Do’s and Don’ts of Clarinet Articulation

Incorrect Technique:

• Breath Starting Notes: Starting notes without tongue contact, resulting in a “fofy” sound.Issues: Abdominal strain, difficulty playing fast, lack of clarity.
• Roof of the Mouth Tonguing: Making no contact with the reed, resulting in a harsh and unpleasant sound.
• MidTonging: Using the middle of the tongue instead of the tip for articulation.Issues: Lacks a clean start, may sound good to a point.
• Anchor Tonging: Anchoring the tongue tip behind the teeth and using mid-tonguing.Issues: Hits too far down on the reed, resulting in an unclear sound.
• Hammer Tonging: Making the right contact but pulling back too far with the tongue.Issues: Risk of unclear sound, potential loss of clarity.

Correct Technique:

• Tip of the Tongue to the Tip of the Reed:Make contact where the taste buds begin, ensuring a clean and clear sound.
• Ensure enough air pressure in the front of the mouth for clean articulation.Similar to releasing a valve when holding a balloon at the tip.