So Where to Begin?
- SilverStrand
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So Where to Begin?
I just bought an irish flute...a Dixon Pvc nontunable. I have played the whistle for almost 3 years so the fingering shouldn't be AS difficult as it was when I started on the whistle. However, when I put my fingers on the holes and hold the flute the way it is supposed to be held, my left wrist immediately aches. Is that normal?
As for blowing and making sound from the flute how do you do so?
Basically, where can I find a good online tutorial on all these things?
Thank you!
~Kerry
As for blowing and making sound from the flute how do you do so?
Basically, where can I find a good online tutorial on all these things?
Thank you!
~Kerry
"Block out the Sun and Pack up the Sky"
Lots of places:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Rocksto_on_ ... flute.html
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Learning.html
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/learning.html
I know there are others, but those were easiest to find in my bookmarks, and I'm off to dinner. Best of luck.
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Rocksto_on_ ... flute.html
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Learning.html
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/learning.html
I know there are others, but those were easiest to find in my bookmarks, and I'm off to dinner. Best of luck.
- toughknot
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Rob Greenways Irish Flute Page
http://www.geocities.com/feadanach/
http://www.geocities.com/feadanach/
I shall never bitter be so long as I can laugh at me.
- AaronMalcomb
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Wrist Pain- Your left wrist should remain straight but relaxed. What grip are you using? If using pipers' grip your fingers should remain straight and relaxed and move from the base knuckle. If using "traditional" grip you should bend your fingers from the next joint up. You may find it a bit more comfortable to turn your forearm to put your hand at about 45° to the flute.
Getting a Sound- Tighten the corners of your mouth only tight enough so that when you blow a rice sized stream of air escapes from the middle section of your lips. You don't need to blow much harder than on whistle. It's the compression of air from your embouchure that makes the biggest difference.
I second the links to Brad Hurley's and Rob Greenway's pages. There's some good info on Michael Cronnolly's page too.
Cheers,
Aaron
Getting a Sound- Tighten the corners of your mouth only tight enough so that when you blow a rice sized stream of air escapes from the middle section of your lips. You don't need to blow much harder than on whistle. It's the compression of air from your embouchure that makes the biggest difference.
I second the links to Brad Hurley's and Rob Greenway's pages. There's some good info on Michael Cronnolly's page too.
Cheers,
Aaron
- SilverStrand
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- SilverStrand
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- Terry McGee
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Well done!
Keep in mind that as you go lower in pitch, you should direct your air jet lower down, and as you go higher, it must come up closer to just below the edge on the far side of the hole. Pout more to reduce jet length in the second octave.
Alternate high notes and low notes - you should be able to feel the jet rising for the upper notes and being directed downwards for the lower ones.
Terry
Keep in mind that as you go lower in pitch, you should direct your air jet lower down, and as you go higher, it must come up closer to just below the edge on the far side of the hole. Pout more to reduce jet length in the second octave.
Alternate high notes and low notes - you should be able to feel the jet rising for the upper notes and being directed downwards for the lower ones.
Terry
- Doc Jones
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Well said Terry.
I think by "pouting" Terry might mean to stick your lower lip out a bit for that second octave. Doing so will make the higher notes much easier and sweeter to hit.
Doc
BTW way Terry if that's not what you meant let me know.
Best for me not to put words in the mouth of someone that has forgotten more about flutes than I'll ever know.
I think by "pouting" Terry might mean to stick your lower lip out a bit for that second octave. Doing so will make the higher notes much easier and sweeter to hit.
Doc
BTW way Terry if that's not what you meant let me know.
Best for me not to put words in the mouth of someone that has forgotten more about flutes than I'll ever know.
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- ChrisA
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I think by pout more he means sticking out -both- lips more. If you stick out only yourDoc Jones wrote:Well said Terry.
I think by "pouting" Terry might mean to stick your lower lip out a bit for that second octave. Doing so will make the higher notes much easier and sweeter to hit.
Doc
BTW way Terry if that's not what you meant let me know.
Best for me not to put words in the mouth of someone that has forgotten more about flutes than I'll ever know.
lower lip, you'll raise the jet up, because the relationship between upper and lower lip determines
the angle of the stream. Of course, what we're doing and what it -feels- like are not
always exactly the same, but I think pouting describes that shift rather well.
- Doug_Tipple
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- Doc Jones
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Yup, you're right. They both do go out. I guess I only ever thought about the bottem one. The top one must have just been following along. Good clarification.ChrisA wrote:I think by pout more he means sticking out -both- lips more. If you stick out only yourDoc Jones wrote:Well said Terry.
I think by "pouting" Terry might mean to stick your lower lip out a bit for that second octave. Doing so will make the higher notes much easier and sweeter to hit.
Doc
BTW way Terry if that's not what you meant let me know.
Best for me not to put words in the mouth of someone that has forgotten more about flutes than I'll ever know.
lower lip, you'll raise the jet up, because the relationship between upper and lower lip determines
the angle of the stream. Of course, what we're doing and what it -feels- like are not
always exactly the same, but I think pouting describes that shift rather well.
Doc
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- stiofan
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Kerry -
As a fellow newbie (9 months for me), besides the online resources others have mentioned, I'd highly recommend Grey Larsen's "Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle" with its accompanying cds. As I'm sure more experienced players will testify, it's both a highly regarded tutorial and practically an encyclopedia on the flute & whistle. Of course, tutorials can't replace the one-on-one instruction of a teacher, but in my opinion they can certainly be a useful supplement to lessons, or can even be a decent alternative if there isn't a flute teacher where you live (or is there?).
good luck - glad you're enjoying the flute so far!
stephen
http://www.greylarsen.com/
p.s. madfortrad has a flute tutorial by Seamus Egan, though I haven't heard much about it. I have the whistle tutorial by Brian Finnegan, which I still use now and then.
As a fellow newbie (9 months for me), besides the online resources others have mentioned, I'd highly recommend Grey Larsen's "Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle" with its accompanying cds. As I'm sure more experienced players will testify, it's both a highly regarded tutorial and practically an encyclopedia on the flute & whistle. Of course, tutorials can't replace the one-on-one instruction of a teacher, but in my opinion they can certainly be a useful supplement to lessons, or can even be a decent alternative if there isn't a flute teacher where you live (or is there?).
good luck - glad you're enjoying the flute so far!
stephen
http://www.greylarsen.com/
p.s. madfortrad has a flute tutorial by Seamus Egan, though I haven't heard much about it. I have the whistle tutorial by Brian Finnegan, which I still use now and then.