The tuba family of instruments contains all types of tubas, including B flat (Bb), F, Double B flat (BBb), C, E, and many others, plus the Euphonium and its ancestors, not to mention the serpent. beginning tuba students usually find they have boring oompah, parts, but when they get to the higher levels, such as a grade 5 or grade 6, they get beautiful melodies. The piccolo solo from Stars and Stripes Forever has been succesfully transopsed and played on tubas. Quite an interesting sound. Even more interesting is the sound from a large tuba ensemble such as Tubachristmas, with anywhere from 4 to 200+ tubas playing, it is a sight (sound?) to behold.