double reeds...
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icy_flutist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:21 am
double reeds...
I've been playing flute for a while and I could articulate well without tonguing (just with the lips). But I've been playing the bassoon for a few weeks (a double reed instrument) and ive developped different cheek muscles and I can't articulate anymore without tonguing. Is it because of the double reed and using different muscles? Please help, thanks!
Hi there,
Firstly, you should be articulating with the tongue on flute anyway... think of it like speech, it is the tongue which produces the "consonant" sounds (t, k, d, g).
Are you trying to play flute immediately after you've played bassoon? I played oboe for a number of years and found that I had to practise flute first and oboe second, otherwise I was not able to get a good flute tone. It is a very different way of using the mouth muscles, there is a lot more pressure on the lips whereas the flute is "free-blowing" (ie there is no physical resistance).
Suggestions... start using the tongue to articulate on flute! Also make sure you are practising flute before bassoon, or if you do play bassoon first, make sure you have a long break (an hour or so) before picking up your flute.
It is sometimes nice to articulate purely with the lips - I use this often on very soft entries, but certainly the 'norm' is to use the tongue.
Good luck!
Firstly, you should be articulating with the tongue on flute anyway... think of it like speech, it is the tongue which produces the "consonant" sounds (t, k, d, g).
Are you trying to play flute immediately after you've played bassoon? I played oboe for a number of years and found that I had to practise flute first and oboe second, otherwise I was not able to get a good flute tone. It is a very different way of using the mouth muscles, there is a lot more pressure on the lips whereas the flute is "free-blowing" (ie there is no physical resistance).
Suggestions... start using the tongue to articulate on flute! Also make sure you are practising flute before bassoon, or if you do play bassoon first, make sure you have a long break (an hour or so) before picking up your flute.
It is sometimes nice to articulate purely with the lips - I use this often on very soft entries, but certainly the 'norm' is to use the tongue.
Good luck!
Eek! Yeah, definately articulate with your tongue! As Nose commented, playing a wind intrument without articulating is like talking with your tongue always lying in the bottom of your mouth 
Different muscles are used for bassoon, but they're not antagonistic. Clarinet and oboe have vice-grip embouchures, so they're not necessarily good doubles for serious flutists. Bassoon and sax, however, have, in terms of the muscles involved, flute-compatible embouchures. Bassoon is my second instrument, it's very fun! Saxophone, while not especially creating tension, seems to numb my upper lip, quite adversly affecting my flute tone. 
So have fun learning new things, but watch for negative changes in your flute playing (maybe start a practice journal ?) & stop them before they become bad habits. Good luck! 
Different muscles are used for bassoon, but they're not antagonistic. Clarinet and oboe have vice-grip embouchures, so they're not necessarily good doubles for serious flutists. Bassoon and sax, however, have, in terms of the muscles involved, flute-compatible embouchures. Bassoon is my second instrument, it's very fun! Saxophone, while not especially creating tension, seems to numb my upper lip, quite adversly affecting my flute tone. So have fun learning new things, but watch for negative changes in your flute playing (maybe start a practice journal ?) & stop them before they become bad habits. Good luck! -
icy_flutist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:21 am