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 Help With "Spitty" sounding tonguing
Author: akul7171 
Date:   2017-07-31 02:12

I've been playing clarinet for 3 years, but I've recently noticed when I'm tonguing it tends to sound spitty, as if I'm starting my nots by saying "thoo" I've tried multiple mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, and also tried my old clarinet, but the problem persists, leading me to think it is most likely a problem with how i tongue. I've also tried tonguing differently, like attempting to anchor tongue, expressively saying "taa" and "tee," and even trying double lip. At the following link I have a short recording of a simple song I played. While I'm playing, I hear it on every note, but the recording only shows the issue on a few notes. How do I get rid of the spitty sound and have it sound better? Link: https://clyp.it/rf3vvyyl

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 Re: Help With "Spitty" sounding tonguing
Author: nellsonic 
Date:   2017-07-31 03:35

There are some nice things about your playing - good clear tone, smooth sounding finger motion, etc. You need to consistently push more air through the clarinet to even out the response between registers. Some people conceptualize this as always maintaining a fast air speed.

In regards to the tonguing you are likely either letting too much of the tongue touch the reed and/or are tonguing too low on the reed. Try using a "tee" syllable and be sure the very tip of the tongue is touching just below the very tip of the reed. This should help to create a cleaner articulation sound. Very little tongue pressure is required when you do this correctly.

Practice for consistency on repeated notes on an open G and then gradually move up and down the range of the instrument. It will require some patience but it should be clear pretty quickly if you are on the right path.

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 Re: Help With "Spitty" sounding tonguing
Author: ClarinetRobt 
Date:   2017-07-31 04:20

I agree with Nell.
Use her suggestions. Try to get off the reed as fast as possible. Think of the reed as a hot potato. Sounds odd, but start with legato tonguing on an open G. Use a 'tee' syllable and focus on quickly getting away from the reed.
Double your air speed...firm embouchure with energy exerted evenly around the entire mouthpiece. Firm corners...think putting on chapstick or biting into a sour lemon.
Move to legato scales, chromatic. When the tongue stroke is consistent, start shortening the notes.

~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)

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 Re: Help With "Spitty" sounding tonguing
Author: kdk 
Date:   2017-07-31 04:56

ClarinetRobt wrote:

> Double your air speed...

Can you explain more fully what to do to double the air speed?

Karl

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 Re: Help With "Spitty" sounding tonguing
Author: akul7171 
Date:   2017-07-31 05:05

Thank you Nell and Robt. I've also posted this on reddit and was advised that I was leaving my tongue on the reed too long. In hindsight, that does seem to be something I've been doing, without realizing. I will start practicing that and let you know how it goes. Hopefully I am able to correct this problem quickly :)

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 Re: Help With "Spitty" sounding tonguing
Author: nellsonic 
Date:   2017-07-31 06:16

Leaving the tongue too long on the reed is related to letting too much tongue touch the reed. If too much tongue is on the reed it often doesn't come off all at once which can create the effect you are dealing with. Best of luck. Do let us know how it goes!

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