How to Double Tongue on a Tenor Saxophone

A tenor saxophone can be double-tongued with practice.

The saxophone is a woodwind reed instrument that is commonly associated with jazz and blues music. There are four types of saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. These names relate to the pitch level of each instrument; the soprano saxophone is the highest pitched while the baritone is the lowest. The tenor is the second-lowest pitched saxophone. All saxophones can be double-tongued, a technique in which you give short, quipped breaths into the reed to create a double articulation for each single breath.

Things You'll Need

• Tenor saxophone
• Metronome

Instructions

1. Start by exercising your tongue, saying "ta-ka-ta-ka" without the tenor saxophone. This gets your tongue familiar with the fast tongue flips required to double tongue.

2. Pick up the tenor saxophone, placing the neck strap around your neck to ensure the instrument is sturdy while you play it. Put the mouth of the saxophone in your mouth about an inch, placing your teeth, or upper lip if it is more comfortable, on the top plastic part, with your bottom lip tightly on the reed.

3. Put the saxophone in your mouth and practice the "ka" breath. Say "ka" into the saxophone, almost like you're giving a little cough. The sound may split or squeak at first; start on the middle C note and continue practicing until the sound that comes out is clear. Move up to high C and see how the sound is.

4. Put the "ta" and the "ka" articulations together. Play a middle C note with the "ta" breath, then bring the back of your tongue to the back top of your mouth and make the "ka" breath. Practice slowly and then go faster.

5. Practice using a metronome, slowly at first, then increasing the speed as you become more comfortable with the "ta" and "ka" breaths and they eventually become smoother and melt into a "taka, taka, take" breath.

6. Play a few scales with your new double-tongue breath.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient and continue practicing to make your tongue more comfortable with the "taka" motion. Eventually it will come naturally.

• The beginning practice stages will cause some unpleasant noises; wear ear plugs if you have sensitive ears.

References

• The Peabody Institute of John Hopkins University: Double Tongue

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish