This is extremely helpful. I am so frustrated with tonguing because no one taught me the right way. Thanks a lot man. Especially trying to play fast and tonguing wrong is horrible 😤
Only two years? You're way ahead of the curve if you're already finding this out. There are people who play for decades and might not know about this. Me included. Methods 1 and 2 in this video are how a lot of public schools(where most people pick up their rudimental skills like tonguing) teach you. At least in my case.
2.5 years. My teacher was this weird guy who played it pit. He played sax flute and clarinet and would teach me the same things every week. I learn major and minor chords for 21 weeks. Luckily it was free from my school but yeah this is so much better
I've only been playing for 3 weeks and I self taught myself this method without even knowing about it lol. Only watched the video to make sure I wasnt doing anything wrong
Wow! This explanation of tonguing on the saxophone has changed everything for my playing! I have asked many instructors and sax players what exactly to do with my tongue to articulate while playing, and nobody has been able to explain this to me, so I ended up trying to use the tip of the tongue, with less than satisfactory sound, speed, and style. As a Speech Language Pathologist, who knows the anatomy, physiology and acoustics of the the mouth in depth, I totally understand exactly what you are explaining and how to execute this technique! Hurray! And I found you in time so that I have not developed poor articulation habits that are difficult to correct. Thank you :)
Scott, I have been tonguing wrong forever (ah crap). Good news you came along to explain it properly. Wow my high and low notes are so much easier to hit now. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Man I've been playing the sax since I was like 12...I'm now 28. Could never understand how to tongue a note and your video just really blew my mind. Thank you
Hey Scott, I'm going to have to trust you on this one and stick with it! I've only been playing since February and I had a lesson with a local guy a few months ago. He's been a pro sax player for over 40 years, so I followed his advice and worked on the tongue tip on the bottom of the reed (so your method 2). It has been fine for me and I feel I can sound notes cleanly with fairly good speed, given my current standard. I tried your method and can't sound notes as crisply or anyway near as fast BUT I do like the tonal quality I can get when my tongue sits at the bottom of my mouth and I have more throat control your way. I can also breathe in more easily when my tongue does not have to be tucked back to keep it out of the way between notes. So I will persevere with your recommendation in the expectation that it will get cleaner and faster with practice - should've realised it wasn't going to be an instant transformation! Thanks for all the great videos: I am learning loads from you...
Hey Martin! Practice it like this for 2 weeks and it will feel totally normal. Spend about 2-3 minutes each session tonguing your scales with 8 eighth notes per a note. You'll get it down in no time at all.
Honestly, the most valuable instructional video I've ever watched. Your technique is the only one I've learned that really smooths my articulation. I never knew, till now, how really good players have such smooth articulation. Thanks!
As usual another great educational video. I have played for many years and consider myself an above average intermediate player, and have learned so much watching your videos. Your explanations of subject matter are clear, concise, and easy to learn. Any new player would do well by taking any of your private lessons along with watching your videos. Thanks again Scott!
Hey man I really appreciate all of your videos. Been playing for around 2-3 weeks now and your teaching style is very nice. Your doing a good thing my man 🙏
They say repetition is the mother of all learning, and this video really hit home for me. No need to apologize for anything gross, Scott! I appreciate being able to see what is ( should be ) happening for best articulation and tone results, and I'm going to keep coming back to this video whenever I need to. I am busily trying to sort out what is different about sax technique from the clarinet. I have been a clarinetist for nearly forty years, and I need to SEE, if possible, what is different from clarinet. Thais video of yours really helps, as I've discovered you can't treat the two horns exactly the same. Thank you very much, from Richard L. in Canada.
I've played saxophone for about 2 years now and didn't know you were even supposed to do something with your tongue. I thought you would just stop letting in air from your mouth in to the saxophone from your mouth, not that you block it with your tongue. Thanks this was really helpful
Hey! You should check out my Sax School. It will help really get you heading down the right path with some of the basics. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Thank god! I’ve been playing sax since I was 10 years old and I’ve always questioned whether or not I was using the correct tonguing technique all these years. Luckily I have! Thanks for giving me the confidence to know I’ve been on the right track.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been playing sax for over 30 years on many orchestra, bands, as sax soloist on weddings and I never had been able to dominate and have a perfect and consistent tongue execution, I struggled a lot, and now your got to the point of my deep frustration... oh man, you gave me this tip and I'm crazy to get out of my work and go home to practice this correct technic....you really helped me to understand my problem.... thank you so much!!
Thanks. This is a revelation. I am definitely tonguing the second way you described. I’ve been trying to move my tongue the way you described while I watched your video. It already feels more efficient than what I usually do. I’m trying this out today!
Hey Kurt, it will definitely improve your sound and articulations, the transition can sometimes be tough. Just know that after a week or two practicing it, it will feel way more natural.
Scott - Best tongue position and movement explanation. Watched more than dozen high rated sax players. This one is clearest. From the beginning I started to do exactly like this just by instinct, but after some time saw all this "tip", "tipping" nonsense all over the place.
I’ve been practicing for 15 years (1st four years with tutors) and didn’t know this. I have all the problems you mentioned because of my tongue placement. Can’t wait to try out where it should be! It makes so much sense! Thank you :)
Give it a try!!! I went to a private tutor, told him I wanted to do some work on tone and articulation. We did this on Day 1. Lol it’s not taking to long to switch.
Good lord this helped me more than I can explain. Far from a great player but this helped me improve playing on faster pieces. Went from struggling with Yakety Sax, practicing for my father who used to dance to it with my mother, to almost getting it at 190 bpm. Also helped me spit out a high F# easier than I could before. Watching the explanation I thought there was no way this would be natural but seems so much easier. Thx for your time.
WOW. this is Amazing indeed. All the times I was hitting with the tip of my tongue with the tip of the reed. Now, this video has taught me an excellent technique. Thank you, Scott, for educating me.
Thank you for this awesome explanation. Fellow music educator (brass player and I'm just starting to learn my woodwinds) and this was perfect and what I will use with my students!
I have played for years and this is new to me. I have spent about two hours tonight on looking at other opinions after trying to do this. I just signed up for your Sax School and this lesson is what stopped me. I wanted to review some basics to acclimate to your lessons. I actually saw this video a while back, but after seeing the video in your course, I revisited this technique. I will have to spend practice time to learn this. It is not coming easy to me at all.
Thanks Scott... great video and for us newbies - it REALLY helps to get up close and personal to understand what's going on in there! I'm hoping I can now get a clear break between notes following this method, instead of a shaky, interrupted airflow. Watching loads of your videos and they are helping me SOOO much. Excellent!!
Scott, Very important and helpful. I would love for you to discuss and demonstrate the execution of phrases...articulation...tongueing then legato then tongue then legato et cetera.
Have only been playing for 9 months.. teaching myself so need every nugget I can get... dont wanna be playing crooked... Thank you again Scott! Y'all are frikken AWESOME!!! 💯🎷⚘
bro, you are a god. Im a guitar player since many years ago, I started with saxophone at least 2 yrs ago. I studied music composition in college, so theory is already clear. Went some time to private saxophone lessons, but NO one explained this things in such an easy and enjoying way. I've been improving quite a lot since I follow your channel. Thank you very much bro. Respect from a venezuelan living in Shanghai o/
Only 2 years ? I waited decades: I just tongued my bari down to low A and with more mouthpiece in the mouth,;my fingers now have to chase my tongue.!!! Thanks Scott for the way, the truth and the light. Life is now nooky .no fear of stalling on the start line and practice is a fresh pleasure.
This is everything I’ve been looking for!!! Seriously, I’ve been tonguing on the roof of my mouth for about 7 years, and learned that it was wrong. Everyone was telling me how to do it “right” but none of it ever worked and felt extremely awkward. Nobody has ever told me about this technique before, hoping it works well!
😳 I figured this out and started experimenting with it just through practice. But, I was always confused when I heard sax teachers saying “tip of the tongue.” But the way you’re describing always felt more intuitive and sounded better on recordings. So, like in every field, the experts don’t always agree and (to a degree) you have to discover what works for you through practice. I stumbled across the tip of the tongue resting under the teeth bump concept when I was listening to a Joe Allard master class. He doesn’t say this, but I found it was the only way I could get my tongue to slope downward like he was saying. As I tried it, it sounded and felt better.
Hey! Yeah, there are a lot of different concepts when it comes to tonguing, and a lot of it has to do with how big your tongue is and your oral cavity, but I've found that anchor tonguing (which is what this is called) gives you the best sound and most flexibility because it just keeps your tongue in a good position, as opposed to having it curled up.
@@ScottPaddock Thank you. I now know to refer to this as “anchor tonguing.” I’d love to know if your private lesson studio ever opens back up. God bless.
I was wondering why I couldn't be fast, when trying to put the tip of my tong on the tip of the reed ... Just the wrong way !!!! Thank you so much for this video :) :) :)
@@ScottPaddock Thanks Scott :) 30 minutes ago I was training, and for the first time I tried this tong position, it's a little hard because it's the first time but the sound is way more accurate. I'm a very beginner (can't play any song for now lol) and I often have sound problem at the moment when I attack the note (A kind of high note sound just because the right note, don't know if I say is clear ^^) and this tong position is already changing that !!! :) (Sorry for my english, not my native language)
I'm so glad you said that because that's how I've been playing but my teacher is trying to teach me to use the tip of my tongue to the tip of the reed. He says it will help me play faster later, but I can't do it that way.
The tip of the tongue (or actually slightly back) is also a very common way to tongue, but this method, called the anchor method, puts your tongue in a REALLY great position for everything else, from jumping around the octaves of your sax to articulations. One thing to keep in mind, is that everybody has a different sized tongue and oral cavity, what might work for someone, may not work for someone else.
This was very helpful! My band directors also helped me tongue on the saxophone as well. You have to hit the reed with your tongue while you are playing.
I was a tip lifter for 5 years until I just saw this! Now, I'm a lifter from the nook, below the bump! Really works, and it's so much easier! Thank you!
Finally! I could not find why my sound was off while articulating 8 and 16 notes was hard . It was all my tongue, which was in the wrong position! Thanks Scott! I'm glad as a beginner I've learn this before bad habits form in the long run.
@@ScottPaddock Thanks for the feedback. I'll surely check them out. Meanwhile I found a great position for my tongue that lead the notes start to sound nice and warm and not jumping octaves back and forth :). Still I'm absolulety addicted to your videos, many thanks.
This is one of the best explanations for a technical topic as hard to teach as tongue. It's quite hard to explain something that, when done correctly, happens entirely inside the mouth. Great video, Scott.
I just want to say thanks. I really appreciate this illuminating work that you are doing. I felt a lot of frustration when I tried to play merengue típico from My country but this video is pure gold.
Hey! I'm laughing a sax school next month. You should check it out. It's going to take you step by step from beginner into advanced. There will be an announcement in a few weeks, or you can send me an email from my website to get on my email list www.scottpaddock.com
Three days ago and I still have to smile when I think of this video. It's soooo funny!!!!!! I definitely know what to watch when I've had a bad day. 😁😁😁☀☀☀ Seriously... is there really someone who uses version 1? I tried it, but my tongue can't do it. OMG 🙈 It feels so... unnatural. How could you get a tone out of that??? 😯 But, a very effective teaching method! That stays in the mind. 🤓💡 A really great video. 👏🎶🎷 Thank you so much for it Scott!!!
Hey Stefanie! Glad you enjoyed it!! One of the most used and incorrect teaching tips ever for tonguing is tip of the tongue to the tip of the reed, and it is super hard to do. lol
Thank you so much for this. Your method is what my tongue naturally wanted to do, but a book I bought told me it was wrong, so I was trying to force myself to hit the reed with the tip and was getting absolutely nowhere. You saved me from a LOT of frustration.
Junior in music Ed (sax primary) and was never able to get this down cause everyone told me conflicting things... I think this might be the one! Thanks!
I like the sound you got when you tongue the notes. And it’s also cool that you have a blue mouth piece. I have a light blue mouthpiece, but my band director told me ti use my black one since that one works better.
This is definitely the best and clear explanation I've seen. I don't think i've been told to anchor the tongue down in the nook before, although a good player told me to say "ga ga ga". This is close to what you describe, except that the airflow is cut off at the back of the mouth rather than the reed. This great video has saved me a lot of energy. I previously spent too much time on wondering on where the tongue should really be, as nothing felt right...D Thank you Scott, much appreciated...:D
Thanks!! Yeah, teaching tonguing is really tough because it is all in your mouth and we can't see it. Plus some people have different shaped tongues and need to tweak a little bit. Glad this video cleared some things up for you!
I have always been worried that I've been tounging wrong everyone says use the tip of your tongue. But turn's out I've been doing it correctly for years :) Thank You for the confirmation!!!
My teacher who was pretty good said to go ta and she said don’t use the tip of your tongue. Basically the part that touches the roof of your mouth is the correct spot
I love the concept: make up my own etudes using my own rhythm & flat 3. People get hung reading notes (other people’s ideas for practicing). I can learn more in less time by making my own etudes! More fun too, thanks !
Great advice, and demonstration. Beginners to advance players can take this lesson to heart (the woodshed)...it's difficult at first, because you're trying to undo incorrect technique. This will take more than five minutes to get, but once you get it you will not only feel the difference but hear it in all ranges of the instrument. Don't forget to use you camera on your phones or a mirror to make sure you're doing it correctly is my suggestion. Great stuff Scott.
Excellent Scott, you solved a big problem with my low notes trying to jump octaves or not coming out clean, and my tonguing is so much faster, consistent and even. Tongue tip in the trench also feels the most natural. Thank you!
Of all your really useful vids this one helped me the most. I came to sax from recorder and thought tonguing would be one thing I would know how to do. I was completely wrong and this has sorted it out. Thanks!
Awesome video! I just started playing sax a few weeks ago and am really glad I found this video. Not knowing what to do with my tongue, I simply rested the tip at the top of my lower teeth, lowered it and kept it like that. This explains why I have no problem with low notes but anything above the octave F and squawk city. The high D through F# impossible. So I guess what you’re saying is get the tongue positioned correctly, move it according to the note played and start practicing those overtones, eh?
Hey Rob! You should check out my Sax School, it will take all of the guesswork out of what you should practice, how to practice it, and what to practice next. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Whoa! Thank so much for this video! Why was I taught to tongue with the tip of my tongue in highschool? And then I've had so many private lessons with pros who reinforced this! There must be so many professional players who tongue using the tip. And there are youtubers today also advising to tongue with the tip. You are the only one I've seen sharing this technique. It's like a trade secret. Anyways, you've change how I play sax. I changed to this technique two days ago and am already seeing improvement!
Hey! There are several different concepts when it comes to tonguing on the sax. I've found that this one works the best for me and is the one that I teach to all of my students. This one is called anchor tonguing. Tonguing with your tip isn't wrong, it's just a different concept. Everyone's mouth and tongue are shaped a little different so there isn't really a one size fits all approach to tonguing. Glad that this style is helping you see a lot of improvement.
This video also depicts why saxophone is the sexy instrument.
*saxy
@@clarenceconstantino5942 sexaphone
Stop the Clock! After 20 years of studying the sax - I have found the best lesson on tonguing so far! Thank you Scott
😁😁😁
This is extremely helpful. I am so frustrated with tonguing because no one taught me the right way. Thanks a lot man. Especially trying to play fast and tonguing wrong is horrible 😤
me too
omg me too
After two years of playing I only learn this now?! Thanks so much!
Only two years? You're way ahead of the curve if you're already finding this out. There are people who play for decades and might not know about this. Me included. Methods 1 and 2 in this video are how a lot of public schools(where most people pick up their rudimental skills like tonguing) teach you. At least in my case.
J M after playing saxophone on and off for the last 20 years I’m only learning this now...
2.5 years. My teacher was this weird guy who played it pit. He played sax flute and clarinet and would teach me the same things every week. I learn major and minor chords for 21 weeks. Luckily it was free from my school but yeah this is so much better
I've only been playing for 3 weeks and I self taught myself this method without even knowing about it lol. Only watched the video to make sure I wasnt doing anything wrong
lmao same
Wow! This explanation of tonguing on the saxophone has changed everything for my playing! I have asked many instructors and sax players what exactly to do with my tongue to articulate while playing, and nobody has been able to explain this to me, so I ended up trying to use the tip of the tongue, with less than satisfactory sound, speed, and style. As a Speech Language Pathologist, who knows the anatomy, physiology and acoustics of the the mouth in depth, I totally understand exactly what you are explaining and how to execute this technique! Hurray! And I found you in time so that I have not developed poor articulation habits that are difficult to correct. Thank you :)
Please if u tongue and u play the next note where will my tongue be
I cannot thank you enough for this video. FINALLY!!! I can now tongue notes on the saxophone without feeling like a complete failure. Awesome!
That's awesome!!!! Glad you got the technique down.
Scott, I have been tonguing wrong forever (ah crap). Good news you came along to explain it properly. Wow my high and low notes are so much easier to hit now. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Man I've been playing the sax since I was like 12...I'm now 28. Could never understand how to tongue a note and your video just really blew my mind. Thank you
👍👍👍
@@ScottPaddock me too seriously youre such a great help
Same. Played since 5th grade, 27 now. Was never a pro but I thought i at least knew how to tongue... This is insane. To the practice room.
Hey Scott, I'm going to have to trust you on this one and stick with it! I've only been playing since February and I had a lesson with a local guy a few months ago. He's been a pro sax player for over 40 years, so I followed his advice and worked on the tongue tip on the bottom of the reed (so your method 2). It has been fine for me and I feel I can sound notes cleanly with fairly good speed, given my current standard. I tried your method and can't sound notes as crisply or anyway near as fast BUT I do like the tonal quality I can get when my tongue sits at the bottom of my mouth and I have more throat control your way. I can also breathe in more easily when my tongue does not have to be tucked back to keep it out of the way between notes. So I will persevere with your recommendation in the expectation that it will get cleaner and faster with practice - should've realised it wasn't going to be an instant transformation!
Thanks for all the great videos: I am learning loads from you...
Hey Martin! Practice it like this for 2 weeks and it will feel totally normal. Spend about 2-3 minutes each session tonguing your scales with 8 eighth notes per a note. You'll get it down in no time at all.
Watching this, I can see why so many people choose guitar, lol.
Hahahahaha!!! The struggle is real.
Ikr
I'm trying the guitar as well...not that easy and my fingertips are the proof!!
@@jonniewadd56 - Acoustic or electric?
@@caelachyt Acoustic...have an Electric but I lean MORE to the acoustic.
The most awaited video!!!! Oh my thank you very much for this! :) :) :)
😀👍👍
Honestly, the most valuable instructional video I've ever watched. Your technique is the only one I've learned that really smooths my articulation. I never knew, till now, how really good players have such smooth articulation. Thanks!
As usual another great educational video. I have played for many years and consider myself an above average intermediate player, and have learned so much watching your videos. Your explanations of subject matter are clear, concise, and easy to learn. Any new player would do well by taking any of your private lessons along with watching your videos. Thanks again Scott!
Thanks Ron!
Thank you Scott! Been playing saxophone for 16 years and still learning new things. Great video
Hey man I really appreciate all of your videos. Been playing for around 2-3 weeks now and your teaching style is very nice. Your doing a good thing my man 🙏
👍👍👍
This helped a lot, been stuck on toungeing for weeks and finally got it thanks to you
They say repetition is the mother of all learning, and this video really hit home for me. No need to apologize for anything gross, Scott! I appreciate being able to see what is ( should be ) happening for best articulation and tone results, and I'm going to keep coming back to this video whenever I need to.
I am busily trying to sort out what is different about sax technique from the clarinet. I have been a clarinetist for nearly forty years, and I need to SEE, if possible, what is different from clarinet. Thais video of yours really helps, as I've discovered you can't treat the two horns exactly the same. Thank you very much, from Richard L. in Canada.
I've played saxophone for about 2 years now and didn't know you were even supposed to do something with your tongue. I thought you would just stop letting in air from your mouth in to the saxophone from your mouth, not that you block it with your tongue. Thanks this was really helpful
Hey! You should check out my Sax School. It will help really get you heading down the right path with some of the basics. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Greetings from Brazil! Thanks for that. So clear your explanation. Brazilian's players saying thanks. Really appreciate your teachings.
You are the best Online-Sax-Couch i've ever seen
Thanks!!!!
You truely are.. Its not a joke...I can only say thank you Sir.
True💥💥
Haha. Ha. Ha. Hes furniture. Ha.
Thank god! I’ve been playing sax since I was 10 years old and I’ve always questioned whether or not I was using the correct tonguing technique all these years. Luckily I have! Thanks for giving me the confidence to know I’ve been on the right track.
😁😁😁
After over 10 years I’m unlearning all the traditional crap
😁😁
I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been playing sax for over 30 years on many orchestra, bands, as sax soloist on weddings and I never had been able to dominate and have a perfect and consistent tongue execution, I struggled a lot, and now your got to the point of my deep frustration... oh man, you gave me this tip and I'm crazy to get out of my work and go home to practice this correct technic....you really helped me to understand my problem.... thank you so much!!
😁😁😁
I have struggled with this for a while and after 3 minutes of practice, I can play 4 times faster. Official new subscriber here!
Thanks. This is a revelation. I am definitely tonguing the second way you described. I’ve been trying to move my tongue the way you described while I watched your video. It already feels more efficient than what I usually do. I’m trying this out today!
Hey Kurt, it will definitely improve your sound and articulations, the transition can sometimes be tough. Just know that after a week or two practicing it, it will feel way more natural.
thanks scott 🥲
Scott - Best tongue position and movement explanation. Watched more than dozen high rated sax players. This one is clearest.
From the beginning I started to do exactly like this just by instinct, but after some time saw all this "tip", "tipping" nonsense all over the place.
Buying a sax again in 3 2 1, excelent, teaching right is a gift you have.
thanks!
I’ve been practicing for 15 years (1st four years with tutors) and didn’t know this. I have all the problems you mentioned because of my tongue placement. Can’t wait to try out where it should be! It makes so much sense! Thank you :)
You're about to see a big improvement
Give it a try!!!
I went to a private tutor, told him I wanted to do some work on tone and articulation.
We did this on Day 1. Lol it’s not taking to long to switch.
Thank you. Fudge!!! I was stuck on this for hours ! Thank you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🥷
Good lord this helped me more than I can explain. Far from a great player but this helped me improve playing on faster pieces. Went from struggling with Yakety Sax, practicing for my father who used to dance to it with my mother, to almost getting it at 190 bpm. Also helped me spit out a high F# easier than I could before. Watching the explanation I thought there was no way this would be natural but seems so much easier. Thx for your time.
WOW. this is Amazing indeed. All the times I was hitting with the tip of my tongue with the tip of the reed. Now, this video has taught me an excellent technique. Thank you, Scott, for educating me.
👍👍👍
Thank you for this awesome explanation. Fellow music educator (brass player and I'm just starting to learn my woodwinds) and this was perfect and what I will use with my students!
I have played for years and this is new to me. I have spent about two hours tonight on looking at other opinions after trying to do this. I just signed up for your Sax School and this lesson is what stopped me. I wanted to review some basics to acclimate to your lessons. I actually saw this video a while back, but after seeing the video in your course, I revisited this technique. I will have to spend practice time to learn this. It is not coming easy to me at all.
Finally someone explains properly... ive been trying to learn. I have been tonguing wrong for years...
Thanks Scott... great video and for us newbies - it REALLY helps to get up close and personal to understand what's going on in there! I'm hoping I can now get a clear break between notes following this method, instead of a shaky, interrupted airflow. Watching loads of your videos and they are helping me SOOO much. Excellent!!
Thanks for sharing.... Maybe I now will get something out of my sax :) Super nice for you to letting out the information....
after finding a lot of bad information from teachers and directors, this video was able to easily fix many of my tounguing issues! Thank you so much!
I thought you were mad at first but I just slowed it down and remembered the tongue is a muscle, retrained it, and holy shit! Thank you
I wish I wish upon a star that Scott would create courses - such a gifted teacher with sax wisdom
Wow I took a class today, and she taught me using my tongue on the bottom of the reed. I'm so glad I found your video this method is easier.
Finally a video about tonguing that actually help! Gracias!
😁😁😁😁
Best instruction on tonguing. Thank you for willing to make me better with this incredible tip.
Scott,
Very important and helpful.
I would love for you to discuss and demonstrate the execution of phrases...articulation...tongueing then legato then tongue then legato et cetera.
I'll put that on the list. Good suggestion!
Have only been playing for 9 months.. teaching myself so need every nugget I can get... dont wanna be playing crooked... Thank you again Scott! Y'all are frikken AWESOME!!! 💯🎷⚘
Hey, you should check out my Sax School. It will help you move forward a lot faster than RUclips videos: www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
bro, you are a god. Im a guitar player since many years ago, I started with saxophone at least 2 yrs ago. I studied music composition in college, so theory is already clear. Went some time to private saxophone lessons, but NO one explained this things in such an easy and enjoying way. I've been improving quite a lot since I follow your channel. Thank you very much bro. Respect from a venezuelan living in Shanghai o/
Thanks!!! Glad you are enjoying my content!
@@ScottPaddock I'll keep checking all your vids
Only 2 years ? I waited decades: I just tongued my bari down to low A and with more mouthpiece in the mouth,;my fingers now have to chase my tongue.!!! Thanks Scott for the way, the truth and the light. Life is now nooky .no fear of stalling on the start line and practice is a fresh pleasure.
👍👍👍
This is everything I’ve been looking for!!! Seriously, I’ve been tonguing on the roof of my mouth for about 7 years, and learned that it was wrong. Everyone was telling me how to do it “right” but none of it ever worked and felt extremely awkward. Nobody has ever told me about this technique before, hoping it works well!
👍👍👍
😳 I figured this out and started experimenting with it just through practice. But, I was always confused when I heard sax teachers saying “tip of the tongue.” But the way you’re describing always felt more intuitive and sounded better on recordings. So, like in every field, the experts don’t always agree and (to a degree) you have to discover what works for you through practice. I stumbled across the tip of the tongue resting under the teeth bump concept when I was listening to a Joe Allard master class. He doesn’t say this, but I found it was the only way I could get my tongue to slope downward like he was saying. As I tried it, it sounded and felt better.
Hey! Yeah, there are a lot of different concepts when it comes to tonguing, and a lot of it has to do with how big your tongue is and your oral cavity, but I've found that anchor tonguing (which is what this is called) gives you the best sound and most flexibility because it just keeps your tongue in a good position, as opposed to having it curled up.
@@ScottPaddock Thank you. I now know to refer to this as “anchor tonguing.” I’d love to know if your private lesson studio ever opens back up. God bless.
This video clears up so many questions. not only for tonguing but also how to make high notes and low notes sound better. Thank you!
Absolutely an important lesson and it was very well explained and demonstrated. Thank you.
Wow, so playing for years and now need to change, like starting over again, thanks for the great video
thank you SO MUCH Nobody has ever told me this. You described AND demonstrated MY sound with low tones. Finally I have hope. Much tespect❤
Is something wrong with me? Because I can't move my tongue when it is in the nook...
Same, any advice from anyone?
@@equrrioh1213 you just keep the tip down while pushing the rest of your tongue out, thats all i know.
That might be because you're pushing the tip. Push the back part of your tounge.
my tongue isn’t long enough
Doesn't work for me it all - putting the tip of my tongue "below the nook" effectively immobilizes it. It can't be moved in any manner.
Excellent video! Thank you from Brazil!
I was wondering why I couldn't be fast, when trying to put the tip of my tong on the tip of the reed ... Just the wrong way !!!! Thank you so much for this video :) :) :)
Hey Jonathan, your tonguing is about to get way way way faster and sound better :-)
@@ScottPaddock Thanks Scott :) 30 minutes ago I was training, and for the first time I tried this tong position, it's a little hard because it's the first time but the sound is way more accurate. I'm a very beginner (can't play any song for now lol) and I often have sound problem at the moment when I attack the note (A kind of high note sound just because the right note, don't know if I say is clear ^^) and this tong position is already changing that !!! :) (Sorry for my english, not my native language)
Tongue****
@@ScottPaddock doesn't this make your sound spitty when you use fleshy part of tongue?
I'm so glad you said that because that's how I've been playing but my teacher is trying to teach me to use the tip of my tongue to the tip of the reed. He says it will help me play faster later, but I can't do it that way.
The tip of the tongue (or actually slightly back) is also a very common way to tongue, but this method, called the anchor method, puts your tongue in a REALLY great position for everything else, from jumping around the octaves of your sax to articulations. One thing to keep in mind, is that everybody has a different sized tongue and oral cavity, what might work for someone, may not work for someone else.
This was very helpful! My band directors also helped me tongue on the saxophone as well. You have to hit the reed with your tongue while you are playing.
Wow! I am so glad to watch this video! Now I know how to properly tongue on the sax and it’s all because of you! Thank you so very much!
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I was a tip lifter for 5 years until I just saw this! Now, I'm a lifter from the nook, below the bump! Really works, and it's so much easier! Thank you!
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Finally! I could not find why my sound was off while articulating 8 and 16 notes was hard . It was all my tongue, which was in the wrong position! Thanks Scott! I'm glad as a beginner I've learn this before bad habits form in the long run.
Wow, great advice. I've just started to learn and I struggle with playing lower notes. Now I know why.
I did a few videos on low notes on the sax. Check them out.
@@ScottPaddock Thanks for the feedback. I'll surely check them out. Meanwhile I found a great position for my tongue that lead the notes start to sound nice and warm and not jumping octaves back and forth :). Still I'm absolulety addicted to your videos, many thanks.
This is one of the best explanations for a technical topic as hard to teach as tongue. It's quite hard to explain something that, when done correctly, happens entirely inside the mouth. Great video, Scott.
Agreed!!! It is the hardest thing to teach and sometimes learn because you can't see it.
I just want to say thanks. I really appreciate this illuminating work that you are doing. I felt a lot of frustration when I tried to play merengue típico from My country but this video is pure gold.
Thanks you so much!... I just got my Sax a week ago and have not had a video so true and straight forward til' I watched yours.
Hey! I'm laughing a sax school next month. You should check it out. It's going to take you step by step from beginner into advanced. There will be an announcement in a few weeks, or you can send me an email from my website to get on my email list www.scottpaddock.com
The best video I´ve ever seen explaining the tonguing!! Congratulations
Good explanation. I actually understood it and will give it a try.
Insane how you explained something so complicated and invisible so well. My playing just got insanely better!! Thank you so much
Thanks Sarra!! 😁😁😁
Three days ago and I still have to smile when I think of this video. It's soooo funny!!!!!! I definitely know what to watch when I've had a bad day. 😁😁😁☀☀☀
Seriously... is there really someone who uses version 1? I tried it, but my tongue can't do it. OMG 🙈 It feels so... unnatural. How could you get a tone out of that??? 😯
But, a very effective teaching method! That stays in the mind. 🤓💡
A really great video. 👏🎶🎷 Thank you so much for it Scott!!!
Hey Stefanie! Glad you enjoyed it!! One of the most used and incorrect teaching tips ever for tonguing is tip of the tongue to the tip of the reed, and it is super hard to do. lol
Many thanks Scott, your posts are a tremendous help. Please keep them coming.
Been playing for five years and just learning this. This guy is a genius
Thanks, Jennifer! If you liked that video, you should check out my Sax School www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
@@ScottPaddock would you happen to have any tips on getting a better sound out? My saxophone (alto) isn’t nearly as clear as yours
Thank you so much for this. Your method is what my tongue naturally wanted to do, but a book I bought told me it was wrong, so I was trying to force myself to hit the reed with the tip and was getting absolutely nowhere. You saved me from a LOT of frustration.
As an ex-trumpeter, I learnt an important lesson for my clarinet and sax.
Thank you.
Watching this I bet this guy makes many women happy.
Just started playing again after 20 plus years. Thanks for the tips.
Thank you so much I played for 2 years without tonguing so it was so hard to do it but I understand it now!
Awesome lesson ! Just stated relearning to play after many idle years. Never knew this method. I’m psyched 👍🏻
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Junior in music Ed (sax primary) and was never able to get this down cause everyone told me conflicting things... I think this might be the one! Thanks!
Brilliant! Probably one of the most important videos yet. Thanks Scott : )
Scott, Superb! I have been struggling with tonguing ever since picking up my first saxophone. Many thanks
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I like the sound you got when you tongue the notes. And it’s also cool that you have a blue mouth piece. I have a light blue mouthpiece, but my band director told me ti use my black one since that one works better.
I'm a beginner, and I've been looking for a long time for such a video!
Thaaaanks a lot, Scott!
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Bruh after 6 months of not being able to tongue correctly, this is awesome thanks!
Edit: Wow. The creator has noticed me lol
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This is definitely the best and clear explanation I've seen.
I don't think i've been told to anchor the tongue down in the nook before, although a good player told me to say "ga ga ga". This is close to what you describe, except that the airflow is cut off at the back of the mouth rather than the reed.
This great video has saved me a lot of energy. I previously spent too much time on wondering on where the tongue should really be, as nothing felt right...D
Thank you Scott, much appreciated...:D
Thanks!! Yeah, teaching tonguing is really tough because it is all in your mouth and we can't see it. Plus some people have different shaped tongues and need to tweak a little bit. Glad this video cleared some things up for you!
I have always been worried that I've been tounging wrong everyone says use the tip of your tongue. But turn's out I've been doing it correctly for years :) Thank You for the confirmation!!!
Just started learning today. I'm a jazz pianist and I seriously underestimated sax XD
My teacher who was pretty good said to go ta and she said don’t use the tip of your tongue. Basically the part that touches the roof of your mouth is the correct spot
What a Great Teacher , thank you sir for helping us all ,I am clarinet player and this works also for me ! :)
I remember I was taught to use TAH TAH TAH for sharp staccatto attacks and DAH DAH DAH for a legato style attack.
Maaan this video is such a gamechanger. Thanks a ton!
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I love the concept: make up my own etudes using my own rhythm & flat 3. People get hung reading notes (other people’s ideas for practicing). I can learn more in less time by making my own etudes! More fun too, thanks !
Great advice, and demonstration. Beginners to advance players can take this lesson to heart (the woodshed)...it's difficult at first, because you're trying to undo incorrect technique. This will take more than five minutes to get, but once you get it you will not only feel the difference but hear it in all ranges of the instrument. Don't forget to use you camera on your phones or a mirror to make sure you're doing it correctly is my suggestion. Great stuff Scott.
Thanks! Yeah, it takes a good week or two for it to feel natural if you've been doing it wrong.
This was great! The tone difference alone is profound.
Yeah, when you get your tongue in the right place your throat opens up and the air moves more freely creating a bigger sound.
Wow, an absolute revelation! Thank you.
You're welcome!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge excellent video.
Excellent Scott, you solved a big problem with my low notes trying to jump octaves or not coming out clean, and my tonguing is so much faster, consistent and even. Tongue tip in the trench also feels the most natural. Thank you!
Glad it helped!! Yeah, man getting the tongue down solves alllll kinds of problems on the sax.
Thank you so much for beautiful information 🎉
Of all your really useful vids this one helped me the most. I came to sax from recorder and thought tonguing would be one thing I would know how to do. I was completely wrong and this has sorted it out. Thanks!
Glad it helped!!
Awesome video! I just started playing sax a few weeks ago and am really glad I found this video. Not knowing what to do with my tongue, I simply rested the tip at the top of my lower teeth, lowered it and kept it like that. This explains why I have no problem with low notes but anything above the octave F and squawk city. The high D through F# impossible. So I guess what you’re saying is get the tongue positioned correctly, move it according to the note played and start practicing those overtones, eh?
Hey Rob! You should check out my Sax School, it will take all of the guesswork out of what you should practice, how to practice it, and what to practice next. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Whoa! Thank so much for this video! Why was I taught to tongue with the tip of my tongue in highschool? And then I've had so many private lessons with pros who reinforced this! There must be so many professional players who tongue using the tip. And there are youtubers today also advising to tongue with the tip. You are the only one I've seen sharing this technique. It's like a trade secret. Anyways, you've change how I play sax. I changed to this technique two days ago and am already seeing improvement!
Hey! There are several different concepts when it comes to tonguing on the sax. I've found that this one works the best for me and is the one that I teach to all of my students. This one is called anchor tonguing. Tonguing with your tip isn't wrong, it's just a different concept. Everyone's mouth and tongue are shaped a little different so there isn't really a one size fits all approach to tonguing. Glad that this style is helping you see a lot of improvement.