No, don't touch the reed with the tip of the tongue. That will stop the effect. The tip of the tongue goes upward towards the front portion of the roof of the mouth very close to the gum area of the top teeth and "flutters" back and forth rapidly making the sound or indention in the air flow which causes the "flutter" sound. Here is some additional info which might help.
If not please feel free to send an email for more help (JSAXL<<at>>aol.com).
Not sure if I previously posted this info;
The Flutter Tongue/Tone
I do not know when the flutter effect started being used on the saxophone. An explanation of the technique appears in a 1926 publication titled
SAX-ACROBATIX by Henri Weber
Saxophone Effects
I first became aware of it in 1956 when I heard
Honky Tonk Part 2 by Bill Doggett. Clifford Scott used it in his 4th solo.
Listen to it on YouTube.
It was also featured on the 1958 recording of
Tequila when Chuck Rio used it while repeating the main melody.
Listen to it on YouTube.
In 1965 Jr. Walker performed the effect on his high C in
Shotgun.
Listen to it on YouTube.
Joel C. Peskin added it to his solo on a more recent 1989 Top 40 hit titled
With Every Beat of My Heart by Taylor Dayne.
Listen to it on YouTube.
Also listen to the second phrase of Bobby Keys’ solo on
Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones.
Perhaps it was developed and introduced by blues artists when they wanted to play a real “down and dirty” sounding solo. It really lends itself well to blues and rock music. A combination of the growl, flutter tone and note bending will put you well on your way to playing some very effective sounds!
The flutter technique produces the same sound that is made by singing close to a desk fan. It causes the tone to flutter by separating the air stream.
To learn this effect, I suggest that you use only the neckpiece and mouthpiece in the beginning to get control of it, and then attach the neck to the horn.
Before you play the neckpiece, try to make the sound that is similar to a small motorboat engine by blowing lightly and at the same time raising the tip of the tongue gently against the front portion of the roof of your mouth just behind the front teeth. Although you can lightly touch the roof area
do not press the tongue into the roof. Just raise it enough to make a rapid flutter between the tip and the skin of the roof. The effect is also similar to the sound of a “cat purr.” However, there is no need to make a sound or hum anything while fluttering the tongue. Once you learn to develop this sound it will transfer to the m/p.
● Courtesy of a SOTW member; “A “HEEEEEE” formation of the tongue shape puts your tongue in a high arch and will draw the tip of your tongue away from the mouthpiece. Many players consider variations on the “EEE” vowel shape to be preferable for general tone production. Vowel shapes such as “Uhh” and “Ooooh” leave the tongue in a low position that does bad things for your air stream.”
With the m/p in the mouth do the same thing as above but DO NOT TOUCH THE REED while the tongue flutters back and forth towards the roof of the mouth. The tip portion of the tongue should flutter in the roof area in front of the tip of the m/p. If your tongue touches the m/p tip opening it will stop the effect.
If you continue to have a problem getting the sound, try doing the flutter without using the m/p. Try to get a good strong sound then use just the m/p with the neck without the horn attached
. Remember that the tongue does not go up and down. It is normally very close to the roof of the mouth and the upper side of the tongue (just behind the tip) is making the motions which indent the air stream to make the flutter sound. And you can do this with a small amount of m/p in the mouth. It may take time to find the physical action that works best for you. You may also experience a problem in loosing too much air while blowing. This is normal because some people have to exhale very fast to get the flutter effect. This causes a quick loss of air. However, in time you will develop more control and will use less air.
Everyone has a different jaw structure and tongue shape. What works for me my not work for you. Experiment with all of the basic ideas and the technique will eventually develop depending on your own physical structure.
Several examples can be heard on YouTube. Cut and paste these titles;
REBEL ROUSER—DUANE EDDY—GIL BERNAL—TENOR
THE STROLL—DIAMONDS—KING CURTIS—TENOR
TWISTIN’ THE NIGHT AWAY—SAM COOKE—JACKIE KELSO—TENOR
URGENT—FOREIGNER—JR. WALKER—TENOR
Other links for the flutter tone;
Saxophone Effects
http://www.nuoboe.com/html/fluttertongue.html
http://www.jodyjazz.com/article.interesting.improviser.html
Rock & Roll Sax, Instrumental - Hal Leonard Online+
Steve Douglas: Rock And Roll Saxophone - Musicroom.com
HOT ROCK SAX
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginning-Rock-Sax-Scott-Page/dp/B00004CRHZ
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Saxophone-Depth-Styles-Masters/dp/0634026208
http://www.hornplace.com/SX005.html
http://userpages.umbc.edu/~emrich/chapter4-6.html
Also check YouTube for illustrations.
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