Chiff and Fipple Forums

Hi C&F folks,

My question is about the different ways of half-holing notes.

How do you do it?

Notice that I'm not asking how to half-hole, but rather asking about your particular manner of doing so.

Here is my answer, starting from the Cnat (on a D flute, playing right handed):

- Cnat: rolling the LH index finger away from the embouchure hole (rolling toward the foot of the instrument). Though I usually cross finger oxxxox for this note.

- Bb/A#: tip of the LH 2nd finger covers the part of the hole on the opposite side of the lips.

- Ab/G#: same technique as Bb

- Fnat: roll RH middle finger either toward or away from the embouchure hole; normally toward the embouchure hole.

- Eb: for the lower octave: RH third finger rolled toward the emouchure hole - the note is quiet and too huffy and pretty much unusable. Upper octave: same fingering with slightly better results.

So what is your technique?

Thank you for your replies!

Aldon

I slide to the right on my right hand, and to the left on my left hand. Seems logical.

That's a really good question.

I cross-finger Cnat and have never been able to get a clear Eflat, whence the one-key flutes.

For all others I roll away from the head. My old teacher always advocated straightening the finger, so lifting the part that's away from the player. I was never able to get that to work right, but he played fully chromatic that way.

On the flute I've usually lifted part of my finger. No rolling involved.

Never really thought about it before, but I sort of roll the tip of my finger off the hole a little, (i.e. less downward pressure over the entire hole) - some times backwards, sometimes to the side.

I avoid it as much as possible - completely on flute, really. So I only do it, very rarely, on whistles. I mostly play fully keyed flutes anyway and would avoid using a keyless for tunes requiring those accidentals. If pushed, I prefer to cross-finger rather than half-hole on both keyless flute and whistle if a usable cross-fingering is available.