Flutter Tonguing

[Twilight91]

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to flutter tongue when you can't roll your r's. I know that it is rarely used in most full band pieces, but I've seen it in a lot of solos that I'd been interested in playing. Only problem is that I'm exempt of the ability to roll my r's, making it very difficult! Do y'all know any alternatives? Thanks!

[flutepicc06]

Besides the tongue flutter, you can do a uvular flutter (That ball hanging down at the back of your throat is your uvula). This is often referred to as the "gargling method," and is used pretty often by reed players, since a tongue flutter doesn't work very well with their instruments. Pull the back of your tongue up and back a bit to get the gargle going. It'll probably sound a bit rough at first, but with practice you can get it sounding as smooth as a true flutter tongue. I would suggest starting to work on this on a relatively high resistance note (I used E3 when I was learning), as this lets you blow without worrying about the note cracking, and the extra pressure might help you get the gargle. Eventually you'll need to be able to use the flutter tongue throughout your range, so once you've got a handle on it, starting working your way both up and down chromatically from whatever note you start on.

[fluteguy18]

Si tu parlais le Francais il est comme ca......

If you speak french, or have learned french, the method that flutepicc describes is a lot like the way French speaking people pronounce their 'R' .

[freshginger]

very useful message thanx!

[gotflute]

I, like you, had trouble rolling my R's. Kids from philly like me don't learn these things talking the way I did growing up (haha). Just keep working at it, just like anything else wiht the instrument.

I learned the Gargle method, and use it always when I'm playing low, as I find that the rolled R doesn't project well down low. Above middle B, I use either, depending on the effect I want. For example, french music, such as Jolivet or Ibert would lend itsent to the very french rolled R, where as american music would want the obviously more gutteral gargle.

Just think of the sound you want to make.

[Buttercup]

My friend Angela couldn't roll her r's (the english are generally quite sappy rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrollers ) so I told her to do it the back of the throat way. She got along marvellously, then the day of the concert she got laryngitis and couldn't flutter for toffee

[Claiken]

I find that to 'gargle' I need to swallow some spit first, lol. Normal?

[flutepicc06]

I find that to 'gargle' I need to swallow some spit first, lol. Normal?

Everyone is a bit different, so it's not abnormal, but I don't find any need to do that. However, there is rarely, if ever, a build up of saliva in my mouth when I play, particularly not in areas that would affect the "gargle method." I store any excess liquid under my tongue, or swallow it during rests. Perhaps a bit of experimentation would allow you to do something similar.

[MaYbE.x]

I used to gargle because I couldn't roll my Rs. My music teacher noticed it and told me to stop ASAP. Apparently it's bad for your throat, and uses too much air, which is bad if you have a long solo. A big breath tends to sound weird.
I learned by trying to made the D sound and the R sound at the same time. It was a lot of work, but I eventually got it.

Good luck. =]

[flutepicc06]

Gargling isn't bad for you....It's merely getting your uvula to vibrate, changing how the air moves. In fact, it's the only way for reed players to flutter tongue at all. Same goes for flutists....Some people literally cannot do a tongue flutter. It also should not use any additional air if it's done well. In any case, few band solos involve flutter tonguing for any great length of time. And as long as you can breathe quietly, there should be no problem with filling up your lungs as each case may require. Band directors often have some interesting ideas of varying factuality. Take anything a band director tells you about playing with a grain of salt. On a side note, trying to make a "D" sound and an "R" sound produces a uvular flutter for me.