Ranges Chart: Enlarge the image on the left to see a chart showing the ranges of the different tubas.
Transposing: Most tubas are not transposing instruments and so sound as they are written. The exception is the Wagner Tuba which is in F and sounds a perfect 5th lower than written.
Comments: John Jenkins of the Philharmonia Orchestra comments on the low register,
"The bottom register is not terribly good for thematic material. The demands on breathing when playing low down mean that it´s difficult to make the low register sound as good as the top, but that´s what composers give us all the time. People want a contrabass part in the brass section, It´s our role in life, but pumping low notes out all the time can be wearying!"