G# on a rosewood Sweetheart

KateG · Post by **KateG** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:43 am

So, my fellow Sweet players, how do you finger G#? I find half-holing the G hole produces an incredibly anemic note, and putting bottom hand fingers down while playing an A has not effect on the A whatsoever. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks,
Kate

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:51 am

I use the G# key to great effect!

But, I was playing around with non-keyed versions just the other day. Half holing isn't the best (I find G# half holed in the low octave pretty poor on most flutes). In the lower octave XXO XXX with decreased breath pressure and possibly a slight roll in of the flute gets it in tune, but it is a tad muted. The upper octave XXO XOO is great, though.

It's key to make sure the tennon is pulled out enough that the flute isn't playing sharp or the XXO XXX will not drop from an A.

I hope that helps.

Eric

KateG · Post by **KateG** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:01 pm

I knew you'd say that about the G# key -- I'm a savin' my pennies!

xx0 xxx gives me A. In fact, any combination of xx0 - - - gives me A. As for the tenon, the Sweet doesn't have a tuning slide, and plays in pitch with the head joint firmly pushed in. Actually, I'd be afraid to pull it out -- in my youth as a Boehm player, I had a definate tendancy to play flat. I can now keep my tuner happy, as long as I watch my posture, support and embouchure.

Thanks for the feedback and happy fluting!

Kate

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:14 pm

Kate,

I play sharp, and my headjoint when cold (like winter cold) is flush with the body. When the flute is warm, it's pulled out about 5mm. I wonder if that makes a difference?

Eric

BmacD · Post by **BmacD** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:46 pm

I can't help on the Sweet, but I thought that I'd mention that G# can be cross fingered quite well on a small holed Aulos traverso. Also ,I've found G# easy to half hole on large diameter large hole cylindrical flutes like the Tipple or with somewhat more effort an Olwell bamboo.
Bruce

KateG · Post by **KateG** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:47 pm

Half holing my Tipple works fine -- as you say, it has big holes. It's the Sweet that's giving me problems. Looks like I'll have to save harder for a flute with keys -- oh, but what to choose