Quick comparison of flute pizzicati (slap tongue)
Channel: Helen Bledsoe
Date: 2023-06-21

Quick comparison of flute pizzicati (slap tongue)
1. tongue pizz produced on the palate
2. tongue pizz produced on the lip
3. pizz with just the lips

For composers, read in more detail here: https://youtu.be/mIIj-cvDSIo 
For players, see my tutorial here: https://youtu.be/9cGJ-Y1EviI?si=veMKLkeyF9mqm0aG

Some people call this technique "slap tongue" or "slap tone", which has been borrowed from reed instruments. The flute has neither a reed, nor is there anything being slapped. On the contrary, the tongue makes a quick motion back and/or down, so it literally is a kind of plucking motion. Therefore, pizzicato or pizz for short is the correct term.