- Fast tonguing on the clarinet is uniquely challenging compared to the recorder because the sound-producing element (the reed) sits inside the mouth
- There are no shortcuts to faster tonguing—the best approach is to start slowly and gradually increase speed over time
- The target tempo is sixteenth notes at a quarter note = 144; reaching this level will handle most pieces comfortably
- Even during fast tonguing, the most important thing is to keep the air flowing continuously. If your air stops when you tongue, your tonguing will slow down
- It is essential to clearly separate each note with space between them, and maintaining this separation even at faster tempos is crucial
Many clarinet players struggle with fast tonguing. Unlike the recorder, the clarinet's sound-producing element (the reed) has weight and sits inside the mouth, making tonguing considerably more difficult. There are no shortcuts to faster tonguing—just like strength training, the best approach is to start slowly and gradually increase speed. If you can tongue sixteenth notes at a quarter note tempo of 144, you'll be comfortable with most pieces. This article covers the fundamentals of clarinet tonguing, the importance of maintaining continuous airflow, and effective practice methods in a Q&A format.
Q&A: Clarinet Tonguing Fundamentals and Practice Methods
Q1: Why is clarinet tonguing so difficult?
A: Unlike the recorder, the clarinet's sound-producing element (the reed) has weight and sits inside the mouth, making tonguing considerably more difficult. While you can tongue as fast as you like on a recorder, the fact that the clarinet's reed is inside the mouth restricts tongue movement, making fast tonguing challenging.
Q2: Are there any shortcuts to faster tonguing?
A: Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to faster tonguing—just like strength training. The best approach is to start slowly and gradually increase speed. You won't suddenly be able to tongue at fast tempos; the key is the daily accumulation of gradually raising the tempo little by little.
Q3: What is the target tempo?
A: The target tempo is roughly sixteenth notes at a quarter note = 144. If you can achieve this, you'll be comfortable with most pieces. For example, the solo in the fourth movement of Beethoven's symphonies or the variations in Weber's Clarinet Concerto can be played with ease at this tempo. Of course, you can keep pushing further to 152, 160, and beyond.
Q4: What is the most important thing for fast tonguing?
A: The most important thing for fast tonguing is to keep the air flowing continuously. Most players who tongue slowly have a problem where their air stops flowing when they tongue. This causes the tonguing to slow down and the notes to become uneven. First, focus on tonguing while maintaining the same sensation of continuous airflow as when playing long tones.
Q5: How should the spaces between notes be handled?
A: Something that is surprisingly often overlooked is clearly separating each note with space between them. Even when playing closer to staccato rather than tenuto, it's important to clearly separate the notes. For example, when playing E, stop the note with your tongue underneath. Even at slow tempos, always stop each note individually to separate them. This separation must be maintained even as speed increases—for example, at 120, you should still separate each note one by one.
Practice Routine
- Step 1: Start by practicing with slurs. Play the pattern E-F-G-F, E-F-G-F, E-F-G-F, E-F-G-A first with slurs to confirm your airflow.
- Step 2: Tongue with the same air sensation as the slurs. Using the same airflow sensation from the slurred practice, add tonguing. Focus on keeping the air flowing continuously.
- Step 3: Clearly separate each note. At slow tempos, when you play E, stop the note with your tongue underneath. Focus on stopping each note individually to create clear separation.
- Step 4: Gradually increase the tempo. Start slowly and progressively speed up. Even at 120, maintain awareness of separating each note one by one as you raise the tempo.
- Step 5: Aim for the target tempo of 144. Work toward tonguing sixteenth notes at a quarter note = 144 by raising the tempo a little each day. Don't try to speed up suddenly—the key is raising the metronome one notch at a time.
- Step 6: Challenge even faster tempos. Once you can comfortably play at 144, keep pushing to 152, 160, and beyond. However, never forget to maintain continuous airflow and separation between notes.
Summary
Fast tonguing on the clarinet is uniquely challenging compared to the recorder because the sound-producing element (the reed) sits inside the mouth. There are no shortcuts to faster tonguing—the best approach is to start slowly and gradually increase speed. The target tempo is sixteenth notes at a quarter note = 144, which will handle most pieces comfortably. The most important thing for fast tonguing is to keep the air flowing continuously. If your air stops when you tongue, your tonguing will slow down and the notes will become uneven. It is also essential to clearly separate each note with space between them, maintaining this separation even at faster tempos. Through the daily accumulation of gradually increasing tempo, you will be able to master fast, beautiful tonguing on the clarinet.
