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davewerden

Triple-Tonguing

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For effective and exciting triple-tonguing, you need to make sure you are playing the notes evenly. To develop this, I play a series of triplet patterns on single notes at a tempo slow enough to single-tongue. In a 4/4 measure, play an 8th-note triplet (single tongued) followed by a quarter note, then an 8th-note triplet (triple-tongued) followed by a quarter note. Repeat that measure over and over, each time trying to make the triple-tongue beat sound as even as the single-tongue beat. So you are playing

||: tu-tu-tu tuuuuu tu-tu-ku tuuuuu :||

Then extend it over 2 measures like this:

||: tu-tu-tu tu-tu-tu tu-tu-tu tuuuuu | tu-tu-ku tu-tu-ku tu-tu-ku tuuuuu :||

Start on a mid-range note. Gradually move it to higher and lower notes. Then you could apply the same logic to scale fragments. Make all three notes of the triplet even and clean. Most people focus on making the ku sound clean, and that is important. But don't forget to listen to the 2nd tu sound as well (middle note of the triplet) - it can tend to be weak as you prepare for the following ku.

After a few minutes of this (each day), move on to speed exercises. Try doing scales with a triplet on each step, and work to play them as fast as you can triple-tongue cleanly. After a few minutes of this, go for 2 or 4 beats / minute faster even if it is not really clean, but try to keep up with the new tempo as long as you can. If you have trouble playing quickly after a few weeks of this practice, be sure you are not moving your tongue over a greater distance than necessary. Try to keep the motion toward the front of your mouth, and don't pull the tongue back any more than necessary with each stroke.

Work at this and you will be invincible!

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