Somers flute blows flat
- AngelicBeaver
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- Tell us something.: I've been playing whistles since 2010. I love how varied whistles are in their design, construction, tone, and handling. Though I've largely settled on what I enjoy playing, I'm still a sucker for an interesting new design.
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Re: Somers flute blows flat
The seller got back to me, and he didn't notice the flute blowing flatter than any of his other flutes, so either he subconsciously adjusted something, or it's just me.
Nathaniel James Dowell
- Loren
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Re: Somers flute blows flat
Is this your first Prattens type flute? Initially playing flat on a large hole/large bore flute is not uncommon for those coming from “smaller” flutes. This would be particularly true if you tend flat on those smaller flutes but don’t realize it because you have been adjusting with the slide.AngelicBeaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:15 pm The seller got back to me, and he didn't notice the flute blowing flatter than any of his other flutes, so either he subconsciously adjusted something, or it's just me.
The number of years one has been playing isn’t necessarily the deciding factor here as much as what flutes you learned on and how you learned to play them. This is particularly true if you mostly play alone, as opposed to often playing with others where better intonation and greater volume can be required.
Since Garry has a good reputation as a flute maker, and the previous owner states no issues with the flute, most likely you simply need to adjust to the larger holes and/or bore of the flute, plus the somewhat unusual embouchure cut I mentioned previously. 15 minutes of long tones a day focusing on breath support, embouchure efficiency, projection and power should sort the issue for you. My pitch came up considerably on my Olwell Pratten (necessitating more slide extension) when I consistently worked on this daily, some years ago.
Hope this helps.
- Loren
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Make a new plan, Stan
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Hop on the bus, Gus
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Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free - Location: Loren has left the building.
Re: Somers flute blows flat
Also, do continue to consider and evaluate the possibility that you are playing with the headjoint too rolled in, which is a common reason for playing flat overall. You may have unconsciously compensated for this on other flutes by simply blowing harder, but on the larger hole/bore flutes this type of compensation becomes difficult.
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Re: Somers flute blows flat
Have you measured the position of the headjoint cork to make sure it is the correct distance fro the center of the embouchure?
- chas
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Re: Somers flute blows flat
I never was able to blow a Seery or Hammy into tune. When I came up flat when I switched from a Rudall- to Nicholson-type Olwell (nothing like the switch from a small-holed to a Pratten) and I bellyached about it, Chris Norman said to me, "Don't blame the flute for your inability to play it in tune."Loren wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:44 amIs this your first Prattens type flute? Initially playing flat on a large hole/large bore flute is not uncommon for those coming from “smaller” flutes. This would be particularly true if you tend flat on those smaller flutes but don’t realize it because you have been adjusting with the slide.AngelicBeaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:15 pm The seller got back to me, and he didn't notice the flute blowing flatter than any of his other flutes, so either he subconsciously adjusted something, or it's just me.
Charlie
Whorfin Woods
"Our work puts heavy metal where it belongs -- as a music genre and not a pollutant in drinking water." -- Prof Ali Miserez.
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"Our work puts heavy metal where it belongs -- as a music genre and not a pollutant in drinking water." -- Prof Ali Miserez.
- Loren
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- Tell us something.: You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free - Location: Loren has left the building.
Re: Somers flute blows flat
Indeed, though that type of straightforward, honest response is often considered insulting and unhelpful on these forums. One wonders if people would have the balls to respond to Mr. Norman the way they responded to me when I made similar, but somewhat tamer, comments recently…..chas wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 9:24 amI never was able to blow a Seery or Hammy into tune. When I came up flat when I switched from a Rudall- to Nicholson-type Olwell (nothing like the switch from a small-holed to a Pratten) and I bellyached about it, Chris Norman said to me, "Don't blame the flute for your inability to play it in tune."Loren wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:44 amIs this your first Prattens type flute? Initially playing flat on a large hole/large bore flute is not uncommon for those coming from “smaller” flutes. This would be particularly true if you tend flat on those smaller flutes but don’t realize it because you have been adjusting with the slide.AngelicBeaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:15 pm The seller got back to me, and he didn't notice the flute blowing flatter than any of his other flutes, so either he subconsciously adjusted something, or it's just me.
Sign of the times I suppose, but it does get more and more difficult to help people on-line these days, because people are so fragile and easily offended.
Anyway, for those who haven’t heard Mr. Norman play, or haven’t seen the flutes he makes, you’re missing out.
- chas
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Re: Somers flute blows flat
It's Chris Norman, he can say anything he wants. Just kidding; this was a private lesson. Probably my fourth or fifth from him, so I knew to listen and what to listen for, and he knew by then he really could tell me anything and I wouldn't get my nose out of joint.Loren wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:49 amIndeed, though that type of straightforward, honest response is often considered insulting and unhelpful on these forums. One wonders if people would have the balls to respond to Mr. Norman the way they responded to me when I made similar, but somewhat tamer, comments recently…..chas wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 9:24 amI never was able to blow a Seery or Hammy into tune. When I came up flat when I switched from a Rudall- to Nicholson-type Olwell (nothing like the switch from a small-holed to a Pratten) and I bellyached about it, Chris Norman said to me, "Don't blame the flute for your inability to play it in tune."Loren wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:44 am
Is this your first Prattens type flute? Initially playing flat on a large hole/large bore flute is not uncommon for those coming from “smaller” flutes. This would be particularly true if you tend flat on those smaller flutes but don’t realize it because you have been adjusting with the slide.
Sign of the times I suppose, but it does get more and more difficult to help people on-line these days, because people are so fragile and easily offended.
Anyway, for those who haven’t heard Mr. Norman play, or haven’t seen the flutes he makes, you’re missing out.
Charlie
Whorfin Woods
"Our work puts heavy metal where it belongs -- as a music genre and not a pollutant in drinking water." -- Prof Ali Miserez.
Whorfin Woods
"Our work puts heavy metal where it belongs -- as a music genre and not a pollutant in drinking water." -- Prof Ali Miserez.
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Re: Somers flute blows flat
On my second whistle lesson, I managed to play something through without actually making a mistake, and – despite the fact I'd forgotten to tune my whistle – the tutor said "Great, you did that well". A woman at the next table wheeled round and said "Jaysus, it sounded like a bag of cats!"
I knew then we were going to become friends.
I knew then we were going to become friends.