C ( c ) Contrabass in F ( F ) Sub-great bass in C ( C ) Sub-contrabass in F ( FF ) Brass Instruments Trumpet Trombone Cornet Alto horn Baritone horn Flugelhorn Mellophone Euphonium Helicon Tuba French horn String instruments Bowed Banhu ( China ) Baryton Bowed psaltery Cello Electric cello Cizhonghu ( China ) Crwth Dahu ( China ) Đàn gáo ( Vietnam ) Diyingehu ( China ) Double bass Erhu ( China ) Erxian ( China ) Esraj ( India ) Fiddle ( colloquial term for violin ) Gadulka ( Bulgaria ) Gaohu ( China ) Gehu ( China ) Ghaychak ( Iran ) Goje ( Ghana ) Gudok ( Russia ) Gusle Haegeum ( Korea ) Hardanger fiddle ( Norway ) Huluhu ( China ) Huqin ( China ) Hurdy - gurdy Jinghu ( China ) Kemenche ( Turkey ) Kokyū ( Japan ) Laruan ( China ) Leiqin ( China ) Lirone Long - string instrument Maguhu ( China ) Morin khuur ( Mongolia ) Nyckelharpa ( Sweden ) Octobass Psalmodikon Rebec Sarangi ( India ) Sarinda ( India ) Saw sam sai ( Thailand ) Sihu ( China ) Tro ( Cambodia ) Trumpet marine or tromba marina Vielle Viol ( viola da gamba ) Violone Viola Viola d'amore Viola pomposa Violin Electric violin Kit violin ( Dancing master violin ) Stroh violin Violin octet instruments Vertical viola Violotta Yehu ( China ) Zhonghu ( China ) Zhuihu ( China ) Plucked Appalachian dulcimer ( United States ) Autoharp Baglama or Saz ( Turkey ) Bajo sexto ( Mexico ) Balalaika ( Russia ) Bandura ( Ukraine ) Bandurria Banjo ( American ) Barbat Begena ( Ethiopia ) Bordonua Bouzouki ( Greece ) Bugarija ( Croatia ) Cavaquinho ( Portugal and Brazil ) Çeng ( Turkey ) Charango ( South America ) Chitarrone Cittern Cuatro Cümbüş ( Turkey ) Đàn bầu ( Vietnam ) Đàn nguyệt ( Vietnam ) Đàn tranh ( Vietnam ) Đàn tỳ bà ( Vietnam ) Daruan ( China ) Diddley bow ( United States ) Dombra ( East Europe and Middle Asia ) Domra ( Russia ) Doshpuluur ( Tuva ) Dramyin Dutar Duxianqin ( China ) Electric bass Gayageum ( Korea ) Guitar Bass guitar Acoustic bass guitar Cigar box guitar Electric guitar Harp guitar Dobro ( a.k.a. resonator guitar ) Guitarrón ( Mexico ) Gusli ( Russia ) Guqin ( China ) Guzheng ( China ) Harp Electric harp Irish bouzouki Kacapi Kankles ( Lithuania ) Kantele ( Finland ) Kanun ( Middle East, Persia ) Kobza ( Ukraine ) Kokles ( Latvia ) Komungo ( Korea ) Konghou ( China ) Kontigi ( Nigeria ) Kora ( West Africa ) Koto ( Japan ) Krar ( Ethiopia ) Laud Laouto Liuqin ( China ) Lute ( Europe ) Archlute Theorbo Lyre Mandolin Mandobass Mandocello Mandola Mandolin - banjo Mohan veena ( Hawaii / India ) Monochord Musical bow Nyatiti ( Kenya ) Oud ( Middle East, Greece ) Pandura Pipa ( China ) Portuguese guitar Psaltery Qanún / kanun ( Middle East, Persia ) Qinqin ( China ) Requinto Rote Rubab Sanxian ( China ) Sarod ( India ) Saung ( Burma ) Shamisen ( Japan ) Sitar ( India ) Surbahar ( India ) Sursingar ( India ) Tambura ( India ) Tamburitza ( Pannonian plain ) Tanbur Tar ( lute ) Tea chest bass Tiple Torban Tres ( Cuba ) Ukulele ( Hawaii ) Valiha ( Madagascar ) Veena ( India ) Vihuela ( Spain ) Ellen Fullman 's and Paul Panhuysen 's string installations Yazh ( India ) Yueqin ( China ) Zhongruan ( China ) Zhu ( China ) Zither Percussion Keyboards The sousaphone ( US : / ˈsuːzəfoʊn / ), is a brass instrument in the same family as the more widely known tuba. Created around 1893 by J.W. Pepper at the direction of American bandleader John Philip Sousa ( whom the instrument was then named after ), it was designed to be easier to play than the concert tuba while standing or marching, as well as to carry the sound of the instrument above the heads of the band. Like the tuba, sound is produced by moving air past the lips, causing them to vibrate or `` buzz '' into a large cupped mouthpiece. Unlike the tuba, the instrument is bent in a circle to fit around the body of the musician ; it ends in a large, flaring bell that is pointed forward, projecting the sound ahead of the player. Because of the ease of carrying and the direction of sound, it is widely employed in marching bands, as well as various other musical genres. Sousaphones were originally made out of brass but in the mid-20th century started to be made from lighter materials like fiberglass ; today both types are in wide use. Contents 1 History 2 Construction 2.1 Materials 2.2 Pitch 3 Varieties 3.1 Fiberglass 3.2 Additional valves 3.3 Non-American sousaphones 4 Special effects 5 College marching bands 6 Musical genres 7 Notable players 8 See also 9 References 10 External links History 1893 sousaphones at the Museum of Making Music. The first sousaphone was built by James Welsh Pepper in 1893 at the request of John Philip Sousa, who was dissatisfied with the hélicons in use by the United States Marine Band. Some sources credit C.G. Conn with its construction, because of the first sousaphone he built later in 1898. Sousa wanted a tuba - like instrument that would send sound upward and over the band, much like a concert ( upright ) tuba. The new instrument had an oversized bell pointing straight up, rather than the directional bell of a normal hélicon. The sousaphone was initially developed as a concert instrument rather than for marching. Sousa wanted the new instrument for the professional band which he started after leaving the Marines, and this band marched only once. Sousa mainly used sousaphones built by C.G. Conn. Although less balanced on a player 's body than a helicon, because of the large spectacular bell high in the air, the Sousaphone retained the tuba - like sound by widening the bore and throat of the instrument significantly. Its upright bell led to the instrument being dubbed a `` rain - catcher ''. Some versions of this design allowed the bell to also rotate forward, projecting the sound to the front of the band. This bell configuration remained the standard for several decades and is the standard today. The instrument proved practical for marching, and by 1908 the United States Marine Band adopted it. Versions with the characteristic extra 90 ° bend making a forward - facing bell were developed in the early 1900s. Early sousaphones had 22 - inch - diameter ( 560 mm ) bells, with 24 - inch ( 610 mm ) bells popular in the 1920s. From the mid-1930s onward, sousaphone bells have been standardized at a diameter of 26 inches ( 660 mm ). Some larger sousaphones ( Monster, Grand, Jumbo, Giant or Grand Jumbo, depending on brand ) were produced in limited quantities. Construction Sousaphone player Tycho Cohran with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, at the TFF. Rudolstadt 2012 The sousaphone is a valved brass instrument with the same tube length and musical range as other tubas. The sousaphone 's shape is such that the bell is above the tubist 's head and projecting forward. The valves are situated directly in front of the musician slightly above the waist and all of the weight rests on the left shoulder. The bell is normally detachable from the instrument body to facilitate transportation and storage. Except for the instrument 's general shape and appearance, the sousaphone is technically similar to a tuba. For simplicity and light weight, modern sousaphones almost always use three non-compensating piston valves in their construction, in direct contrast to their concert counterparts ' large variation in number, type, and orientation. Both the tuba and sousaphone are semi-conical brass instruments. No valved brass instrument can be entirely conical, since the middle section containing the valves must be cylindrical. While the degree of bore conicity does affect the timbre of the instrument, much as in a cornet and trumpet, or a euphonium and a trombone, the bore profile of a sousaphone is similar to that of most tubas. To facilitate making the mouthpiece accessible to players of different height or body shapes, most sousaphones contain a detachable tubing gooseneck which arises from the lead pipe on the upwind side of the valves. One or two slightly - angled bit ( s ) ( short tubing lengths ) are inserted into the gooseneck, and then the mouthpiece is inserted into the terminal bit. This arrangement may be adjusted in height and yaw angle to place the mouthpiece comfortably at the player 's lips. Materials Saxophone and sousaphone players in a photo from the German Federal Archives Most sousaphones are manufactured from sheet brass, usually yellow or silver, with silver, lacquer, and gold plating options, much like many brass instruments. However, the sousaphone ( uniquely ) is also commonly seen manufactured from fiberglass, due to its lower cost, greater durability, and significantly lighter weight. The weight of a sousaphone can be between 18 pounds ( 8 kg ) and 50 pounds ( 23 kg ). Pitch Most modern sousaphones are made in the key of BB ♭ ( Low B Flat ) and like tubas ( which are commonly made in pitches of BB ♭, CC, EE ♭, and F ) the instrument 's part is written in `` concert pitch '', not transposed by key for a specific instrument. Although sousaphones may have a more restricted range than their concert tuba counterpart ( most sousaphones have 3 valves instead of 4 to reduce weight ), generally they can all play the same music and usually have parts written in the bass clef and the indicated octave is played ( unlike double bass or electric bass that sound an octave lower than the indicated note. ) Many older sousaphones were pitched in the key of E ♭, but current production of sousaphones in that key is limited. Varieties Although most major instrument manufacturers have made, and many continue to make, sousaphones, Conn and King ( H.N. White ) instruments are generally agreed among players to be the standards against which other sousaphones are judged for tone quality and playability. Perhaps the most highly regarded sousaphone ever built is the 0.734 - inch - bore ( 18.6 mm ) Conn model 20K, introduced in the mid-1930s and still in production. Some players, especially those who find the 20K too heavy for marching, prefer the slightly smaller 0.687 - inch - bore ( 17.4 mm ) King model 1250, first made in the late 1920s and also still in production as the model 2350. Historically, Holton, York and Martin sousaphones have also been considered fine horns. Unlike with other brass instruments, some players dislike the sousaphones made by non-American manufacturers. Very large bore ( > = 0.750 inch ) sousaphones, with oversized bells as large as 32 inches ( 81 cm ) in diameter, were made by Conn ( `` Grand Jumbo '' ( 46K ( 3 - valve ) & 48K ( 4 - valve ) ) ) and King ( `` Jumbo '' ( 1265 ( 3 - & 4 - valve versions ) ) & `` Giant '' ( 1270 ( 3 - valve ) & 1271 ( 4 - valve ) ) ) in the mid-1920s and 1930s, and by Martin, York, & Buescher, but they disappeared from the catalogs during the Depression or at the onset of World War II. Because of their weight and cost, few were made and even fewer survive, especially the 4 - valve models. Fiberglass Lightweight Sousaphone made from modern materials In recent years, sousaphones have been available made of fiberglass reinforced plastics instead of brass. The fiberglass versions are used mainly for marching, with brass instruments being used for all other situations. Depending on the model, the fiberglass version does not have as dark and rich a tone as the brass ( King fiberglass sousaphones tended to have smooth fiberglass and a tone somewhat more like a brass sousaphone ; Conn fiberglass sousaphones often had rough fiberglass exteriors and a thinner sound ; the Conn is also lighter ). Regardless, fiberglass sousaphones are lighter than their brass counterparts and work well for smaller players who could not otherwise play the heavy brass instruments in a marching band. Although the tone of fiberglass models tends to be thinner and less `` warm '' ( earning them the nicknames `` Plastic Bugle '', `` Toilet Bowl '', and `` Tupperware '' among players in some ensembles ), it is considered acceptable by the high schools due to the tradeoff in durability, cost, and weight. Additional valves In the 1920s and 1930s, four - valved sousaphones were often used by professional players, especially E ♭ sousaphones ; today, however, four - valved B ♭ sousaphones are uncommon and are prized by collectors, especially those made by Conn, King ( H.N. White ), and Holton. Jupiter Company started production of four - valve BB ♭ sousaphones in the late 2000s, and Dynasty USA makes a four - valve BBb sousaphone as well. Criticisms of the fourth valve on a sousaphone center around additional weight, although the fourth valve improves intonation and facilitates playing of the lower register. Due to the large size of most sousaphones, the sub-contra register ( for which the fourth valve is largely intended ) is already covered by alternate resonances, known as `` false tones '' ( see Tuba article ). Many beginners are not aware of the false - tone resonances on their sousaphones because these notes reside in the sub-contra register, which is nearly impossible for most beginners to access. Some professionals develop a `` raised embouchure '' to securely play these notes. This is where either the upper or lower lip ( depending on the player ) takes up most of the mouthpiece area. The embouchure provides almost twice the room for vibration of the single lip ( compared to the 50 -- 50 embouchure ). Non-American sousaphones Asian sousaphones made in China and India are gaining popularity in the street band market. In Switzerland and Southern Germany, `` Guggenmusik '' bands often use these instruments that provide great display and passable tone. Most are tuned in E ♭. Brands like Zweiss with older British designs make affordable sousaphones that have broken the € 500 barrier. These are mostly in the medium - bell size of 23 inches ( 580 mm ). Chinese brands are mostly reverse - engineered models and quite passable. Special effects Costumed sousaphone player, New Orleans, Mardi Gras Day 2005 In large marching bands of the United States, the bell is often covered with a tight fitting cloth, called a sock, which enables the sousaphone section to spell out the school 's name, initials, or mascot. The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band Tööbz ! have a tradition of painting the front surface of their sousaphone bells with a variety of images. Sousaphone players are also known to perform the ' flaming tubas ' in which flash paper is ignited in the bell, thus making it appear as if the musician is breathing fire. David Silverman ( animator ) ( AKA Tubatron ) developed a propane powered flaming sousaphone with a trigger valve to control an array of flame jets across the top of the bell of his horn. The Yale Precision Marching Band has made a tradition of setting fire to the tops of the bells of their sousaphones, including in the fall of 1992 when sousaphones served as the `` candles '' of a `` wedding cake '' formed by the band when two band alumni were married during a halftime show. They also utilize what they refer to as the `` Überphone '', a sousaphone that was disassembled from its coiled format and welded back together on a twelve - foot frame to extend straight up from the player 's shoulders. College marching bands John Philip Sousa was a benefactor of the University of Illinois music program and a friend of the university 's Director of Bands Albert Austin Harding. The Marching Illini became the first band to march and play at the same time, and were the first band to use sousaphones on the field. The sousaphone sections of some marching bands have developed specialized performance traditions. The University of California Marching Band Bass section traditionally `` struts '' during the band 's pregame show. During the `` strut '' the section separates from the rest of the band, circles the North goal post, and rejoins the band to complete the Script Cal. The University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band sousaphones play John Williams ' `` Imperial March '' from Star Wars in single file when crossing streets on their way to and from performances on the USC campus. When The Ohio State University Marching Band performs its traditional Script Ohio formation, a senior sousaphone player dots the `` i ''. The Fightin ' Texas Aggie Band sousaphone section ( called `` Bass Horns '' within the university but never, ever `` tubas '' ) execute a distinct two - step and four - step counter-march during marching performances. During halftime performances this is accompanied ( specifically for the last rank consisting all of 12 bass horns ) by a `` huh ! huh ! '' from the crowd. Painted bells of sousaphones from the Virginia Pep Band The University of Delaware Fightin ' Blue Hen Marching Band has several traditions involving sousaphone players. During pre-game, they branch off from the rest of the band. From here, the sousaphone players run in a snake around the field jumping to drum line cadence. At most pre-games they act out a skit as well. At post game, `` In My Life '' by The Beatles is played featuring a sousaphone solo while the band sings. After every pre-game show at Florida State University when the section ( known by all the marching band members as `` Flush '' - short for `` Royal Flush '' ) run in a circle, with their horns tipped up parallel to the ground, around the Seminole head on the field with the head drum major in the center of the circle. This is called `` Flushing the field '' or `` Flushing the Indian Head '', derived from the sections nickname `` Flush ''. The Marching Virginians of Virginia Tech perform a version of the Hokie Pokie featuring the sousaphone section putting their sousaphones in, taking their sousaphones out, putting their sousaphones in, and shaking them all about -- followed by an all - sousaphone kick line. The University of Toledo Sousaphone line ( also called The RMB Dosbas ) march off the field in a snake line after home games and performs the song `` sonic boom '' when the rest of the band meets back with them. For the last 20 years The University of Idaho Vandals Marching Band Sousaphone section all wear long skirts that were originally used by the 1948 University Women 's Chorus. University of Idaho Vandals Sousaphone Section Musical genres `` Jazz Funeral for Democracy '' event in New Orleans The sousaphone is an important fixture of the New Orleans brass band tradition and is still used in groups such as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band by Kirk Joseph. Soul Rebels Brass Band from New Orleans features sousaphone player Edward Lee, Jr. Sinaloa, a state of Mexico, has a type of music called Banda Sinaloense, and the sousaphone is used there as a tuba. Damon `` Tuba Gooding Jr. '' Bryson from The Roots plays the sousaphone on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Nat Mcintosh is the sousaphone player and co-founder of Youngblood Brass Band, who play a mixture of traditional New Orleans style brass band music and hip hop. The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, a Canadian self - described `` Balkan - Klezmer - Gypsy - Punk - Super-Party - Band '', features a sousaphone as one of their instruments. Red Baraat, a Brooklyn - based dhol & brass band that fuses North Indian Bhangra with hip - hop, go - go and jazz music, features John Altieri on sousaphone. Notable players Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, was a sousaphone player. See also Cornu ( horn ), an ancient Roman brass instrument that curved around the player 's body References Jump up ^ Paul E. Bierley ( 2006 ). The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa. University of Illinois Press. pp. 55 --. ISBN 978 - 0 - 252 - 03147 - 2. Jump up ^ The School Musician Director and Teacher. 57. Ammark Publishing Company. 1985. p. 23. Jump up ^ Conn 's first sousaphone is now owned by the Interlochen Center for the Arts at Interlochen, Michigan. `` A Sousa - phony Exposed ''. University of Southern California. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Jump up ^ Paul E. Bierley. John Philip Sousa : American Phenomenon ( Revised Edition ). Alfred Music. pp. 16 --. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4574 - 4995 - 6. Jump up ^ Harvey Phillips ; William Winkle ( 10 October 1999 ). The Art of Tuba and Euphonium Playing. Alfred Music. pp. 9 --. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4574 - 0438 - 2. Jump up ^ About the Sousaphone - A member of the Tuba family, sousaphone.net, accessed 27 February 2016 Jump up ^ Gordon, Bonnie ( May 15, 2012 ). `` What Did Thomas Jefferson 's World Sound Like ? ''. Slate. Retrieved January 1, 2015. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sousaphones. Virginia Tech Music Dictionary : Sousaphone All the Instruments : Sousaphone Sousaphone History, by Ian Church : Sousaphone - ologist Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sousaphone&oldid=806611734 '' Categories : American musical instruments B - flat instruments Brass instruments John Philip Sousa Marching band instruments Tuba Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from September 2010 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from April 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Alemannisch Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Français Gaeilge Gàidhlig Galego Italiano עברית Lëtzebuergesch Magyar Nederlands Nedersaksies 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 23 October 2017, at 02 : 44. 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Question: what is the difference between tuba and sousaphone
Answer: general shape and appearance