Flutter tongue

As Printed on a Score

Printed over the notes (flutter tongue, flutter-tongue, flz.), often with tremolo slashes through the stems, and in force until ord., normal or the end of the slashes. The German Flatterzunge (Flz.) and the Italian frullato are also common in scores.

Abbreviations: flz.

Also spelled: flutter-tongue, flutter tonguing

How Composers Use It

Rolling an r with the tongue (or fluttering in the throat) while blowing gives a buzzing tremolo: soft and airy on flute, a raw growl on brass. Most wind players can produce it, though some find the rolled r difficult and use the throat instead. Mark exactly where it starts and stops, and give a dynamic, because its character changes strongly with volume.

Related Terms