Hi Flute Players
The third octave is your friend. Practise the high notes and your tone at the bottem end will also improve. 'swhat I've been finding.
Theres a useful ( Richad Wilson's ) site that has third octave fingerings for simple-system flute: http://www.oldflutes.com/charts/simple/index.htm
HTH
Whilst this is certainly true of flute playing in general, most modern copies of 19th century flutes are I believe optimised for the first two octaves in terms of tuning and playability. In addition, the fingering charts don't necessarily apply to modern makers flutes that are not identical copies of their historic forebears.
If you plan on playing in the thrid octave, it's worth spending the time experimenting to find the fingerings that work for your flute. If however your only interest is in improving tone, I would suggest the approach of playing harmonics - trying to reach and switch between the second, third, fourth, fifth harmonic of, say, bottom D without blowing harder. Also, just trying to play in the second octave as quietly as possible. These are good workouts.
The third octave good. I play scales up to high g just to keep the lip in shape (not that I would ever really play those notes).
What amazes me is that some great ITM players really use those notes -- Chris Norman comes to mind (requesting we avoid the usual discussion arguing that he is not ITM).
None better than Gary Shannon - on Lose the Head, the track with Turas An Bhodhranai and Mickey Dan's. He uses the third octave up to E. Very musical, challenging tunes.
Flute Third Octave
Flute Third Octave
Hi Flute Players
The third octave is your friend. Practise the high notes and your tone at the bottem end will also improve. 'swhat I've been finding.
Theres a useful ( Richad Wilson's ) site that has third octave fingerings for simple-system flute:
http://www.oldflutes.com/charts/simple/index.htm
HTH
Pat
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Pat Higgins
Re: Flute Third Octave
Whilst this is certainly true of flute playing in general, most modern copies of 19th century flutes are I believe optimised for the first two octaves in terms of tuning and playability. In addition, the fingering charts don't necessarily apply to modern makers flutes that are not identical copies of their historic forebears.
If you plan on playing in the thrid octave, it's worth spending the time experimenting to find the fingerings that work for your flute. If however your only interest is in improving tone, I would suggest the approach of playing harmonics - trying to reach and switch between the second, third, fourth, fifth harmonic of, say, bottom D without blowing harder. Also, just trying to play in the second octave as quietly as possible. These are good workouts.
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by NeilC
Re: Flute Third Octave
The third octave good. I play scales up to high g just to keep the lip in shape (not that I would ever really play those notes).
What amazes me is that some great ITM players really use those notes -- Chris Norman comes to mind (requesting we avoid the usual discussion arguing that he is not ITM).
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Eliot
Re: Flute Third Octave
None better than Gary Shannon - on Lose the Head, the track with Turas An Bhodhranai and Mickey Dan's. He uses the third octave up to E. Very musical, challenging tunes.
# Posted on August 5th 2007 by cocus