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Rachel Taylor Geier

You Say Potato, I Say Potahto

Wind and brass players tend to speak in a strange foreign language when discussing articulation.  We flutists, for example, have developed numerous syllables for use in single, double and triple tongued passages that slightly alter the quality and ease of sound production.  Below is a comprehensive list of some of these popular (and not so popular) syllables…

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1–2 minutes

Wind and brass players tend to speak in a strange foreign language when discussing articulation.  We flutists, for example, have developed numerous syllables for use in single, double and triple tongued passages that slightly alter the quality and ease of sound production.  Below is a comprehensive list of some of these popular (and not so popular) syllables and how they can be used to improve your playing or the playing of your students.

Feel free to add to this list in the comments below if you have other suggestions!

SYLABLLE
FUNCTION
Single
Pu
Soft, legato playing
Daw
Legato playing
Ta or Tah
Standard
Da or Dah
Standard (softer attack than ta)
Ti
More focused tone quality
Du
Connected, good for legato playing
Tut
Short, staccato playing
Cut
Staccato, isolated 2nd syllable of double tonguing
Ka
Legato, isolated 2nd syllable of double tonguing
Double
Ta-Ka
Standard double tongue
Too-soo
Standard double tongue (more connected than ta-ka)
Da-ga
Softer attacks than standard ta-ka
Doo-goo
Softer, more connected attacks
Ti-ri
Used in baroque music (referenced by Quantz)
Didd-le
Very connected
Oo-dah
Jazz swinging double tonguing
Ta-ra
Used in 19th century French music
Tee-dee
Connected, good for legato playing
Tu-ru
Used in baroque music (referenced by Quantz)
Hoo-doo
Soft double tongue
Ta-ga
Variation on standard, 2nd syllable more connected
Doo-ka
Variation on standard, 1st syllable more connected
Tut-kut
Stacatto
Toe-Key
Connected, light
Duc-ky
Connected
Triple
Ta-ka-ta
Standard
Tut-kut-tut
Staccato
Da-ga-da
More connected
Multiple
Ta-ka-da-ga-ra-ga-ya-ga
Non-standard multiple syllable tonguing, best used for Baroque running 16th notes

3 responses to “You Say Potato, I Say Potahto”

  1. Flutetude – Top 5 Flute Etude Collections | Rachel Taylor Geier Avatar
    Flutetude – Top 5 Flute Etude Collections | Rachel Taylor Geier

    […] of the day and practice each exercise only using that pattern. Look up charts such as this one https://racheltaylorgeier.org/2014/02/28/you-say-potato-i-say-potahto/ and practice strange new articulations. Practice flutter tonguing each exercise. Place trills over […]

    Reply
  2. As Light as Air – Articulation Exercise Recommendations | Rachel Taylor Geier Avatar
    As Light as Air – Articulation Exercise Recommendations | Rachel Taylor Geier

    […] Greetings and welcome to a new Flute Friday! As we reach the final days of January, the momentum we had at the beginning of the month to tackle that list of New Year’s Resolutions normally dwindles (especially if we set goals that are a bit too lofty on unreasonable timelines). This is a great time to reevaluate and seek out new, better resources to reach our goals. Was working on articulation on your list of flute resolutions this year? If so, today’s blog is for you! In today’s post I will be discussing some of my favorite exercises to practice lightening and simplifying articulation. The first part of this list includes my recommended never-fail, gold standard exercises. This is followed by a list of exercises that can be used to diversify your articulation practice or focus on specialized articulation challenges. You may choose any combination of articulations to use for many of these exercises, but a good place to start is by practicing your toos, coos, and too-coos. For more ideas on articulations to practice and some of their suggested uses, please see my blog “You Say Potato, I Say Potatho” https://racheltaylorgeier.org/2014/02/28/you-say-potato-i-say-potahto/. […]

    Reply
  3. Triple Threat – On Triple Tonguing | Rachel Taylor Geier Avatar
    Triple Threat – On Triple Tonguing | Rachel Taylor Geier

    […] Tip – You can use different syllables to create different types of sound. Check out my blog You Say Potato, I Say Potahto for a full list of double and triple tonguing syllables you may use and what the corresponding […]

    Reply

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