Brass Articulation- Triple Tonguing

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From the material you have practiced in the preceding post (Double Tonguing) you should have an understanding of the use of multiple articulations. The next level will be using the Tah and Dah attack along with an additional Tah attack. This Tah Tah Kah articulation is called triple tonguing and will serve you well.

The basic pattern for triple tonguing is, as I stated before, Tah Tah Kah, Tah Tah Kah, Tah Tah Kah. Repeat this pattern over and over until you feel comfortable with it. Amazing speed can be achieved with this articulation as illustrated by this video of William Rimmer.

One problem you may have when articulation the T T K pattern is that the first of every triplet will have a natural tendency to be heavily accented. This will give your triplet the sound of LOUD, softer, softest, with the K being the softest. One solution to this problem would be to substitute the K attack on the first note of the triplet and use the T attacks on the last two notes. This will even the accents but will also causes another problem. Beginning the first note with K is more difficult than starting it with a T attack. “Life’s tough and then we die”. Which ever pattern you use, be sure to keep the three notes as even as possible.

Possible tonguing patterns in triplets-

TTK TTK TTK (Most common pattern)

TKT TKT TKT (Possible but rearticulating two Ts on three and one is awkward)

KTT KTT KTT (Most even)

TKT KTK TKT (This is double tonguing in a triplet patter and is by far the fastest)

Each of these patterns could be used in any given situation to make the passage easier. Do not limit yourself to the same pattern every time.

Here are some exercises similar to the double tonguing patterns we used in the earlier post.

Triple Tonguing Exercises

Practice these exercises with the recordings as before. The click track has been removed in level two so that let you may more easily check the evenness of your notes.

Triple Tonguing Exercises Level 1

Level #2

Level #2 faster

Level #2 fastest

Level #3

Level #3 faster

Level #3 fastest

Level 4

Level 4 faster

Level 4 fastest

Bruce was a member of the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, School of Music in Cedar Falls from 1969 until his retirement in 1999. He has performed with many well-known entertainers such as Bob Hope, Jim Nabors, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Anita Bryant, Carman Cavalara, Victor Borgie, the Four Freshman, Blackstone the Magician, Bobby Vinton and John Davidson.

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2 thoughts on “Brass Articulation- Triple Tonguing”

  1. Anthony Lenzo

    Is triple tonguing ONLY used when playing
    triplets?

    • Bruce Chidester

      Triple tonguing is only used when playing triplets that are too fast to single tongue or are in a long series of triplets where your tongue gets tired of single tonguing.

      Triple tonguing patterns can be altered such as these

      TTK-TTK
      TKT-KTK
      KTT-KTT
      KTK-KTK
      TTK-KTT
      etc.

      The problem with two T’s together is that you have to recycle the tip of your tongue before you get to the K.
      The fastest triplets would be TKT-KTK because you don’t have to recycle two adjacent T’s
      The disadvantage of starting a high note with a K attack is obvious.
      K attacks are softer than T attacks for the air pressure is less on K attacks than T attacks.

      When I double and triple tongue, I use Da,Da,Ga for it sounds smoother and it is faster than TTK for your tongue doesn’t move as far and the air pressure is less explosive.

      While at North Texas, our teacher had us use every combination possible in order to be able to cover any situation.

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