I knew it would take forever to play decent, but I never realized how hard it would be to just make a sound out of a Flute. I must enjoy it because I haven’t given up yet.
I’ve been able to slowly coax single notes out after a little adjusting of my embouchre until it makes a sound. I’ve been focusing on getting the low “D” first and then going up the scale (slowly) to the high “D”. Playing long notes (long for me anyway). Is this a good way to begin to strengthen my embouchre?
Hello,
I believe long tones are a fantastic way to improve breath and tone. Explore how many types of tones you can produce as well in a single note. It is not all about how fast you play.
KLurt
Start from A (top two fingers) in the lower octave and work both up and down from there. D is the most difficult note in the bottom octave, or close to it.
No need for me to add to what has already been said, but let me add a note of encouragement. As one who is only 3 years down the track, I well remember the weeks of struggling just to get a reasonable sound, let alone a tune! Hell, I even remember the struggle just to hold the darn thing! I could get a sound out of the head joint alone, but holding the whole flute in the right place to blow across the hole seemed near impossible.
Keep playing long tones, read up about diaphragm breathing and you’ll do Ok.
Yes, what they said. I’m only a year down the road. I felt that way. I was ‘reassured’ by the memory of a flat-mate, who was pretty good on whistle, taking hours and hours of practice to get a simple tune out of his first flute; after that it just got better.
I got a Hammy Hamilton Practice flute a few months ago and only last week notes started to sound right; at the beginning I was permanently out of breath and a bit dizzy;
It is definitely easier starting on that “A” than the low “D”. I can actually coax a few notes out of it now. That was a big help. Being able to string a few notes together goes along way at this point.
Do you play the second octave “D” full fingered or uncover the top hole?
About holding it, I’m still working on that too. the “C#” to “D” is hard because I’m still working on the proper grip.
Walking down to the D is the way to go; it’s a lot easier to get to the D from E, and to E from F#, etc.
Do you play the second octave “D” full fingered or uncover the top hole?
The only answer to this is “yes, depending.”
Some flutes sound better one way than the other, so I’d use that fingering on important or held notes. At other times, the d might be a fleeting note that goes by in the blink of an eye, and then I play whichever is easier, given the notes around it, according to the “move the minimum number of fingers” principle.
For a d that comes after a c natural (oxxooo), I’d just drop the fingers of my bottom hand (oxxxxx) for the d. In another tune, I might be playing an e (xxxxxo) followed by d, and then I’d drop my first finger (xxxxxx) to get to d.
I find that the vented 2nd octave D is usually easier to sound on both whistles and flutes I have run across, but it’s not always easier to wiggle that finger at the proper time, and if I’ve got a good stream of air going it doesn’t seem to matter. But if I’m starting a phrase on that D, it’s worth it to try and use the vented approach.
The good thing about playing the flute is, once you master it, you can make wonderful sounds as if by magic. You will have really done something to be proud of and that will bring you (and others?) many hours of enjoyment.
Above all, it’s the journey. Don’t be in a rush. When it stops being fun, put it down for a little while, and pick it up again when you are motivated. You will always have something that needs worked on, so develop the view that the “working on” is part of the fun.
Yes. I watched that several times over the weekend and it helped me a lot. He is an entertaining speaker as well. I went to his web site looking for the sheet music to the exercise he teaches later on in the Masterclass. He has other Classes available for download there too.
The ‘all fingers’ d tends to have a slightly rougher (or maybe more ragged) attack than d with the first hole vented on many flutes and whistles. Sometimes, that’s not a bad thing. A note that wobbles a bit between d and D (in ABC, the bottom octave is upper case and the upper octave is lower case!) before resolving into d can be kind of cool, especially at the start of a tune.
I’m about 2 years into the journey (although I grew up playing the “typewriter”), and there are still days when I chase that elusive bottom D in vain, especially the fat variety. Don’t trust anyone who makes it look easy
Hey Ronnie,
Start out learning Flute on a good quality small holed Flute which are by far the easest to play, most makers make a small hole version…one of the really popular ones is the GLP by Terry McGee.
Seek out some one who can give you some lessons.
If you are in an area that has a session, beat a path down there and see if you can’t get a few lessons from someone there who plays the Irish Flute Short of that ,take a few lessons from a classical Flute Player, just to get your breathing correct and learn how to blow on the Flute to get the proper tone and notes. I believe you could even bring your Irish Flute to those lessons. I started out on Classical Flute and played it for years, and I think it helped me in regards to the Irish Flute. I’ve never had Instruction on the Irish Flute( and it probably shows!
cheers
Ben Shaffer
PS very important…watch the Irish Flute Players on Youtube
