A Guide to Tuba Mouthpiece Sizes

Similar to what happens on other instruments’ mouthpieces, tuba mouthpiece sizes and dimensions can affect the instrument’s sound. And such is related to the distinct forms and sizes of the different parts of a mouthpiece, namely the cup, throat, rim, and backbore.

Tuba mouthpieces come in many different sizes, with the size often denoted by a number.

This article will explain what to consider when choosing tuba mouthpiece sizes.

What Size Tuba Mouthpiece Should I Get?

Many factors determine which size you need such as:

the type of music you play
where you play it
the sound you are willing to achieve
what’s most comfortable for you to use.

In any case, and if you are not sure about what to get or what you are willing to achieve in terms of sound, always try different mouthpiece sizes until you can find the right fit.

To find the perfect size for you, try out various instruments at stores or online and see which one suits your needs best. If you don’t have access to a store, it’s usually a good idea to purchase something in the middle range for most tuba players because these sizes are likely to suit many different instruments.

Depending on Its Various Parts and the Sound Your Are Willing to Perform with the Tuba

The different parts of a brass instrument mouthpiece

The sizing of tuba mouthpieces and the different dimensions and forms of their various parts will affect how your instrument sounds:

Cup

The volume of the cup, diameter, profile, and depth, affects the sound intensity; Brighter tones can be achieved with shallower and smaller cups, and on the other extreme, larger cup mouthpieces will provide richer and darker tones.

Rim

Generally, for rims, you should look for strength and flexibility, but primarily on how comfortable it feels

If you are looking for more precise sounds, then you should look for narrow and sharper rims. They tend to lead to a lack of resistance. On contrary, if are willing to play for a longer time, then look for round and wider mouthpieces as they are more comfortable to play with. However, those might lack agility, and could be of insufficient tone production.

Throat

Larger Throats increase the volume and the tone. Also increases the blowing freedom and sharpens the higher register. Smaller Throats increase the brilliance of the sound, the endurance, and the air resistance, flattening high register

Shank

The shank is the lengthy portion of the mouthpiece that fits into the instrument receiver. Unlike the other specs defined just above, which vary based upon player choice, shank size is pre-determined by the instrument (though physical adjustments can be made).

Backbores

Wider backbores produce greater sound volume and make it easier to achieve the lower register and they have less resistance. For tighter backbores, expect brighter sounds, good support for higher resistance, and an increase in airflow resistance.

If you are still unsure of what to get, then a medium-sized tuba mouthpiece might be your best option. It allows you to perform in the middle range in terms of sounds, neither too low nor too high.

A set of different mouthpieces for brass instruments, including Tuba ones

Tuba Mouthpieces Sizing for Beginners

Generally, if you’re brand-new to playing the tuba or are purchasing a tuba for your student child, then it’s better suggested, to begin with, a small cupped mouthpiece. Because it’s smaller-sized in nature and less complicated to create sound, it’s a suitable choice for those who don’t have a great deal of experience.

On the contrary, if you have experience playing an additional brass instrument or have actually been playing the tuba for a while, it may be much easier for you to experiment with a larger cup.

There are two different designs of tuba mouthpieces. Students often tend to discover that they play much better on one style or the other.

Student Mouthpiece Models Suggestions

Below are some mouthpieces that could be a good start for beginner tuba players, divided between different sizes:

Larger Sizes Student Mouthpiece Models:

Perantucci 48 (resource link)
Perantucci 50 (resource link)

Standard Sizes Student Mouthpiece Models:

Yamaha 66
Schilke Helleburg
Denis Wick 3
Conn Helleberg
Bach 7 (resource)

The Bach 7 is a mouthpiece style that has a bowl-designed cup as well as is larger around the rim. The Conn Helleburg is a mouthpiece that has a channel-designed cup and is narrower around the rim. Both are great mouthpieces for a tuba beginner player; one fits some learners better than the others. It is a great concept to attempt both as well as see which design is the most effective option for you.

Smaller Sizes Student Mouthpiece Models:

Bach 12
Yamaha 68B
Yamaha 67C4

The Bach 18 and Yamaha 67C4 are popular dimensions, however on the smaller-sized side. They are great dimensions, but students typically do also or better on a Bach 7 or Conn Helleburg. They will certainly often advance that size as they get older unless they relocate to something larger. You would assume the tuba would certainly be less complicated to have fun with a smaller-sized mouthpiece, yet commonly it is not. Nonetheless, if a pupil seems wonderful on another thing, let them play it.

Keep in mind that some are not “student” mouthpieces, but they are great sizes for students. Many professional players utilize these same mouthpieces.

Whatever mouthpiece you select, it is always the produced sound and how comfortable you are playing it, not the dimension, that matters most!

Comparison Chart of Tuba Mouthpiece Sizes

We’ve gathered a list of the sizes of some of the most common tuba brands and manufacturers’ mouthpieces. They might differ a bit from the actual dimensions but are gathered through each brand’s website or literature.

Brand

Model

Rim (mm/inches)

Cup Depth

Rim Width

Throat

Backbore

Yamaha

30.45 / 1.199″

Medium

Thick

8.35mm

Standard

Yamaha

30.95 / 1.219″

Medium

Semi-thin

8.35mm

Semi-wide

Yamaha

31.37 / 1.235″

Deep

Standard

8.35mm

Standard

Yamaha

66B

31.37 / 1.235″

Shallow

Standard

8.35mm

Semi-wide

Yamaha

66D4

31.49 / 1.240″

Deep

Medium-Wide

8.87mm

Semi-wide

Yamaha

31.93 / 1.257″

Medium

8.35mm

Semi-wide

Yamaha

Bobo TT

32.04 / 1.261″

Shallow

Medium

7.02mm

Standard

Yamaha

67C4

32.06 / 1.262″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.1mm

Standard

Yamaha

67B4

32.06 / 1.262″

Shallow

Medium-Wide

7.02mm

Standard

Yamaha

Bobo Solo

32.20 / 1.268″

7.5mm

Yamaha

Canadian Brass

32.28 / 1.271″

8.55mm

Yamaha

68B

32.72 / 1.288″

Shallow

Medium-Wide

7.5mm

Standard

Yamaha

Jim Self

32.86 / 1.294″

8mm

Yamaha

Bobo Sym

32.90 / 1.295″

7.5mm

Schilke

31.52 / 1.241″

Schilke

S-H

31.84 / 1.254″

Schilke

31.85 / 1.254″

Schilke

32.41 / 1.276″

Schilke

69C4

32.76 / 1.290″

Kelly

24AW

31.50 / 1.240″

9.05

8.6mm

Kelly

31.80 / 1.252″

7.75

8.6mm

Kelly

Kellyberg

31.85 / 1.255″

Joseph Klier

T9-C

30.00 / 1.181″

8mm

Joseph Klier

T9-D

30.00 / 1.181″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T9-E

30.00 / 1.181″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T8-B

30.50 / 1.201″

8.25

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T8-C

30.50 / 1.201″

8.25

8mm

Joseph Klier

T8-D

30.50 / 1.201″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T8-E

30.50 / 1.201″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

31.00 / 1.220″

7.85

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T7-A

31.00 / 1.220″

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T7-B

31.00 / 1.220″

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T7-C

31.00 / 1.220″

8mm

Joseph Klier

T7-D

31.00 / 1.220″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T7-E

31.00 / 1.220″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T6-A

31.50 / 1.240″

8.25

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T6-AA

31.50 / 1.240″

8.25

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T6-B

31.50 / 1.240″

8.25

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T6-C

31.50 / 1.240″

8.25

8mm

Joseph Klier

T6-D

31.50 / 1.240″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T6-E

31.50 / 1.240″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

24W

31.50 / 1.240″

9.05

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T5-A

32.00 / 1.260″

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T5-AA

32.00 / 1.260″

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T5-B

32.00 / 1.260″

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T5-C

32.00 / 1.260″

8mm

Joseph Klier

T5-D

32.00 / 1.260″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T5-E

32.00 / 1.260″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T4-A

32.50 / 1.280″

8.25

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T4-AA

32.50 / 1.280″

8.25

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T4-B

32.50 / 1.280″

8.25

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T4-C

32.50 / 1.280″

8.25

8mm

Joseph Klier

T4-D

32.50 / 1.280″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T4-E

32.50 / 1.280″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T3-A

33.00 / 1.299″

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T3-AA

33.00 / 1.299″

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T3-B

33.00 / 1.299″

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T3-C

33.00 / 1.299″

8mm

Joseph Klier

T3-D

33.00 / 1.299″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T3-E

33.00 / 1.299″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T2-A

33.50 / 1.319″

8.25

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T2-AA

33.50 / 1.319″

8.25

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T2-B

33.50 / 1.319″

8.25

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T2-C

33.50 / 1.319″

8.25

8mm

Joseph Klier

T2-D

33.50 / 1.319″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T2-E

33.50 / 1.319″

8.25

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T1-A

34.00 / 1.339″

8.4mm

Joseph Klier

T1-AA

34.00 / 1.339″

8.6mm

Joseph Klier

T1-B

34.00 / 1.339″

8.2mm

Joseph Klier

T1-C

34.00 / 1.339″

8mm

Joseph Klier

T1-D

34.00 / 1.339″

7.8mm

Joseph Klier

T1-E

34.00 / 1.339″

7.8mm

Denis Wick

30.00 / 1.181″

7.14

7.89mm

Denis Wick

30.00 / 1.181″

7.14

7.89mm

Denis Wick

30.50 / 1.201″

6.89

8.27mm

Denis Wick

30.50 / 1.201″

6.89

8.27mm

Denis Wick

31.25 / 1.230″

8.11

8.78mm

Denis Wick

31.25 / 1.230″

8.11

8.78mm

Denis Wick

3SL

31.25 / 1.230″

8.11

7.62mm

Denis Wick

3XL

31.25 / 1.230″

8.11

8.78mm

Denis Wick

32.00 / 1.260″

7.73

8.45mm

Denis Wick

32.00 / 1.260″

7.73

8.45mm

Denis Wick

2SL

32.00 / 1.260″

7.73

8.45mm

Denis Wick

2XL

32.00 / 1.260″

7.73

8.45mm

Denis Wick

32.50 / 1.280″

7.48

8.43mm

Denis Wick

32.50 / 1.280″

7.48

8.43mm

Denis Wick

1XL

32.50 / 1.280″

7.48

8.43mm

Conn

7B Helleberg

31.50 / 1.240″

Medium

8.3mm

8.5mm

Conn

120S Helleberg

32.50 / 1.279″

Medium

7.3mm

8.1mm

Blessing

24AW

31.25 / 1.230″

Deep

Wide

8.84mm

810

Blessing

32.10 / 1.264″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.84mm

810

Bach

32E

29.50 / 1.161″

Shallow

Medium-Wide

8.33mm

801

Bach

30E

30.00 / 1.181″

Shallow

Medium-Wide

8.33mm

801

Bach

30.60 / 1.205″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.33mm

801

Bach

24W Mega

31.25 / 1.230″

Medium

Wide

9.00mm

810

Bach

24AW Mega

31.25 / 1.230″

Deep

Wide

8.84mm

810

Bach

24W

31.25 / 1.230″

Medium

Wide

8.84mm

810

Bach

24AW

31.25 / 1.230″

Deep

Wide

8.84mm

810

Bach

22 Mega

31.60 / 1.244″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.62mm

801

Bach

31.60 / 1.244″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.62mm

801

Bach

18 Mega

32.10 / 1.264″

Medium

Medium-Wide

9.00mm

810

Bach

32.10 / 1.264″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.84mm

810

Bach

12 Mega

32.75 / 1.289″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.62mm

801

Bach

32.75 / 1.289″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.33mm

801

Bach

33.25 / 1.309″

Medium

Medium-Wide

8.33mm

801

Bach

7 Mega

33.25 / 1.309″

Medium

Medium-Wide

9.00mm

801

A list of different tuba mouthpieces and their sizes from different brands and models
(data gathered from each brand)