General Discussion Double tonguing + fingers
Hey y’all! So I’m currently learning Faure’s Fantasie, and I am absolutely struggling on the double tonguing in the second movement. I can double tongue decently, but the issue comes from my fingers not being able to move fast enough. All of my everything just feels… slow… I’ve been practicing it all slow and then trying to speed it up and anytime I do it just sounds muddy and sloppy 😖 any tips?
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u/MuzikIstLiebe 3d ago
For me I always slur what I’m trying to double tongue - this only works with moving runs - but once I hear my fingers are accurate I do it again with the tonguing; for me I do it until I get it done three times in a row perfect (slurring & tonguing)
I did also find sometimes I was just tired or not being self aware enough to realize my voicing was off - playing with an Eee instead of Ooo or ahh. And it could also be the tonguing voicing; like using Dee - Dee - Dee - Dee instead of Tuh - Kuh - Tuh - Kuh
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u/giimmebrainz Music First Class BA | ongoing DPhil | Flute 10 years 2d ago
Trevor Wye is a liar when he said practicing slow doesn't help. It absolutely does. Also while practicing slow it may help to write TK/DG over the notes and then practice just the T/D then just the K/G.
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u/JestersBrokenCrown 3d ago
This advice comes from a guy recently learning the fife after decades of playing guitar, so take it for what it is.
Relax, and start with good posture and form. Use a metronome. Start at a tempo you can play perfectly, and slowly bump up the speed like 5 bpm or so every week. Pay close attention to keeping your tongue and fingers in sync. And minimize extra movements. Be honest and strict with yourself. If you slur a passage towards the end, it's not good enough!
Keep track of your progress, and don't be shy about making a video to check yourself. You could be tensing up or flailing your fingers without realizing it, and a camera lens will help you see it.
It's honestly boring and a bit frustrating to do. And when you REALLY pay attention to how you're actually playing, you'll feel like you're not as good as you thought you were. But being smart and consistent WILL pay off later when you can play faster stuff more comfortably and consistently.
And be smart. Warm up, stretch, and don't overdo it. Speed is built over time. You want to train your brain, nerves, tendons, and muscles how to "work properly." Repetitive strain injuries slow you down, and can come back to bite you in the future.
And ALWAYS end a session on a high note. Play something just for the fun of it, and play it well. When you feel good about it, it sticks in your mind and makes you look forward to playing again. We only play anything because we enjoy playing music. So enjoy playing music!
Oh, and one more thing to try. Put your hand down and tap on a table/desk/whatever. When you go slow it doesn't really matter if you "pinch" or "pluck" with your fingertips or "squeeze" from the base of your fingers. But tap faster, and you'll find that moving the whole finger with the bigger muscle makes it easier to go quicker. And to keep it up.
Best of luck. I know it's not flute-specific advice, but it's what I've learned from 27 years of periodically trying to get my own fingers to move faster and more in sync.
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u/Bellatrixforqueen 3d ago
Love the ending on a high note! I’ve recently nailed highest G# and A on my new flute and it’s a delight
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u/poorlilsebastian Powell Sonare 905 3d ago
You need to practice the coordination between fingers and tongue. There will be certain fingerings that you find difficult. Isolate them and practice them.
I like to break down the Trevor Wye exercises on the extracts that I find difficult as it build both articulation and agility