Tonguing on saxophone is really tricky. And most beginner players get it wrong.
I get questions about tonguing on saxophone from my Sax School members all the time.
Stodgy sound
If your sax sounds stodgy and thick, then it’s probably a tonguing problem.
The great news is, it’s really easy to fix.
Say “ti”
It comes down to what syllable you use, when you’re tonguing on saxophone.
The trick is to use a really light syllable like “ti”. When you use “ti”, just the tip of your tongue touches the tip of your reed. It’s a really small movement.
Try it – say “ti ti ti”.
When you use “ti” for your tonguing on saxophone, it lets your note start cleanly, and really lightly and it sounds fantastic!
Try it in your saxophone practice today.
More sound tips
As a beginner sax player, there are a few other things you’ll want to check to help you get the sound you want on your saxophone.
- Your reed: The wrong reed will make practicing your saxophone really frustrating. If you’re struggling to make your notes sound clearly, or if you’re squeaking a lot, then you might be playing with the wrong strength reed. Take a look at this blog on how to choose the right reed for you.
- Your mouthpiece: The mouthpiece which came with your sax might not be the best one for you as a beginner. Investing a little extra cash in a decent beginner level mouthpiece will really pay off in faster progress and a better sound. I recommend the Yamaha 4C mouthpiece for beginner sax players. Read more about upgrading your mouthpiece here.
- Your practice routine: Lots of beginner sax players don’t really know what to practice. If you want to make fast progress, get a great sound quickly, and enjoy playing your sax, it’s vital you nail your practice routine. Check out my blog on my 4 step practice routine here.
Next steps
Serious about getting your sax playing on track?
Get my favourite saxophone warm-ups, exercises and great tunes in my FREE Ultimate Saxophone Toolkit.