Double tonguing on the sax

[Jake 35]

I've only heard of double tonguing on brass instruments, but my friend told me that its possible to double tongue on the sax with a ku tu ku tu sound. Is this true?

[tyler_terlecki]

yup

well i use, tah kah tah, but meh, use what works,

what i did to practice it, is when i got the hang of the basics of it, i tried playing simple pieces in only kah, to build those muscles up, after that and doing scales in double, you learn it pretty quickly

[Razzy]

Never got good results with this... no matter how much you practice the ku sound, it always sounds much different than (and usually not as distinct as) the normal tongue, mainly because the K part of the tongue doesn't actually touch the reed... maybe someone else has had better luck? I've never heard a saxophonist do a nice staccato double tongue... perhaps legato but not a staccato.

[Dauri]

double tounging works best when you alternate notes between the ta and ka syllable. It will give you a very strong pecussive sound

[Razzy]

Well I think the purpose is to increase your tongue speed to make certain passages more manageable, and for me these always seem to be the same note, articulated constantly...

[sax maniac]

i find it very hard to double tongue scales, mainly because it just seems hard to coordinate the mouth and the hands at that speed. Though some sax players say they can double tongue and play different notes interchangably all at once i find it hard to believe, some of the best brass players who can double tongue beautfully never change notes while doing it, in many selections of music when double-tongueing is used the notes never change, even for brass players, which supports my theory that most people can't double tongue and change notes at the same time. though i can double-tongue, i cannot change notes succesfully like in scales for example, and also find it easier to double-tongue on certain notes and harder, or impossible on others. :x well thats just how i feel, hope i didn't offend anyone. :wink:

[Razzy]

Question: how does one even begin to work out that "kah" tongue? Should it immediately begin to resemble the tah? Or is it supposed to sound like a nasty scratching followed by a note popping out, for weeks on end?? :?

[LBAjazz]

If you really want to hear someone double tongue cleanly, rapidly and while changing notes, listen to Salsa music.Those Latin sax players are unbelievable.

[paulwl]

In the 1920s it was a necessity for top dance band players. Bigger mouthpiece openings made it harder to do, and swing styles necessitated a less jerky rhythm, so it went away.

[saxomophone]

The only luck I've had with double tounging is kind of flicking my tongue so that it hits the reed on the way down. I havn't gotten it to the point where I can do it cleanly, though.

[BobH]

I've been working on this technique for a while now, not as a concentrated study, but just working it into my practice sessions as the mood strikes me. I'm slowly improving, to the point where I can play scales, including chromatic scales, without a terrible amount of slop. The technique is still far from perfect, but it's getting to the point of usability. I'm definitely beyond where I was a year ago.

From what I can see, this technique is like any other: You've just got to dig in and do it. Accept the fact that you're going to suck at first. But if you pay your dues, sooner or later you'll work out the kinks and "get it." I like Tyler's suggestion about doing exercises based on "kuh" or "kah" only. I've tried that and it helps. You can also try reversing the order: Instead of "tuh-kuh," try "kuh-tuh."

[StevoJazz]

U Should try doing a ghost note. Just lightly plae ur tongue on the reed and you get a ghost note ish sound. :Shocked:

[Dauri]

As LBAjazz has said, latin music, and especially, in merengue tipico(what I play), is heavlily based to double tounging. Nine timies out of ten double tounging is used on alternate notes, especially when you arrpeiate.

Most merengue double touging on 16th notes @165 bpm
and their almost always on alternate thrids

[Jake 35]

The only luck I've had with double tounging is kind of flicking my tongue so that it hits the reed on the way down. I havn't gotten it to the point where I can do it cleanly, though.

I tried doing this, but normal tonguing was way faster. The ka ta ka ta seems to work well though

[JazzWoodwinder]

Are you sure that your actually double tounging? What if your flutter tounging? :?:

[MojoBari]

I double tongue by touching the tip of the MP with the tongue on the way down too. I only use it on jazz and rock solo cadenzas. Its a real biting machine-gun effect and it is not difficult to coordinate with the fingers.

[saxduck]

Boots Randolph has published a very clear discussion of this. "Boots Randolph's Rock n Roll saxophone" Go to his website.

[Ptrick]

John Klemmer used some d/t techniques on Touch. It was very effective and gave some of his solos a very personal - touch... sorry. :?

[Tim Price]

I've only heard of double tonguing on brass instruments, but my friend told me that its possible to double tongue on the sax with a ku tu ku tu sound. Is this true?

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Price/DoubleTonguing.html

Check it out- I think it will help.
Don't over use this tho' 8)

[JustSax1018]

If you really want to hear someone double tongue cleanly, rapidly and while changing notes, listen to Salsa music.Those Latin sax players are unbelievable.

if you want to hear classical (if you can get your hands on it) Don Sinta playing Czardas by Monti is insane as well

[altobariguy]

hey i know this isn't the accepted method but one time i was playing and i came to a fast part and my toung just natrualy played this. da-la-da. i think... anyway your tongue makes a "n" with the middle hitting the reed then the tongue makes a "U" hitting the reed with the outside. works for me. its hard to sustain for more then a couple cycles but for those sudden 32ed notes it gets the job done.