Playing the saxophone Tonguing /articulation to start and end a note

[Jeanette]

Something came to light in my lesson last week which seems obvious now but I think I've been getting wrong all this time.

When I'm playing a piece of music I use my tongue to start a note and not end one unless there is a rest or its the end of the tune. What I mean is I'll tongue the next note as the beat falls on it so in effect I am actually probably always a little behind. So I'll be reading ahead and put my tongue to the reed as I mentally count it the beat for the next note.

Is this how most people do it or do you use your tongue to stop the last note just before the beat and then release to start the note on time?

Hope I've explained myself well enough, just curious 🙂

Jx

 

[lewis83]

I'm exactly the same. I was taught to start a note with a soft "do", action with the tongue. Unless the not was accented with a Sticcato then it was a "tu" action.
Also i sound like a duck quacking if I start a note without using my tongue........

 

[Pete Thomas]

was accented with a Sticcato

accented with a sticcato ???

 

[Targa]

accented with a sticcato ???

Ask Aldevis, might be Italian for post-it note.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Stop overthinking it and just play 😉

 

[Jazzaferri]

I just tongue the one time very quick stop start either on top the beat, a slight push or slightly on the backside depending on the feel.

Not quite sure but hope this helps

 

[lewis83]

accented with a sticcato ???

Yes. Apparently some of my music comes with post it notes pre attached.
Apologies for the poor spelling. It was late.

 

[grosskopf]

Don't think too much about. If you have problems playing tongued notes on the right beat, sing it! The tongue is doing the same movement, be it singing or playing.
I always tell my students to use syllables like "ta" (heavy t) for accentuated short notes, "tah" for accentuated long notes, "da" (with a soft d) for tenuto-played notes. when you sing it you don't have to think about what you play, if it sounds strange or whatever. After singing the note, play them on the sax.

 

[Royston]

I just tongue the one time very quick stop start either on top the beat, a slight push or slightly on the backside depending on the feel.

Not quite sure but hope this helps

He’ll I can’t get my tongue anywhere near my backside. I thought only cats could do that @Targa

 

[Targa]

He’ll I can’t get my tongue anywhere near my backside. I thought only cats could do that @Targa

You know you would if you could.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Apologies for the poor spelling. It was late.

It wasn't the spelling, I just wondered what is meant by accented with sticcato (or staccato)

Staccato is to do with the length of a note, nothing to do with tonguing or accents.

 

[MikeMorrell]

In general, I use my tongue to start and end notes. An exception is for series of shorter/faster notes when I just lightly 'punctuate' the start of each note in the series.

I'm not sure why you have the idea that you're a little behind when playing. Playing more by feeling the rhythm/beats (rather than mentally counting) may help.

'Playing a note' is a process that takes (a very small amount of) time, Part of the process is 'analytical' (which note? when? for how long?) and part is physical (moving fingers, depressing keys, getting the reed to vibrate). Musicians unconsciously anticipate 'when the notes have to 'sound' and do the things they need to do so that the notes sound at the right time. This probably means that I check my breath support and start to release my tongue from the reed very slightly ahead of when the note has to sound.

Mike

...
When I'm playing a piece of music I use my tongue to start a note and not end one unless there is a rest or its the end of the tune. What I mean is I'll tongue the next note as the beat falls on it so in effect I am actually probably always a little behind. So I'll be reading ahead and put my tongue to the reed as I mentally count it the beat for the next note.

Is this how most people do it or do you use your tongue to stop the last note just before the beat and then release to start the note on time?
...
Jx

 

[Royston]

You know you would if you could.

I only wish I was flexible enough but not for the same reason

 

[lewis83]

It wasn't the spelling, I just wondered what is meant by accented with sticcato (or staccato)

Staccato is to do with the length of a note, nothing to do with tonguing or accents.

It was the way I was taught to read music. Yes a staccato slightly reduces the length of the note. I was using it in reference to tounging the note. I was taught that a staccato note should be tongued with a 'tu' action. 'Short and sharp". Similar in action to an accented note. Where using a' tu' action gives an audible difference to the notes around it.
Probably not explaining myself as well as I would like.
Still very tired and not 100% with it.

 

[Sunray]

A good observation Jeanette ... Certainly got me thinking ...

I am sure you have already read other threads on this subject - I think @jbtsax gave a good answer here

Cheers

 

[Vetinari]

I only wish I was flexible enough but not for the same reason

Parsnips ?

 

[Royston]

Parsnips ?

Possibly.
In joke

 

[MarkSax]

I was taught to start and finish long notes by tonguing. Shorter notes do not require tonguing to stop the note as the tongue action stops the previous note to start the following note. Mentally counting beats did make me play late so I wear headphones and listen to the backing track while playing. Sometimes adding or missing a note or beat helps get back to the normal tempo.

 

[kevgermany]

It was the way I was taught to read music. Yes a staccato slightly reduces the length of the note.

Staccato notes are half length. Not slightly shorter.

 

[jbtsax]

I teach that stacatto notes are "detached". The length of the note depends upon its value, and the tempo of the piece. Longer tones that come before a rest are ended by stopping the airstream just as in singing. At the ends of phrases the end of the note can also be tapered.