flutter tongue technique problems

[Andreas Hager]

I started to excercise the “flutter tongue” and have big problems with that.
In my normal embouchure position my lower lip lies between the lower teeth and the reed. When I start to RRRRRRRRR I can only do that when I take back the lower jaw in order to have some space for the flutterimg tongue behind the mouthpiece (the tongue has to touch the roof of the mouth).
When I take back the lower jaw my teeth walk back as well and the lips have no support any more. At that moment I have no more control about sound and tuning of the tones and cannot play any higher notes than a deep A.
What can I do to learn that technique because it sounds so wonderful when done correctly ??????

please excuse my bad English, I live in Germany

best regards, Andreas

[john]

work on not taking back the lower jaw. when I flutter I don’t make any different movement with the jaw…just try to roll the tongue while keeping the rest of your embouchure the same.

[Andreas Hager]

OK, I will try that. I have the feeling not to have enough space for my tongue to reach the roof of the mouth when the jaw stays in the front. I work on it ….
thanks for your answer

[Mark Kiziuk]

I just started flutter tonguing yesterday. I’m not sure if it’s rolling my R’s, but what I do is make a gargling sound (like a cat purring) and it works! Not sure if everyone can make a gargling sound (without mouthwash), but that’s what I do! And I did a comparison of Johnny flutter tonguing to Tequila And my sound on my sax and they are identical.
Mark

[Andreas Hager]

I`m going crazy with that. I exercise it every day but feel no improvement.
Gargling is impossible to me while playing. Rolling Rs are no problem as long as I dont have the mouthpiece inside my mouth.
Johnny: where exactly is the tip of your tongue when you let it flutter? It has to have an opponent that it can move aginst. What is that in your case?
Andreas

[Mark Kiziuk]

Hi. When I do it, the R’s come from the back of my throat and the tip of my tongue is up against the back of my bottom teeth. I hope this helps you.

[Anonymous]

One the problems with fluttering is people assume that it has to be done with the tip of the tongue!
`you can flutter tongue on any part of the tongue, it can be the back, middle or tip, you can even fold the
tongue in a v shape and flutter away – it doesn’t have to be the tip like blowing rasberries.
tongues vary in length from short to long and from wide to thin, so if you have a long tongue – no way
you are going to flutter with the tip – so basically try other parts of the tongue – try making snoring , snorting
noises with your tongue etc..

[Andreas Hager]

Thanx guys, I will go on working on that issue.

[john]

I roll it near the roof of my mouth near the front,
it has to be up there and away from the reed so as not to interfere with the vibrating.

[Andreas Hager]

Johnny, the position you described is the one that I also have when I do it WITHOUT mouthpiece in my mouth.
But I cannot use that with the mouthpiece. When I try I always touch the reed. So I will have to find a different position or technique.

[Author]

Posts