Tuba
Instrument Care

Tuba Instrument Cleaning and Maintenance

Daily Care

• After every use, empty water key (spit valve) onto your spit rag.

1. Set your spit rag under the water key.

2. Push down all three valves with right hand.

3. Reach around front of tuba and push open the water key.

4. Put your lips around the mouthpiece.

5. Blow gently into the mouthpiece.

6. If there is still spit in the tuba, push down 1st valve while you remove the 1st valve slide.  Empty any collected spit.  Push down 1st valve while you put slide back into the instrument.

7. Repeat Step 6 for the 2nd and 3rd valve slides

8. Remove mouthpiece by pulling and twisting.  Set in the case.  If the mouthpiece cannot be removed easily, contact one of your band teachers for guidance!

9. Carefully place the tuba properly into the case.

10. Put your spit rag into the case.  Close the lid and latch the case.

11. Place pencil and highlighter in pencil pouch.

12. Keep your binder, lesson, book, and instrument in one place so you don’t lose anything!

• Carry your tuba upright and close to your upper body (hug the instrument) to prevent bumps.

• If you need to set it down, gently place it upside down on the floor – the action of setting it down should be SILENT!

• Always put your tuba completely away when you’re done playing, with all case latches closed.

Weekly Care 

• Oil valves (weekly or as needed)

1. Remove lid from valve oil and set valve oil on a flat surface within reach.

2. Set tuba flat on the floor during this process.

3. Spread spit rag out on floor next to the tuba.

4. Unscrew the 1st valve cap.  Carefully remove the valve by pulling it straight out (ONLY REMOVE ONE VALVE AT A TIME).

5. Hold the valve horizontally above your spit rag.

6. Pick up the oil and turn it upside down, touching the tip of the bottle to the valve.

7. Squeeze gently to place one drop in 4 places along the valve to coat it.

8. Shake excess oil onto spit rag.

9. Insert the valve back into its casing.

10. Rotate the valve to the right until it clicks into place.

11. Tighten the valve casing cap.

12. Repeat to oil the remaining valves.

13. Place the cap on the oil and put away.

• Scrub mouthpiece with warm water, soap, and mouthpiece brush.  Rinse well and dry.

• Polish tuba with polishing cloth.

Monthly Care

• Check all slides and apply slide grease if they don’t move easily.

  1. Push down the corresponding valve before moving the slide (for example, push down the 1st valve when moving the 1st valve slide in and out).

  2. Wipe the slide with a clean cloth.

  3. Apply a small amount of tuning slide grease to slide.

  4. Remember to push down the corresponding valve when pushing slide back in.

• Wash spit rag and put back in tuba case.