 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Nick D
Date: 2004-07-24 05:32
Hey all. I've finally decided to take the plunge into this whole music thing and took up the flute in the beginning of July. I took about 3 lessons to learn the basics of flute playing but have been self-taught since then (i've no money! haha). Was hoping to get some help with the middle register E to B which I've been having trouble getting to "speak" cleanly. I find it simple to get all the other notes to play fine and actually find it immensely easier to play the third register than the second. I keep on getting, for want of a better term, a "double sound". I hear both the 1st register and 2nd register notes together. It goes away if I tense up my embouchure and/or squeeze my lips together/blow harder, but from all the books I've got, they've told me not to do that. Any tips for a novice?
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Author: Musical Mind
Date: 2004-07-24 17:27
Hi. I think if you find it easier to play the third register than the second, and you hear both the 1st register and 2nd register notes together when you are playing the 2nd register, then you might be covering the hole too much. What I would recommend to you is to experiment changing the lower lip placement on the moouthpiece so the air jet you blow bisects well on the edge of the hole to get a full round sound. About 1/3 of the hole is usually covered.
The air speed is very important when playing from a lower register to a higher register. To increase the air speed, you have to have good breath support controlled by the abdominal muscles. When you start to blow, the inside part of your lips should feel going out a little, making the air go a little faster and your embouchure hole smaller. Your air should condense in a triangular form in the center of the mouthpiece.
The middle register from E to B you mentioned needs more air. To do that, you don't need tiny embouchure hole like you need in the third register. Again, breath support is the main thing here. Take in as much air as you can when you inhale, and exhale that air in a certain constant speed to play low, middle, or high register. I hope this helps. By the way, I'm self-teaching now also after playing the flute for six years.
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Author: Musical Mind
Date: 2004-07-24 17:33
And one more thing: always practice in front of a mirror so you can properly adjust your body positions when you play the flute, how you are holding the flute, and fingering positions.
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Author: Smee
Date: 2004-08-01 16:13
I've only just started learning and can't those notes either! My teacher says "stick your chin out and it'll come" but it hasn't yet. I think you can try too hard and tense up too much if you think you'll never get to grips with it. I'm trying to relax more when I'm going for the notes and I seem to hit them occasionally now. Good luck anyway!
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