 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Diane Bouska
Date: 1999-02-04 15:27
This is a beginner's question, so please excuse my ignorance. I recently began taking flute lessons. My teacher tells me the Eb key should be held open on all notes but D. When I took lessons 30 years ago in 7th grade, my teacher didn't have me do this and I have played informally all this time with my right pinky idle except to make an Eb. It's hard to switch. Is it essential, or can it just be used when there's a clear benefit, like on an E to make a clearer note? Are there other benefits to using the Eb key? Is using the Eb key by default a pretty universal practice?
Thanks,
Diane Bouska
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Author: Can Izgi
Date: 1999-02-05 16:47
Diane Bouska wrote:
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This is a beginner's question, so please excuse my ignorance. I recently began taking flute lessons. My teacher tells me the Eb key should be held open on all notes but D. When I took lessons 30 years ago in 7th grade, my teacher didn't have me do this and I have played informally all this time with my right pinky idle except to make an Eb. It's hard to switch. Is it essential, or can it just be used when there's a clear benefit, like on an E to make a clearer note? Are there other benefits to using the Eb key? Is using the Eb key by default a pretty universal practice?
Thanks,
Diane Bouska
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I am not an expert, either. However, I do not see anything wrong about telling my own opinion.
As far as making a clearer tone, for example on an E, there is not any clear benefit. Even if someone claims that there is some benefit, it should be so small that it can easily be compensated by the position of the lips.
On the other hand, I believe, the Eb key should always be used. When I use it, my right hand has a better grip on the flute, which makes me
(1) control the position of the flute more comfortably, and
(2) use the index, middle and ring fingers of my right hand more comfortably.
Use the Eb key.
Can Izgi
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Author: Franceska Dante
Date: 1999-02-10 15:45
Basically, yes, your current teacher is right.
The Eb key is important tohelp balance the flute and therein keep stress of the other fingers. I had a lot of problems with this because I self-taght for years and my advice to you is to start including the Eb key gradually, since it's only higher up that it affects the pitch of notes - don't worry yourself into not enjoying your playing, but remember that it will make your playing easier. It will become natural after a while - promise.
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Author: emily
Date: 1999-03-15 22:12
on old flutes the foot joint tends to come off very easily so if your marching down a street playing and then all of a sudden your footjoint pops of it's gonna be kind of embarrasing so you really don't need the Eb key for much but if you do but you pinkie on the Eb key the joint won't come off!
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Author: Howard
Date: 1999-04-23 19:17
It is essential to keep Eb flat key down
on all notes except d.
Practise going from d to e and e to d correctly
a number of times daily, but rest if fatigue
sets in.
There are many reasons for using Eb key
properly.
One is that if you play something athletic
your flute is better balanced and less likely
to fly out of your hands, resulting in paying
a small fortune in repair bills!
Hope that I have been helpful............H.L.
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Author: Howard
Date: 1999-04-23 19:17
It is essential to keep Eb flat key down
on all notes except d.
Practise going from d to e and e to d correctly
a number of times daily, but rest if fatigue
sets in.
There are many reasons for using Eb key
properly.
One is that if you play something athletic
your flute is better balanced and less likely
to fly out of your hands, resulting in paying
a small fortune in repair bills!
Hope that I have been helpful............H.L.
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Author: Howard
Date: 1999-04-23 19:25
It is essential to keep Eb flat key down
on all notes except d.
Practise going from d to e and e to d correctly
a number of times daily, but rest if fatigue
sets in.
There are many reasons for using Eb key
properly.
One is that if you play something athletic
your flute is better balanced and less likely
to fly out of your hands, resulting in paying
a small fortune in repair bills!
Hope that I have been helpful............H.L.
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Author: Laura
Date: 2000-01-26 00:25
it depends on what note you are going to, you can leave it up or down in most cases (except for Eb and D) and there will be no difference in the tone quality or intonation. :-)
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