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Position:Home>Performing Arts> I can't NOT slap tongue on my alto sax?Question: I can't NOT slap tongue on my alto sax!? I consider myself to be a pretty good alto sax player for the non-competitive high school lever, but the one thing that I have never been able to do is produce a note without slap tonguing it!. I've searched for answers online but eveyrone just wants to teach slap tonguing!. How can I play a note without that awful harsh airy spitty slapping sound!?!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You aren't using enough "breath support", so you are overcompensating with the hard tonguing!. Try practicing really loud (and long) for a few weeks, to build up your rib and diaphragm muscles!. Then gradually bring down the volume, until you can play everything very legato and soft!. Eventually, you'll be able to play with very light tonguing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com slap tonguing an alto sax is something that takes time!. Not every sax is the same!. If you get to know the sax really well it helps more, find out what it likes!. It has to be relaxed when you are tonguing it, many saxes are uncomfortable at first, but give it time!. Some saxes dont like the tonguing though, they just like to play it straight, If this is the case, dont push it!. Genly play it for a few weeks, then explain to it that slap tonguing is something you want to try, if your sax is understanding, they should be open to it!. Scented candles, soft music, and a quiet evening are some things that might make it more enjoyable!. and remember always practice safe sax!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Oh man, Cream!.!.!. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Ok!.!.!. so for one, you are using too much tongue!. You only need the tip of your tongue to articulate, and it should touch only the very tip of the reed!.!.!. you don't need to contact any more than the first 1/4 inch of the reed!. Second, instead of pulling your tongue DOWN, pull it back towards your throat!. It sounds like you are still using the "ta-ta-ta" shape first taught to you when you were first starting!. It's ok for learning to get notes out, but your technique should change now that you have developed the right muscles!. Try saying "tee-tee-tee"!.!.!. it forces you to bring your tongue back in the correct release!. also, if it still sounds harsh, say "dee-dee-dee"!.!.!. it will touch the reed to a point on your tongue slightly farther back, but remember you have to be faster and more accurate when using this!. The last thing, is that your embouchure may be an issue!. There are 2 kinds of slap tonguing!.!.!. pitched and non-pitched!.!.!. the latter requires you to drop your jaw quickly in a kind of chewing motion!.!.!. this is NOT a good technique, and will hinder your progress, most especially in the altissimo range!. Ask your teacher about the correct embouchure!.!.!. then PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A MIRROR!. You shouldn't see your jaw move AT ALL!. You should be able to play scales the full range of your horn, tonguing each note, and not see ANY movement from your jaw!. Anyways, hope this helps and have fun! :)Www@QuestionHome@Com what did you mean like a slur!. i play tenor and Ive never eve heard of what your talking about!. all i use tongue for is blocking the airway for articulation but you can play without itWww@QuestionHome@Com Ask me of I careWww@QuestionHome@Com buy a new chipWww@QuestionHome@Com i can do that but cant really explain it -!.- sorryWww@QuestionHome@Com |