Flutter (and Double) Tonguing

[fruple]

Try as I might, I still don't know how to flutter tongue. I'm the only person in my section in class that doesn't know how, and that bothers me. Got any helpful hints?

Also, I've been having a hard time double tonguing. All advice people have given hasn't worked thus far. Do you think you could explain it in detail/just say how you do it?

Thanks in advance for any help, this has been bugging me for quite some time.

[yummiebears]

I think, and am not sure, that being able to flutter tongue is a hit or miss involving genetics. I am not sure though. What I do is I put the tongue on the roof of my mouth, near the teeth and before it indents into a concave part, hold it in place (so that it snaps back to where it was with relative ease) and just blow a steady stream of air. This does all it needs.

As for double tonguing, I myself have tried and have been having issues with it. My teacher always gives me the same handouts... the tongue is a muscle etc etc etc, but I can never quite seem to get it.

[bandman001]

I agree with yummiebear about the hit or miss with genetics, someone in my section has the same problem with flutter tonging.

As for double tonguing though, try using syllables like "ku". The basic thing that needs to happen is the part of the tongue up front alternates interrupting the air with the back/middle part of the tongue. Try just using the "ku" syllable at a moderate/slow tempo to work the muscles and technique, then begin slowly working up speed by alternating "tu" and "ku".

My practice for this is to "ku" at a tempo where the tone is good and the spacing between syllables is even as you go up an easy scale (4 syllables to each note) then add the "tu" syllable in front of it.

(first note)- ku ku ku ku, (second note)- ku ku ku ku, and so on.

then i work on the double tongue

(first note) tu ku tu ku tu ku tu ku tu, (second note)- tu ku tu ku tu ku tu ku tu, etc.

And, as if you haven't probably heard this phrase enough, use more air. It really makes a difference on the articulation on the double tongue, and flutter tonguing will help build the air support because of the added resistance.

[brassdancer]

I had SO much trouble learning how to flutter tounge. It is kind of a gutteral noise, kind of like clearing your throat only more held out. I could only do it on low pitches for a while, and have now worked it up so that I can do it almost in any range. Try to create vibration by placing your tounge on the top of your mouth, and try to almost clear your throat. If you can roll your R's, do that. It's the same sensation. Imagine your air traveling as fast as you can so that your tounge vibrates fast enough to create the flutter. It takes a lot of time to get, so don't be discouraged!

I am not sure on the genetic thing, but as far as I know it CAN be taught ... but I am sure there are exceptions to that rule.

[yummiebears]

Perhaps it is innate with some people and others have to learn it. Or maybe some people learn it when they're really young (and could be ... When I was little, I was obsessed with cats and used to imitate their purring noise. Looking back, I sort of think that its far connection cats purring to flutter tongue, but the point is, I did it then and I can do it now.

[trumellotonium]

I'm surprised no one's got this. Flutter tongue is really simple, assuming one thing: you must be able to roll your R. That's all flutter-tonguing is: rolling your R while playing.

It's not actually genetic, though some people do learn it more easily than others. If you can't roll your R, I don't know how to say in words how to do it.

[trumellotonium]

For double-tonguing, it is vital to make sure you are tonguing correctly in the first place. I could kind of double-tongue before I fixed my embochure, but now that I have it fixed and my tonguing is correct my double tongue is actually twice as fast.

[stickshifty]

My flutter tongue is a growl that I just do on the roof of my mouth instead of in the throat. Probably not technically correct, but it gets the right sound out.