How to Use Double Tonguing Technique for the Trumpet

Double tonguing is a great way to add a little extra speed to your articulation while playing trumpet. Double tonguing will help you speed through those quick and technical parts of rapid marches and improve your improvisational chops.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Figure out your syllables. Set your trumpet down for a minute and just work on saying your tonguing syllables out loud. Many people learn to tongue with either a "ta" sound or a "da" sound. In order to double tongue, you need to add another syllable, such as "ka" or "ga." Practice saying "ta-ka-ta-ka" or "da-ga-da-ga" for a while.
2. Practice making your tonguing syllables sound the same when tonguing on your trumpet. Start with your standard tonguing syllable and get a good idea what it sounds like. Now move to the "ka" or "ga" sound and strive to make it sound like your normal tonguing. Work with finding the right point on the back of your tongue to make it sound like the front of your tongue.
3. Put the syllables together. Start with alternating between the front and back of your tongue. At this point, focus on the sound and crispness instead of speed. Play some scales with your double tonguing technique. Mix it up a little with combinations like "da-ga-ga-da" and "da-da-ga-da" until you feel comfortable with both syllables.
4. Speed up. The whole reason to learn how to double tongue is to articulate faster. Gradually speed up while maintaining consistency in your articulation. Once your notes start getting slurred and unclear, slow down and practice at one speed until you can speed up while maintaining clean articulation. Keep this up until you are able to play quick sixteenth or thirty-second notes cleanly.
5. Double tongue while changing notes. This is where things get really challenging so be prepared to practice long and hard before you mastering it. Work on playing through scales as quickly as possible while double tonguing the notes.