Klarinet Archive - Posting 000290.txt from 1997/07

From: Ian M. Dilley <imd@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: tonguing
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 06:10:58 -0400

Since there have been no other replies to this I will try. I didn't
reply before because I can't do this very well. I have a friend who
plays jazz saxophone who loves this technique. It is produced by
putting your tongue flat against the reed, building up some pressure
then opening your mouthand removing your tongue at the same time. If
you get it right you get a sort of staccato popping sound. It works
best on low notes. I think it's easier on the saxophone.

Hope this makes some sense.

Ian Dilley

>
>
> All this info on tonguing reminds me of a question I've been
> meaning to ask for awhile. On a copy of a King Oliver album
> I have, the liner notes talk about Barney Bigard doing a
> "slap tongue" technique, and describes it as "'Popping'
> the reed with the tongue was hot stuff for a while, but
> by 1926 the fat was, mercifully, dying out."
>
> Any idea how "slap tongue" was done? I promise never
> to do it in public, I'm basically just curious as to
> the technique.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Lisa Clayton
> clayton@-----.edu
> (Dan Leeson Rules!)
>