How to Improve Your Tonguing on a Saxophone

Improving your tonguing technique requires daily practice.

Tonguing on the saxophone makes it possible to play advanced music with fast and cleanly separated articulations. Improving your tonguing requires a methodical practice routine that builds your tonguing technique over time. Saxophone players that practice good form and continually strive to increase their speed have an easier time in practical performances when playing complex and fast-paced music. Practice developing your technique with a daily practice regimen designed to improve the clarity and speed of your tonguing.

Things You'll Need

• Metronome

Instructions

1. Breathe using the diaphragm muscles to expand your lungs and take in air. When you play, make sure to keep the airflow steady and consistent.

2. Ensure that the tip of the tongue always hits the reed lightly and briefly cuts off the airflow when tonguing.

3. Practice creating a hard tonguing by forming the sound "tah" with your tongue.

4. Play a softer, legato tonguing by forming the sound "dee" with your tongue.

5. Play major scales each day, using both types of articulations. Start by playing four notes of the scale per beat at the metronome marking of 52 beats per minute. Increase the speed by two beats per day until you can play scales at 120 beats per minute.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay careful attention to the coordination between your fingers and your tongue. If your fingers are slow, the fastest tongue in the world won't help you. You must be careful to coordinate your fingers and tonguing at the same time.

References

• U.S. Army Band: Saxophone Basics