How to Properly Tongue on the Saxophone

Tonguing is a way of starting a note. Basically thereand bumping it. I tend to think of tonguing as one of
are two ways: start blowing, and start blowingthose sprinklers that moves from side to side with a
preceded by your tongue. The steps to tongue arelittle metal part that keeps bumping the water and
simple. First, the mechanics of tonguing are simplycausing an interruption in the flow. Your air is flowing
touching the tip of your tongue to the tip of the reedover your reed and causing it to vibrate. When you
as if you were saying the word "Tah." If you say outtouch the reed with your tongue, the vibrations stop for
loud "Tah Tah Tah," you will notice that your tonguea moment, and the sound continues. You should begin
comes up to the top of your mouth.every note with your tongue to get used to the way it
If your mouthpiece is in your mouth, the tongue wouldworks. Later on you will have times when you will not
be touching the tip of the reed. Just before you maketongue; this is called slurring. It simply means that you
the "Tah" sound, you'll notice that the air is stoppedjust move your fingers.
behind the tongue. When you release the tongue withA few things to watch out for when tonguing: always
the "Tah" sound, the air comes rushing out. This istouch the tip of the tongue to the tip of the reed for
called tonguing. Start by picking any note, placing the tipthe shortest amount of time possible. If you use the
of the tongue on the tip of the reed. Release theback or middle of your tongue, you get a harsh "thud"
tongue with the "Tah" sound and then repeat threesound that is not desirable. TIP to TIP. Some people like
times. You don't really want to say "Tah", but just letto think of it as licking your fingertip and then touching it
your tongue go through the motions of saying it.to a hot iron or stove top. You'd want to do this for
You can feel the tongue touching the tip of the reedthe shortest amount of time possible.