The 2nd movement of Bach’s C Major Flute Sonata is all double-tonguing. It’s a lot of fun! You should practice it. Here’s an important tip about how to begin practicing double-tonguing.
Double-tonguing all starts with where you put the tip of your tongue. You place the tip of your tongue as far forward as you can get without being on your teeth. That’s is where your “tah” has to be when you double-tongue.
There are all sorts of syllables that flute teachers use “do-goo, do-goo” “duh-guh, duh-guh” and I’m only going to talk about “tuh-kuh, tuh-kuh.” But you can apply this to any of them.
The main idea is to keep your tongue as far forward as you can get with also bringing your “kuh” up without moving your tongue back.
Ok, so what I mean is your “tuh” hits, and then your “kuh” goes right up without moving your tongue back.
When you tongue comes up for the “tuh” you leave your tongue in position and just come up for “kuh.” Not moving your tongue back.
You have to analyze what your tongue is doing when you’re practicing double-tonguing.
Keep it forward.
Practice saying fives. So, a 4 plus 1:
“tuh-kuh, tuh-kuh, tuh”
“tuh-kuh, tuh-kuh, tuh.”
Make sure your tongue is light.
It feels free.
It feels easy.
Play it on an F. Then maybe go up to a C.
And then I would do a 9: “tuh-kuh, tuh-kuh, tuh-kuh, tuh-kuh, tuh.”
Practice those a couple of times.
Go up scales.
Go down scales.
But do them in small increments.
Don’t do it too slowly. Because you’ll counteract the work that you really want to do with making sure that your fingers move with the tongue.
And then move to a different key. Maybe get it to going a little faster. But always make it light. If it’s not coming out right away, it will.
Enjoy working on double-tonguing, and let me know how this works for you.
Have Fun!
DoctorFlute
Watch me demonstrate this: FluteTips 2 Double-Tonguing
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