Hello to all, I play the whistle at a decent level but never played the flute, I received my Tony Dixon 3 piece flute this morning,and have spent a little time getting to know it. It seems like it'll take a couple of months to get it sounding well. I can get a decent sound from low E to high G, but the sound of the low D is not good, cats outside are answering me............. any hints ?
I know I have to develop my lip and breath control, but I'm hoping there are a few techniques that will help.
Just be patient... The low D is the hardest note to sound well. When I bought my first flute I thought there was something wrong with it 'cause all the other notes were fine. Well, it was my fault. Just keep practicing and it'll come IF you remember ONE word: FOCUS!!!
Hi Fournes,
I think it's a combination of ensuring that you have all the holes securely covered and then focusing the stream of air very tightly down into the flute (not across the embouchure.)
New to Flutes need some advoce
New to Flutes need some advoce
Hello to all, I play the whistle at a decent level but never played the flute, I received my Tony Dixon 3 piece flute this morning,and have spent a little time getting to know it. It seems like it'll take a couple of months to get it sounding well. I can get a decent sound from low E to high G, but the sound of the low D is not good, cats outside are answering me............. any hints ?
I know I have to develop my lip and breath control, but I'm hoping there are a few techniques that will help.
# Posted on October 2nd 2009 by Fournes
Re: New to Flutes need some advoce
Just be patient... The low D is the hardest note to sound well. When I bought my first flute I thought there was something wrong with it 'cause all the other notes were fine. Well, it was my fault. Just keep practicing and it'll come IF you remember ONE word: FOCUS!!!
Pat
# Posted on October 2nd 2009 by plunk111
Re: New to Flutes need some advoce
Hi Fournes,
I think it's a combination of ensuring that you have all the holes securely covered and then focusing the stream of air very tightly down into the flute (not across the embouchure.)
That plus lots of practice!
# Posted on October 2nd 2009 by Ceolmhar
Re: New to Flutes need some advoce
I thought there was something wrong with my flute for *years*. But it was me. It's a fun journey, but it can be long.
# Posted on October 2nd 2009 by Linsey Doyle
Re: New to Flutes need some advoce
There's a great exercise for developing a strong "Bottom D".
Play bottom D as softly as possible, just the barest whisper.
Then slowly increase the volume, steadily louder and louder, until you are blowing just almost to the point where the note breaks to the 2nd octave.
Then steadily decrease the volume until you're back at the whisper you started with.
Do this all on one long single breath.
You must KEEP THE PITCH OF THE D NOTE THE SAME THE ENTIRE TIME. This takes a lot of practice but the payoff is a greatly improved embouchure.
Obviously you must get an airtight seal on all the fingerholes.
Another exercise to develop Bottom D is to play, rather slowly:
D>E>D
D>F#>D
D>G>D
D>A>D
D>B>D
D>C>D
D>d>D
D>e>D
D>f#>D
D>g>D
D>a>D
D>b>D
each note change is done with embouchure control and finger movement alone: DO NOT TONGUE or the entire purpose and benefit is lost.
# Posted on October 3rd 2009 by Richard D Cook
Re: New to Flutes need some advoce
Thanks for all the advice. Will try and report back
# Posted on October 3rd 2009 by Fournes