Tongue One Ghost One D-N: Practice and Usage

Today's post is a followup to my previous broadcast on what I refer to as D-N articulation. If you're just now tuning in, you can read the archived version here: Foundation for Ghosting: D-N

The basics of playing ghost notes on the saxophone begin with this D-N articulation (spoken "dian" as in "Indian"). This is the most simple ghost note articulation pattern: tongue 1, ghost 1.


In my transcriptions and other materials, I notate it like this:

"D-N"

Getting Started

In my experience, the best place to begin using this articulation is to first sing it on a single pitch:
D N D N D N D N
D N D N D N D N

Keep the sound sustained and allow the tongue to naturally dampen the "N" notes.


Once you are comfortable singing this pattern on a single pitch, take it to the saxophone. Start with the notes in the staff, for example:

Then get comfortable with it in the different registers of the horn:

When is this basic "D-N" articulation pattern commonly used by jazz saxophonists?
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The "D-N" (tongue one, ghost one) articulation is most often used when tonguing a pair of notes in which the second note is lower in pitch than the first note by an interval a minor 3rd or more, and the note immediately after the ghosted note is higher in pitch.

Scales in descending thirds are an excellent way to master this authentic jazz saxophone technique.

If you run through all of your Major Scales like this, using this articulation, you will soon be ghosting notes with ease.

I suggest that you try this through the keys going around the cycle of fourths first:
C Major (above), F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, D-flat, G-flat/F-sharp, B, E, A, D, G

Then, reverse the order to move the pattern through the keys by fifths: C, G, D, A, etc.
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The Benefits of Practicing Ghost Note Articulation

Moving articulation patterns through the keys builds independence between the mental work of transposing the sequence of the pitches and the physical work that the tongue is doing.

Naturally, you will find this articulation technique working its way into your playing style. You will also be able to hear when your favorite saxophonists use this technique.

All of the greats, from Lester Young to Charlie Parker to Rollins and Trane and beyond, use this technique in their playing and it will become more apparent to you with practice.

In my next post...
I'll be covering another common and useful articulation pattern used in bebop and jazz saxophone:
D D-E-N

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Stay tuned!
Jake