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rjzeller · 04-15-2005, 03:13 PM

Theoretically (from a strictly mechanical standpoint), I would surmise that the T-K-T K-T-K method provides for the most speed. IF you can master it. The accent/beat falling on alternating articulations makes for a real workout at first. A fellow musician told me of a guy he knew who did his Master's thesis on triple tonguing, and this was the pattern he decided one should use.

Personally, I've always found T-K-T T-K-T the easiest for me, and for many students. The difference is mostly phsychological, but I think mechanically it's more sound as well: The last T is really a reaction to the K syllable, and acts as a closing device, allowing for the tongue to simply react to the next motion, or the starting T of the next beat.

Striking the T syllable evokes a reaction that makes the following K come naturally. (front of tongue releases making room for a new syllable -- K -- then returns in response to the K releasing). This is one complete motion from T to K back to T again. Because of this "one motion" feel, the following set is also a self-contained unit and has little bearing on the tripple that comes before or after it. To me it's more like a Strike-K-Release pattern so the following strike comes naturally. Thus the doubling of TT between beats becomes less of a factor. Because the brain is working one beat at a time, it can handle these little TKT passes without comprehending the repeated TT between beats because it handles the second set/beat irrespective of the first.

Try this: T- -T (drop the K but keep the tripple feel). Then do T- -T T- -T over and over. In 6/8 that's eigth, eigth rest, eigth, eigth, eigth rest, eigth, and so on. Now sliding the K in is perfectly natural: TKT TKT TKT TKT.

This is not to say that the Arban method is not good, or even preferred. Just trying to illustrate why, I think, so many of us have gotten used to using TKT instead. In the end I guess the real question is does it sound the way it should? Can you keep up with others and is your speed improving or has it stagnated at a certain speed?

If everything sounds just right..well...more power to you (us)....

Z (these are merely MY opinions. Take them for what they're worth).

04-15-2005, 03:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
rjzeller Forte User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 1,212	Theoretically (from a strictly mechanical standpoint), I would surmise that the T-K-T K-T-K method provides for the most speed. IF you can master it. The accent/beat falling on alternating articulations makes for a real workout at first. A fellow musician told me of a guy he knew who did his Master's thesis on triple tonguing, and this was the pattern he decided one should use. Personally, I've always found T-K-T T-K-T the easiest for me, and for many students. The difference is mostly phsychological, but I think mechanically it's more sound as well: The last T is really a reaction to the K syllable, and acts as a closing device, allowing for the tongue to simply react to the next motion, or the starting T of the next beat. Striking the T syllable evokes a reaction that makes the following K come naturally. (front of tongue releases making room for a new syllable -- K -- then returns in response to the K releasing). This is one complete motion from T to K back to T again. Because of this "one motion" feel, the following set is also a self-contained unit and has little bearing on the tripple that comes before or after it. To me it's more like a Strike-K-Release pattern so the following strike comes naturally. Thus the doubling of TT between beats becomes less of a factor. Because the brain is working one beat at a time, it can handle these little TKT passes without comprehending the repeated TT between beats because it handles the second set/beat irrespective of the first. Try this: T- -T (drop the K but keep the tripple feel). Then do T- -T T- -T over and over. In 6/8 that's eigth, eigth rest, eigth, eigth, eigth rest, eigth, and so on. Now sliding the K in is perfectly natural: TKT TKT TKT TKT. This is not to say that the Arban method is not good, or even preferred. Just trying to illustrate why, I think, so many of us have gotten used to using TKT instead. In the end I guess the real question is does it sound the way it should? Can you keep up with others and is your speed improving or has it stagnated at a certain speed? If everything sounds just right..well...more power to you (us).... Z (these are merely MY opinions. Take them for what they're worth). __________________ There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who do not.