Skip to main content

How to Double Tongue on the French Horn

Learning to double tongue on the French horn will double the speed that you can effectively articulate notes. With a single-tongue technique, you are limited to the speed at which your tongue can create each articulation. Double tonguing consists of two components -- the initial and secondary articulation. The initial articulation involves the tongue striking the point where your teeth meet the roof of your mouth. The second articulation occurs when the tongue is pulled back and pushes a short burst of air forward. This technique requires some practice, but in time, you will be able to improve the speed and efficiency of your double-tongue technique.

Step 1:  Pronounce the sound "tu." When you say it, you will notice the tip of the tongue hits the roof of your mouth, right behind your teeth. The sound "tu" is used in a single-tongue technique.

Step 2: Pronounce the sound "ku." Notice how it pushes air forward as the tongue pulls back, while the tip of the tongue touches the base of the mouth. The "ku" sound allows you to articulate a note by forcefully pushing a burst of air into the instrument. This sound is used in the second articulation.

Step 3: Practice playing quarter notes on your French horn, and articulate each note using the "ku" sound. Continue to practice quarter notes using major scales, at 60 beats per minute. Aim for a clean articulation, and try to match the sound achieved through single tonguing.

Step 4: Play major scales again on your French horn, but this time, alternate between the syllables "tu" and "ku." Use "tu" on the first articulation and "ku" on the second. Continue practicing this technique until it becomes comfortable. Play each scale using eighth notes at 60 beats per minute. Gradually increase the tempo by adding 4 beats per minute, per day, until you can double tongue at 120 beats per minute.

Sit or stand using proper posture. Your shoulders should be relaxed and your feet about shoulder-length apart, regardless of whether you are sitting or standing. Breathe properly by taking in air using your diaphragm. To do this, expand your stomach muscles and bring the air deep into your lungs.

The French horn requires a much cleaner articulation than other instruments. Ensure you are using the tip of your tongue for the first articulation. Avoid using the flat part of your tongue. Set your metronome by inputting the appropriate number on a digital metronome, or adjusting the metronome bar on a mechanical one. For example, on a digital metronome you can adjust the tempo to 60 beats per minute by entering the number 60, using the up or down button on the side.

On a mechanical metronome, adjust the beat by raising the bar on the needle to increase the tempo, and lowering it to decrease the tempo.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more