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Is flutter tonguing genetic? I know other tuba players in my high school band that can do it without even thinking about it, and I can't do it no matter how hard or how long I try.

Can't do it either. But if you "growl" - vibrate your uvula (that thing hanging down in the back of your mouth) - the results on low brass will sound almost the same.

There's a very helpful explanation of the technique by Jeremy Brown here.

Rrrrrrruffles have rrrrrridges.

I used to use the uvular growl...then had the uvula cut off to try and eradicate snoring. Didn't work. Durn it.

Just call me Stumpy.

tubashaman wrote:On my Cherry Classics CD, there is a Schoenberg piece which requires it on a Pedal D.....sure hope they never ask for that on an audition

Theme and Variations, isn't it?

Be careful flutter-tonguing on tuba. The last time I did it, I did it too hard, and being on blood thinners I actually bruised my tongue and it was black and blue for a week.