3 ms·

> (never gonna be able to roll Rs) Curious about this. Presumably you've given it plenty of effort after more than 3 years of Spanish study. Where do you feel

> (never gonna be able to roll Rs) Curious about this. Presumably you've given it plenty of effort after more than 3 years of Spanish study. Where do you feel that you're stuck, and what have you tried?

wallflower 4y ago
I haven't tried recently. I always got stuck on the vibrating the tongue on/near the roof of the mouth. The technical term for rolling Rs is "voiced alveolar trill". I have tried a variety of techniques over the years and maybe it is time to revisit them again by trying out some Youtube videos. Right now, I just use the "d" sound as a substitute, as in a rapid "d-d-d" is an approximation of rolled Rs. A few of my friends who know will tease me now and then by trilling their r's in conversation. It always simultaneously makes me jealous and in awe. I know that Spanish elementary schools have young students practice tongue twisters as maybe it is not a natural skill for all kids. "Un perro rompe la rama del árbol" Perhaps related, I am struggle with unassisted lip trills [1] which is a key technique to improve your breath control/singing. Unassisted is when you don't press your fingers to your cheeks. I really struggle with unassisted lip trills and run out of oxygen quickly (5 seconds). The idea with unassisted lip trills is you can trill a song phrase on a single breath (15-20 sec, sometimes longer). [1] How to do the lip trill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNPp-RS4IY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNPp-RS4IY
- frogulis 4y ago
  Nearly started making these sounds before I realised I'm on a busy train and caught myself. Oops. If it helps at all, in my experience of learning to do alveolar trills, the key was finding the precise amount of resistance to apply with my tongue. That is, the muscles hold still and the flow of air is what moves it. I think that means that the base position for the tongue is forming a light seal against the alveolar ridge and upper gums. If you get the pressure right, when you vocalise, the flow of air will briefly push your tongue out of the way then allow it to snap back, and if you get the pressure exactly right, you'll get a pleasing trill sound.

wallflower 4y ago

I haven't tried recently. I always got stuck on the vibrating the tongue on/near the roof of the mouth. The technical term for rolling Rs is "voiced alveolar trill". I have tried a variety of techniques over the years and maybe it is time to revisit them again by trying out some Youtube videos. Right now, I just use the "d" sound as a substitute, as in a rapid "d-d-d" is an approximation of rolled Rs. A few of my friends who know will tease me now and then by trilling their r's in conversation. It always simultaneously makes me jealous and in awe. I know that Spanish elementary schools have young students practice tongue twisters as maybe it is not a natural skill for all kids. "Un perro rompe la rama del árbol" Perhaps related, I am struggle with unassisted lip trills [1] which is a key technique to improve your breath control/singing. Unassisted is when you don't press your fingers to your cheeks. I really struggle with unassisted lip trills and run out of oxygen quickly (5 seconds). The idea with unassisted lip trills is you can trill a song phrase on a single breath (15-20 sec, sometimes longer). [1] How to do the lip trill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNPp-RS4IY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNPp-RS4IY

frogulis 4y ago
Nearly started making these sounds before I realised I'm on a busy train and caught myself. Oops. If it helps at all, in my experience of learning to do alveolar trills, the key was finding the precise amount of resistance to apply with my tongue. That is, the muscles hold still and the flow of air is what moves it. I think that means that the base position for the tongue is forming a light seal against the alveolar ridge and upper gums. If you get the pressure right, when you vocalise, the flow of air will briefly push your tongue out of the way then allow it to snap back, and if you get the pressure exactly right, you'll get a pleasing trill sound.