posted
I have started playing the flute again recently only to find that I've forgotten everything. Fine. Still lots of fun. But there is a problem...
I can't get some of those notes to play right!
Now would anybody be so kind as to help me get the deep F note right? You know, the one that's almost on the bottom bar. I keep on getting the higher note -- and I can't really breath into the flute and get a good noise out of it.
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. It would also probably keep me from giving up in frustration .
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
I haven't played in several years myself, but if I recall correctly, to play the lower notes, you direct the air so it's blowing more into the flute rather than across the mouthpiece.
*drags flute out, tries* Yup. More down than across.
Try doing scales, going down. That should help you work into the lower notes.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I think you'll need to play for a while to get your embouchure back into shape. The low f is one of the harder notes to hit. It requres a much more precise flow of air as I recall. ( I also haven't played in several years) But I remember that low notes were even harder to do than many of the high ones.
Don't get discouraged just keep playing and soon you'll have that control you recall. Also, are you playing with an open-hole flute? I found that when I play sometimes my fingers are a little leaky. So I have to be really careful of finger position.
posted
Relax the embrochure- try to get your mouth into a slight frown. Your lips should be out slightly, like a kissy face while frowning. Also, roll your headjoint in towards you, so the tone hole is in line with the back bar rather than the keys, then while playing, roll your flute away from you. Anyone watching you play should be able to see your fingernails.
Also, get your flute checked out. It might actually be that your pads aren't making complete contact. Take it in to a flute specialist if there's one near you.
posted
You do have to blow a little more into the flute than acroos it like you do with the higher notes, but I would bet most of your problem (barign poor pads) is that your embrochure isn't loose enough for the lower notes. (that F isn't really that low, so keep practicing:D)
Warm up well before trying, it helps.
Tinros, the edge of the hole perhaps, but moving the head joint too far only creates MORE problems.:
posted
My point is you have to be careful while doing that...also, you don't want the CENTER of the hole lined up with the bar on the body of the flute, but more the edge closest to you. .
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
As well as working on your embouchure, you're also likely going to have to work on your breath control. Practice taking deep breaths in your diaphragm and letting them out slowly.
I haven't played my flute in years either.
Posts: 1777 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I really wish I could play the flute. The fingering comes naturally to me. But, when I play, my vision tunnels. And we all know what happens when the light goes out at the end of that tunnel. EDIT: I have a little closed-hole Artley sitting on my piano bench right now, and I have vowed to leave it out until I can play it. I (seated) play a little while every evening, until my fingers start to tingle. I will try bando-comando's exercize this evening!
posted
Hiya! Flute performance and music education graduate chiming in here:
What the first reply said about aiming the air downwards is correct. I would try this exercise:
Start on a B natural (middle line). Make sure it is the best, fullest tone you can make.
Slur from the B to a Bb. Two seconds or more per note. Make a slight crescendo (get louder) during the slur, and make sure the Bb has the same tone quality as the B natural.
Breathe
Play the Bb and slur to an A, same advice as before
Slur from A to Ab
Ab to G
G to Gb
Gb to F
Each time, make sure you have a full tone equal to that of the B.
This excerpt was taken from a series of books for flute players by Trevor Wye. Book 1 relates specifically to tone. Very easy to read and understand with a LOT of excellent exercises and orchestral excerpts that deal with tone.
posted
I almost never play my flute anymore either. The funny thing is that although I have played the piano for 17 years and only played the flute for 7, when I'm bored or nervous, I often find myself fingering flute exercises (minus the flute, of course; I just do it on my thumbs). So when I actually pull out my flute from time to time, I can actually play fairly well. The embouchure takes a while to get back, though.
Posts: 1903 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I've largely moved from playing my flute, to playing recorder. I've got soprano, alto and tenor recorders. I started with the recorder because its so much more portable than the flute and I love to be able to play out in the wild. I love to climb into a natural alcove or a slot canyon and try out the accoustics, or sit by the side of an alpine lake and improvise.
My flute really isn't that heavy or big, but you can't slip it into the pocket of a pack like you can with a recorder and I would feel horrible it it got drenched in the rain or bumped against a rock. I can put a cheap recorder in the pocket of a panier when I'm bicycle touring and never worry about the weight, the space or the cost should it be damaged, lost or stolen.
Its a pretty easy to cross back and forth between the flute and the recorder. Most of the fingerings are the same or very similar. The embachure is different but uses a lot of the same muscles.
Anyway, the more time I spend playing the recorder, the less time I have for my flute. Its been way too long now since the flute has been out of its case. I've completely lost the callus I used to have at the base of my left index finger.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Hey BandoCommando, Do you have any idea how well the exercises from Trevor Wye would translate over to recorder playing? I can handle any differences between the flute range and recorder range all right, that isn't the issue. I'm curious how much corresponce their is between tone production on the two instruments and whether exercises designed to improve tone on the flute would work to improve tone on the recorder.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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The exercises largely encourage you to slow down and pay careful attention to exactly how you sound. The ideal tone is a bit different between the two instruments, but many of the exercises would help.
However, many are geared specifically for JUST the flute. For instance, on flute it's possible to 'overblow' from a low fingering (e.g. middle C) and hit a series of overtones. Mastering the precision required to hit exact overtones helps flute players play more accurately and centerd in all registers. Since the recorder doesn't work quite the same way in the harmonic series, these exercises would be useless.
Still, a good book to help you at least a little on recorder, and help you a LOT whenever you pick up the flute.
Keep up the music!
Posts: 1099 | Registered: Apr 2005
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The funny thing is that although I have played the piano for 17 years and only played the flute for 7, when I'm bored or nervous, I often find myself fingering flute exercises (minus the flute, of course; I just do it on my thumbs). So when I actually pull out my flute from time to time, I can actually play fairly well. The embouchure takes a while to get back, though.
