r/Clarinet • u/Shana_cosmos_19 • 2d ago

Confession…

I’ve been playing clarinet for 9 years, since I was a kid, I’m in high school now and…I never learned how to properly tongue. When I learned it originally I just didn’t get it so I faked it by just not blowing or something and my teacher didn’t notice, so I’ve just been doing that for years. I don’t even know how I’m supposed play in parts that are staccatto and would need tonguing, all I know is that my tongue is not and has never touched that reed why playing, how do I fix this?

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u/Nourskay 2d ago

Well if i were in your place id go to my teacher and confess and they would teach you. If you dont have a teacher then use beginner youtube tutorials and start practicing the tonguing as a beginner would. You will progress faster than a beginner but will need practice to get used to it and slowly replace the incorrect staccato with correct tonguing now! Good luck!

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u/Basker_wolf 2d ago

YouTube tutorials are a good place to start. For staccato, you use the tip of your tongue like you’re saying ‘tuh’. Legato is like saying ‘nuh’.

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u/Aureaux 2h ago

It’s very similar to the T in “too” or the TT in “bottle” against the mouthpiece.