How to Flutter Tongue on an Instrument

Flutter tonguing is a very interest concept and technique in music. It's mainly used in jazz to create special sound effects through the instrument that you are playing. Fluttering is basically rolling your tongue while playing the note which result in a very cool sound effect.

One of the first thing you have to see is if you can roll your tongue and create a "rrrrrrrr" sound. If you can't do this because of genetics, you will not be able to flutter. If you can, you will be able to flutter tongue on your instrument in no time.

The concept of fluttering is very simple. You are rolling your tongue while you play your instrument. At first, this may feel impossible to achieve both playing and rolling your tongue at the same time, but continue practicing. After about 5 minutes, if you still can't get it, try loosening up your mouth position to let the tongue roll. When you flutter tongue, your mouth position won't be the same as how it is when you are playing normally. You will have to either not bite or put as much pressure on the mouthpiece as you normally do. Doing this won't allow your tongue to move at all.

The key to this is try rolling your tongue and once you are doing it, put the instrument in your mouth and attempt to produce a sound. Some people are able to get flutter tonguing within 5 minutes while others may take a few days or even few weeks. The key to this is continue practicing if you don't get it. Also, once you learn this technique once, you will never have to relearn it again. It will stay in your head. Also, the funny thing is that once you get flutter tonguing, it feel so simple that you start not being able to understand why other people can't do it. Good luck on learning how to flutter tongue!