Staccato/Legato tonguing

I have been playing the flute for four years now and I know how to play a legato or staccato articulation without thinking twice about it. My band director is trying to help me pinpoint these articulations better by explaining in words the technique I use with my tongue and the syllable I use with that respective articulation. I've never had much music theory and I don't know now to really explain what I've been doing.

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Hi, and thanks for writing!

That's great that you're a natural at articulations. Keep up the good work!

I use the syllable "ta" for staccato or marcato articulations, and the syllable "da" for softer articulations, such as with legato playing.

The "t" sound uses the very tip of your tongue and thus gives you a quicker and sharper articulation.

Making a "d" sound places more of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. It creates a softer, lighter sound for legato-style playing.

Of course, if you're slurring, you don't use the tongue at all. You want to keep it down against the bottom of your mouth.