- The foundation of both double tonguing and triple tonguing is the "tu-ku-tu-ku" articulation, and the first step is practicing with your mouth alone to ensure the air does not break
- By deliberately accenting the K syllable starting at a slow tempo and gradually increasing the speed until you can no longer add accents, you develop natural tonguing
- When practicing tonguing with changing notes, first confirm the airflow thoroughly with slurs, then add tonguing to achieve beautiful tonguing with uninterrupted air
I'm Risa Mimura, a trumpet player. Today, I'll be focusing on double tonguing and triple tonguing. These techniques are indispensable for expressing fast passages and articulations. As I mentioned earlier, air is the foundation, and even with tonguing, it's important to keep the airflow continuously uninterrupted and free of tension. In this lesson, I'll introduce specific methods for progressive improvement, from oral exercises to practical application on the instrument.
Oral Exercises: Developing Uninterrupted Airflow in Your Articulation
Both double tonguing and triple tonguing share the same articulation: "tu-ku-tu-ku." Let's start by practicing the pronunciation with your mouth. Even when saying it with just your mouth, be mindful that the air does not break. As I mentioned before, air is the foundation -- keep the air continuously flowing without interruption, and stay relaxed without adding tension.
When you try saying it, it goes tu-ku-tu-ku-tu-ku-tu-ku, but if you close your throat and stop the air each time like tu-ku-tu-ku, it will affect your playing on the instrument as well. So practice saying tu-ku-tu-ku-tu-ku-tu-ku with just your mouth. I remember when I was in middle school, I was really bad at tonguing at the time, so I used to practice saying tu-ku-tu-ku-tu-ku on my way home from school. Once you can do tu-ku-tu-ku naturally without thinking about it, you'll be able to play it on the instrument as well.
Accenting the K: Fundamental Tonguing Practice
Now for practicing on the instrument. First, focus on the K articulation. Deliberately accent the K syllable and start at a slow tempo, then gradually increase the speed until you can no longer add accents. This is the fundamental exercise for double tonguing and triple tonguing.
For example, with double tonguing, it goes tu-ku-tu-ku. Right now this is just playing tu-ku-tu-ku as written. As you gradually increase the tempo, double tonguing will come naturally. Triple tonguing works exactly the same way -- the articulation becomes tu-tu-ku-tu-ku, and you start slowly, practice so that the K is accented, then gradually increase the tempo until you can no longer add accents.
Tonguing Practice with Changing Notes: Confirming Airflow with Slurs
The Arban exercises start with triple tonguing on the same note, but as you progress through the exercises, the notes begin to change. For example, patterns like C-D-E-D-E-F-E-F-G-F-G-A-G-A-B-A-B-C-B-C-D appear, and they become increasingly difficult. For instance, Exercise No. 57 starts with C-B-A-G-F-E-D-C, and the method for practicing this kind of triple tonguing with changing notes -- which I also discussed when talking about single tonguing -- is to first play it with slurs. Practice C-B-A-G-F-E-D-C with slurs and confirm that the airflow is properly maintained in a single continuous stream, and then add the triple tonguing. This approach will help things go much more smoothly.
Let me try just the first measure. First with slurs -- this is how the measure goes, and I'll increase the tempo a bit with slurs. Once I feel that the air is flowing in a single continuous stream, I simply add the tonguing while maintaining that same state of airflow. As a bad example -- it might be a little hard to hear the difference -- but if you stop the air, it becomes ta-ta-ka-ta-ta-ka-ta-ka-ta-ka, resulting in a somewhat rough and less clean triple tonguing. So, as I keep emphasizing, the air coming out of the instrument is the foundation, and it should flow continuously -- ta-ta-ka-ta-ka-ta-ka-ta-ka, ka-ta-ka-ta-ka-ta-ka-ta-ka.
Here is a summary of the key points to keep in mind when mastering double tonguing and triple tonguing. Practicing while checking these points will help you improve efficiently.
- Make oral practice a habit: Start by practicing the "tu-ku-tu-ku" articulation with just your mouth. Practice repeatedly until you can articulate naturally without the air breaking, without closing your throat. Making it a daily habit to practice with your mouth -- such as on your way home from school -- is very effective.
- Practice accenting the K: When practicing on the instrument, deliberately accent the K syllable and start at a slow tempo. By gradually increasing the tempo until you can no longer add accents, you will develop natural tonguing.
- Confirm airflow with slurs: When practicing tonguing with changing notes, first confirm that the airflow is maintained in a single continuous stream with slurs, then add the tonguing. By adding tonguing while maintaining the flowing air, you can achieve beautiful tonguing with uninterrupted airflow.
- Be conscious of not stopping the air: If you stop the air during tonguing, it will result in rough tonguing. Be mindful that the air coming out of the instrument is the foundation and should flow continuously, and it is crucial to maintain the airflow even when adding tonguing.
While keeping these points in mind, it is important to start with simple note connections and gradually apply them to more complex phrases, progressively refining your accuracy.
One-Week Practice Menu: Mastering Double and Triple Tonguing
This is a weekly plan for learning and solidifying double tonguing and triple tonguing. By practicing with a different approach each day, you aim for comprehensive technical improvement.
Monday-Tuesday: Oral Practice and Reviewing the Basics
Begin by thoroughly practicing the "tu-ku-tu-ku" articulation with your mouth. Practice repeatedly until you can articulate naturally without the air breaking and without closing your throat. Make it a daily habit to practice with your mouth, such as on your way home from school. For instrument practice, deliberately accent the K syllable and start at a slow tempo. While being mindful of the articulation -- "tu-ku-tu-ku" for double tonguing and "tu-tu-ku-tu-ku" for triple tonguing -- gradually increase the tempo.
Wednesday-Thursday: Accent Practice and Increasing Tempo
Continue the accent practice on K and gradually increase the tempo. By raising the tempo until you can no longer add accents, you will develop natural tonguing. Focus thoroughly on tonguing practice with the same note, repeatedly working on increasing the tempo while being mindful that the air does not break.
Friday-Sunday: Tonguing with Changing Notes and Slur Practice
Work on tonguing practice with changing notes. First, confirm that the airflow is maintained in a single continuous stream with slurs, then add the tonguing. By adding tonguing while maintaining the flowing air, you can achieve beautiful tonguing with uninterrupted airflow. Practice exercises like Arban No. 57, which involve triple tonguing with changing notes, using the method of confirming with slurs before adding tonguing. On the final day, check that the entire sequence of movements can be performed in a natural flow.
Summary
To master double tonguing and triple tonguing on the trumpet, start by practicing the "tu-ku-tu-ku" articulation with your mouth, and the foundation is being able to articulate naturally without the air breaking. For instrument practice, deliberately accent the K syllable, start at a slow tempo, and gradually increase the speed until you can no longer add accents, which will develop natural tonguing. When practicing tonguing with changing notes, first confirm that the airflow is maintained in a single continuous stream with slurs, then add the tonguing. By adding tonguing while maintaining the flowing air, you can achieve beautiful tonguing with uninterrupted airflow. By continuing this one-week training menu, double tonguing and triple tonguing will become second nature, and your playing will become smoother and more expressive.
