can`t get to grips with tongueing

    
can`t get to grips with tongueing    17:36 on Saturday, November 20, 2004          
(bodge)
Posted by Archived posts

Can someone explaine tongueing for me, I believe it is done by saying "TEE" which makes the tongue touch the tip of the reed. I do this but it sounds so pronounced and then moisture builds up and give a drounding sound, I just can`t seem to get it right ,any advise would be great



Re: can`t get to grips with tongueing    15:12 on Monday, November 22, 2004          
(bclarsax)
Posted by Archived posts

I`ll tell you the same thing I tell my beginner clarinets.

Forget TEE! That is just to make sure your tongue is touching the back of your teeth for high notes.

For middle range notes (middle c-Bb) say tah, then with the register start using tee, for lower range use toe

So far it works but if the problem is no sound at all check the hight of the reed, remember onlya hair line of it should be above the mouth piece. Also check to make sure you can get a sound out with just blowing no tonguing....which I`m assuming you`ve already can.

If that doesn`t work let me know and I`ll dig into my bag of tricks I use for my beginners but those should work for now.


Re: can`t get to grips with tongueing    17:42 on Monday, November 22, 2004          
(bodge)
Posted by Archived posts

thanks very much for the reply, but I need to know why I am saying tee toe doe dah or whatever, is the reason my tongue needs to touch the back of the reed? But when I do it is to pronounsed i fell i need to calm it down a little I feel I play better if my tongue doesn`t touch the reed and I take a shorter blow for single notes and a longer blow for ties or slurs if this makes any sence.
Where should my tongue be?
Sorry to be a pain but I don`t understand.


Re: can`t get to grips with tongueing    23:17 on Monday, November 22, 2004          
(Rachel)
Posted by Archived posts

When you tongue, it is usually just behind the tip of your tongue that touches just below the tip of the reed.
If you are having trouble with this, practice your scales SLOWLY with the very tip of your tongue on the very tip of the reed. Once you go back to almost-tip on almost-tip, your tonguing will seem easier and be lighter.
You should always take big deep breaths so that you can phrase nicely.
A lot of the time, tonguing problems are not just the tongue. If it seems too heavy, one problem could be that your air is not getting there fast enough. The solution to this is to blow not only with more force, but with a more focused airstream ( think of a garden hose with those attachments that you can use to spray a large area or a very small, concentrated area. Your airstream should be focused in a small, concentrated radius.) This way you will get more air pressure.
Another problem could be that your jaw is tense and inhibiting tongue movement. Pull your chin down and back so that it sits flat when you play.
I use the syllable "doo" when I play, and "dee" for the high notes, as it produces a softer sound and I can articulate it faster.


Re: can`t get to grips with tongueing    17:46 on Wednesday, November 24, 2004          
(bodge)
Posted by Archived posts

ty so much you have been a great help.I keep asking my teacher this but he says don`t worry.My biggest aim at present is to do it right, I try so hard but still get that definate tongue sound, if i dont tongue it sounds so nice but thats not the right way is it? When I listen to pieces I can`t hear the tongue at all.


   




This forum: Older: Regular vs. Grenadilla Wood?
 Newer: clarinet with braces !!