Tongueing past E

vacationInTunisia · New Member Joined: 29 Oct 2023 Posts: 2

So I recently have extended my range past D, which I talked about wanting to do in a previous post, and can get a consistent f# off the bat, as well as double a by lipping up. I can play clark studies up to around double g, however I have had difficulty with tongueing past high e. For example, i can play the chameleon intro with the shake and all, but the intros to birdland and malaguena aren't happening. I find that it is much harder to tongue due to my tongue position compressing the air so that i can hit those notes in the first place. Thoughts?
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JayKosta · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: Tongueing past E

ramado24@clarkston.k12.mi · Regular Member Joined: 19 Dec 2023 Posts: 28

Per Adam rapa You just need to learn how to tongue in that range, that means practice. I can double tongue all day in the middle of the register, but then the moment I get below the staff it's a nightmare, because I never practice that. No magic formula here, just practice. Time to go back to the arban again.
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Al Innella · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 4:17 am Post subject:

Modified K tongue! I tried different ways to articulate the upper register above high C and this is what works for me.

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2596

The tongue is a complex muscle and for trumpet purposes different parts of it do different things.

People do tongue in the higher register so obviously it's possible to do. You can practice progressive exercises, say for example eighth or sixteenth notes on each pitch in a C scale C to high C. Then C#, D, etc.

Play tongued Clarke's exercises above the staff and try to push higher.

Here's Doc doing tongued articulations in the F#/G/A over high C range on "Ode To Billy Joe". He plays the lick then takes it up an octave - the link should take you to 3:27. He also does lots of other snazzy single-tongued licks.

https://youtu.be/eCvvRR0mIIg?si=n_sGlRxn69wlfLUi&t=207
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Al Innella · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:13 am Post subject:

Just practicing more isn't going help if you're not using the proper technique.
Reinforcing improper technique won't give you the result you desire , only frustration. Claude Gordon taught modified K tongue, so did H. L. Clarke . I've been where you are now. When I discovered modified K tongue I was able to not only single tongue G and above but also double tongue in that register.

jkarnes0661 · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:36 am Post subject:

+1 to modified K tonguing. Everyone's mouth cavity is different so it's not the only way but it's worked for many.

For me, the tongue is doing a lot of work to direct the airstream in the upper register and tonguing with the tip behind the front teeth doesn't work for me past high C-ish. Past high C the front of my tongue is anchored behind the bottom teeth and the middle of the tongue touches the roof of my mouth for the primary articulation point.

Transitioning from lower register to upper register tonguing with this technique did take some practice but became intuitive after a while.
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