Do you double-tongue? How is it working for you? Do you have a good tone?
Some flutists think they don’t need to double-tongue because their single tongue is fast enough. I’ve definitely heard some fast single tongues but none that are as fast as a well-working clean double-tongue. Once you have this articulation down pat, a world of speed is open to you.
Let’s take a look at how to double-tongue so that your speed is not encumbered by a slow tongue.
I’ve done videos on problems with double-tonguing: how to do it better, how to do it faster, how not to rush. Today, I want to go back to the basics and explain how you double-tongue to achieve maximum effect.
I have come across some issues with students when I’ve taught them how to double-tongue and it all goes back to where they place their ta. There are many teachers out there that will give you different syllables to use and have different tongue placements such as tonguing between the lips. They are not wrong. There is more than one way to accomplish this goal. However, I feel very strongly that the position of the tongue on the roof of the mouth is very important for fast sustained and clear double-tonguing.
It all goes back to the basics of where you place your ta. Now, when I’ve taught students from different cultures, even from my own culture it seems that when an articulated “ta” sound happens in speech it can be in different places in the mouth. I haven’t come across anyone who puts the “ta” in a different spot then the roof of the mouth. Generally, it is the exact location that differs. Once I discovered that, then I was able to help students better achieve how to single-tongue and then how to double-tongue.
The tip of the tongue should be thought of as a point. That point is then placed as far forward as you can get without being on the teeth. If you feel the roof of your mouth with your tongue right between the two front teeth is a little nob. Make sure that you are on the roof, not on the teeth. Then run your tongue back until you reach the ridge. After the ridge the roof arches up and then moves into the soft palate. It is helpful to pick up your flute and tongue a few short single tongues. Determine where you actually tap when you say “ta”. The correct spot is on that little bump between the teeth. While I say it’s between the teeth. I don’t actually mean to tongue on the teeth but on the roof of the mouth. I know that linguists probably have an actual name for that little bump, but I don’t know what it is. Practice saying “ta” right there both in speech and on your flute. The articulation should be very clear and crisp.
With this in mind, most of the time the issues with double-tonguing are because that “ta” is somewhere between the bump and the ridge. When you double tongue and your “ta” placement is too far back then when you add the “k” sound that is placed either further back or the tongue has to move back and forth to bring the “k” forward. It should be obvious that this movement is a waste of time. You double tongue because you want to move fast. But a cumbersome tongue is not fast.
I used to have this problem in high school with double tonguing. I remember working on the Mozart concertos in the fast 16th note sections and the roof of my mouth would feel bad. I wouldn’t really call it sore, but it would feel like I needed a massage. I wanted to find a way to rub it. I think it was all because the K was forced to hit too far back causing this fatigue. Once I learned to place the “ta” properly I could double-tongue all day long and never, ever have an issue.
One of my early teachers, Georgetta Maiolo, with whom I studied both in high school and then again for my master’s degree, had this easy exercise based on the F-scale to practice double tonguing. Try this exercise:
- Say T-K-T-K-T (Actually speak this out loud.)
- Make it nice and easy when you say it, and phrase it as a group of 5.
- Now on a low F tongue that group of 5. Make sure to keep the tongue in the right spot. Don’t push it, don’t force the tone.
- Next play up 5 notes from the F with that nice and easy tonguing.
- On the top note (C) tongue the group of 5.
- Double tongue down C to F.
- Here is the tricky spot tongue a group of 9 T-K-T-K-T-K-T-K-T on the F.
- Double tongue the F up to C and back down to F.
- Repeat on the next note of the F scale.
Don’t worry if you don’t get a good sound right off the bat. It is more important that your tonguing is correct. Tone will follow.
Some aspects to think about:
Always keep the tongue relaxed however keep the support strong.
If you let go with your support the tongue has to get stronger which makes the sound what I call hen-pecky. This is a choppy sound without much tone.
Keep the air going through the double tongue. When you say it with your voice there are no stops between the syllables. Make sure that is the same on the flute.
If you hear an extra thunk type of sound in your mouth, then your tongue is too far back. It has been allowed to move back.
The Thunk
Most of the time, students that come to me have that thunk tongue noise and they have no idea that they are doing it. They just do not hear it. They might feel something on the roof of their mouth, but they don’t really recognize that it makes a noise. Once they start hearing it, then they fix the tonguing. But until you actually hear that noise your tongue makes, when it is in the wrong spot, it’s a lot harder to fix. You just have to go by your teachers’ word that yes, they can hear it.
Once you feel that you are understanding and executing double tonguing in this exercise then it is time to put it into your solo. Approach double tonguing in a solo much the same way as you would this exercise. Take a group of four 16th notes add the first note of the next group and tongue the group of 5. Then tongue the next group of 5. Now put those two groups together with your group of 9. Work your way through 16th note passages in this way. Repeat going a little bit faster. It seems maybe a slow process, but it will keep you accurate.
All right, so the basics for double-tonguing, is to tongue forward right on that little knob right between your two front teeth and keep it there when you add your “k”. Keep your air pressure through the tonguing don’t close off the air stream. The tongue needs to stay light. When you do this, you can double-tongue all day and all night!
Try it. You will find that this is a great way to double-tongue.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, I’m happy to answer.
Have Fun!
DoctorFlute
Watch me demonstrate this:
Fast Easy Clear Flute Double-Tonguing FluteTips 111
Single Tonguing 3 Different Ways – FluteTips 94
Single Tonguing to Improve Tone & Get Back In Shape Fast – FluteTips 79
