Chiff and Fipple Forums

Hi everyone,
I have a question about a alto recorder I bought some time ago...
It is a beautiful Mollenhauer palisander flute(commercial) with a georgous tone
and I enjoy it very much but....even tough I oiled the flute
the high notes are pretty weak and difficult to produce.
my question: was the flute made that way or am I looking to
have the flute checked by a technician? (perhaps it needs some repair?)
Since that I am new to recorders (I've played the flute for over 30 years)
any advice would be helpful...

Thanks in advance folks!

Hi, welcome.

card2132 wrote:am I looking to have the flute checked by a technician? (perhaps it needs some repair?)

Not even a technician, but first by an experienced recorder player (which is easier to come by). The higher notes, C and above, are tricky, and your being new to recorders could be the main explanation.

Things to try are:

1. Check your finger placements. Make sure you're covering the holes with the balls/pads of your fingers, not the tips, and covering completely.

2. Experiment with the placement of your thumb on the thumb hole - thumbnail and/or flesh. Differences of a millimeter or less when half-holing the thumb can make a huge difference in the tone and ease with which the upper notes speak.

3. Really narrow your embouchure by tightening/puckering your lips. The high notes generally like a narrow, high velocity airstream. If you're taking too much of the beak in your mouth, back it off and just rest the beak against your lips for embouchure control.