Tongue above or below mothpiece?

[rotate]

Sorry for this sort of ludicrous question, but am beginner.

Should the tongue be above or below the mouthpiece?

 

[Der Wikinger]

Just below the reed. Use the tip of the tongue for staccato tonguing and just behind there for legato tonguing.

 

[dooce]

If it is a mothpiece, I would keep your tongue well away from it. It's a horrible feeling and taste, all those little dusty scales off the wings. Does the moth absolutely no good either.

Sorry, just thought I would get the stupid comment out of the way before Old Git gets here.....

🙂

 

[kevgermany]

If it is a mothpiece, I would keep your tongue well away from it. It's a horrible feeling and taste, all those little dusty scales off the wings. Does the moth absolutely no good either.

Sorry, just thought I would get the stupid comment out of the way before Old Git gets here.....

🙂

And we've all quietly ignored the typo so as not to frighten off our new friend.

Personally I find scales very good to practice and the buzzing must help with speciall effects 🙂))

 

[Justin Chune]

Der Wikinger's advice is the way to go.

Jim.

 

[rotate]

If it is a mothpiece, I would keep your tongue well away from it. It's a horrible feeling and taste, all those little dusty scales off the wings. Does the moth absolutely no good either.

🙂

The moth is only hibernating and will go back to the garden when the warm weather comes.🙂

Thanks all, that answers the question.

 

[Sunray]

If it is a mothpiece, I would keep your tongue well away from it. It's a horrible feeling and taste, all those little dusty scales off the wings. Does the moth absolutely no good either.

Sorry, just thought I would get the stupid comment out of the way before Old Git gets here.....

🙂

Crikey Dooce ...

Your wise words were real polite ...

I am sure I would have found a way to mention "Moth Balls" ... 🙂))

Ello rotate - how's it going mate ... *Sunray Waves*

 

[saxnik]

Just to check (and I'm sure that Rotate won't have fallen into this trap) the tongue goes below the reed, which goes below the mouthpiece...
I have known some students to try to play with the mouthpiece upside down - a good tone with this technique is very hard to achieve, and therefore it's best if the mouthpiece goes onto the neck flat side down!

Good luck,

Nick

 

[rotate]

Thanks for the greetings Sunray. Reciprocated. Are all saxophonists as combative as you lot? 😀

Don't worry about possible patrimony, if that makes sense, saxnik - I haven't got the slightest idea what I'm doing. But, as it happens, did not make those mistakes.

What I was doing was making the initial 'tuh' sound to start the note with the tongue right at the top of the mouth; but it seems to be quite easy to do the same thing with the tongue touching or underneath the reed.

Am struggling so feel I have to ask a lot of silly questions.

 

[saxnik]

You're right to do so - as Pete always says, the silly question is the one you didn't ask.

When I say 'Tuh', the top side of the tip of my tongue hits my gumline just behind my top teeth. When I'm playing the sax, the mouthpiece sticks into my mouth, just behind my top teeth, so it's simplest (designed that way?) to just say 'Tuh' with my tongue hitting the tip of the reed instead of my gum. Hopefully this should sound good!

Good luck, keep practicing, and keep asking the questions!

Nick