Tongue Placement

[callingeese]

I been blowing the SMH for about 8 months and have a few questions. I generally keep my tongue down for most notes, but on a few I cut the note of with my tongue. Is that a bad thing?? Will I have more success leaving my tongue down for every note?? Or can I still have success blowing the call with having my tongue float around on a few notes?? Or is there different tones or mummors that you can snap your tongue up??

Thank you!!

[Max4Gooser]

On the SMH I generally leave my tounge down behind my front teeth all the time using my throat to cut off the air. I imagine you will hear this from most of the guys on here, but I would also suggest, that if it sounds good to you, and you like the result you are getting, then use it. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. :wink: As your skill level on the short reed advances, try to work on using your throat to cut off the air more, you will find that you will be able to get quite a bit faster with it that way. Good luck and keep practicing.

[Mark Spence]

In general I agree with what MAX4GOOSER said. I use my tongue on certain notes (spits, phyllis, train, etc.), but for the most part, the tip of my tongue stays put and the bridge of my tongue does all the work. I used to subscribe to the "tip of the tongue down ALWAYS" theory....well, with the more advanced notes...you simply cannot do that. For the basics...absolutely, keep the tip of your tongue anchored (clucks, moans, murmurs, cluck-moan combos, double clucks, etc.)

[Greg Ruark Jr.]

please explain the spit, phyllis,train and tongue placement/ air patern used to produce. would love to improve. thanks. by the way... ihave been using the smh,mh,st and NEVER pick my tomgue up. killin birds consistantly.

[hoosierhunter]

Goosegetter, callingducks.com has a great goose sounds segment with soundfiles for each of the notes described above, give it look.

[Johnny McDonnell]

Hey Callingeese, Mark Spence hit the nail on the head. For the basic sounds keep your tounge anchored. The two reasons I have for doing this is you can go faster by letting the air flow over your tounge rather than having to flip your tounge up and down. The second but most important reason in my opinion is when you flip your tounge up you stick the call, if you keep your tounge down and have the call tuned right you will never stick it. Hope this helps Johnny McDonnell

[Kelly Rees]

Gospel truth here boys, no one knows where to put their tongues better than Mark and Johnny.

WOW...been a while since I've got to post on here. Guess I had some pent up anger or something. :shock:

[Mark Spence]

Gospel truth here boys, no one knows where to put their tongues better than Mark and Johnny.

WOW...been a while since I've got to post on here. Guess I had some pent up anger or something. :shock:


:roll: FUNNY GUY huh!!!!


CallinGeese:

As far as tongue placement and air presentation for the spit, phyllis, train, etc.....well, the tongue placement is about the same, the movement is a bit different and the air presentation is a little different between all of them. The above mentioned notes are basically different versions of a spit note. The tongue placement for a spit is much like you are spitting into the call (so almost sticking it into the call barrel) and then it falls back and the bridge of your tongue falls down. As far as air presentation...stiff enough to almost stick the reed and then dropping off as your tongue falls back and the bridge of your tongue falls down (this gives the drawn out moan of the spit). Please rememeber...this is not two separate notes, but one note drawn out. These notes are not easy to get....it will take a ton of practice. That is how I have done it...and most certainly is not the only way. Hopefully that will atleast get you heading in the right direction!!!