Chiff and Fipple Forums

neilC wrote:As promised, a clip. Jig of the Dead, Colraine Jig

N

Seriously, if it weren't for the topic, I wouldn't have even noticed what you are calling side-blowing. To my eyes it's so slight that at first I wondered what you were talking about!

Sedi wrote:You mean this one?
https://youtu.be/M6XTJY2E2AQ

Thank you, yes. Sideblowers seem to be in pretty good company.

Thanks for the Kevin Crawford clip - makes me feel a lot better - I think I'll forget retraining, and focus on improving what is already there!

Nanohedron wrote:

neilC wrote:As promised, a clip. Jig of the Dead, Colraine Jig

N

Seriously, if it weren't for the topic, I wouldn't have even noticed what you are calling side-blowing. To my eyes it's so slight that at first I wondered what you were talking about!

It actually came up because a group photo was taken for a band I started playing with, and a few people commented on an odd smile I had with one half of my mouth open, then I noticed I had totally different muscle development in my lips on either side so I started wondering why Being aware has already helped me improve so the journey continues!

I started having problems with the low D until I noticed that there was a radical difference in my grip between low D and e.g. E (which was sounding stronger than the D!) which meant that the flute was moving out of position when I fingered the low D. Mainly due to my pinkie changing the level of support it was providing. Noticing this and compensating for it brought the D back just fine. So; not always embouchure...

Chris

Just to round this thread off - as part of checking issues I had with both low D and tuning, I checked every key (piece of cling-film under every key, then removed each to see if there was a difference) - result was an issue with my long F - the pads on my flute are pretty hard and the spring on that key is quite weak - so the pad was actually lifting when I blew low D (probably E too, but less noticeable) - the more it leaked the harder I tried and the more it lifted... I've put a rubber band around that key for the moment and the difference is huge - the flute honks!

So thanks for all the advice - I've learned a lot

Oh, never would have thought of that. But I did indeed have a similar problem with a boehm flute once. One of the pads was leaking.