So Where to Begin?

SilverStrand · Post by **SilverStrand** » Thu May 05, 2005 3:22 pm

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

Chang He · Post by **Chang He** » Thu May 05, 2005 3:54 pm

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.

toughknot · Post by **toughknot** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:10 pm

Rob Greenways Irish Flute Page
http://www.geocities.com/feadanach/

AaronMalcomb · Post by **AaronMalcomb** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:20 pm

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

SilverStrand · Post by **SilverStrand** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:36 pm

I am getting better at creating the sound but when I try and create a E and D all I get is air...

SilverStrand · Post by **SilverStrand** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:37 pm

Nevermind! I just did it! Whahoo!

Thanks!

Terry McGee · Post by **Terry McGee** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:57 pm

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

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Sat May 07, 2005 7:40 pm

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.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sat May 07, 2005 7:50 pm

I don't even think about all the stuff I do when I play. Just keep working at it eventually you will get it or you could ask questions here and get suggestions either way will work I chose the hard way.

ChrisA · Post by **ChrisA** » Sat May 07, 2005 10:17 pm

Doc 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.

I think by pout more he means sticking out -both- lips more. If you stick out only your
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.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sat May 07, 2005 10:30 pm

pouting... both lips.

This will increase the length of opening in the lips that the air goes through.

Blowing through a straw will sound a flute, blowing through a simliar size hole in a piece of paper will not.

How's that for a SWAG?
Denny

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sat May 07, 2005 11:43 pm

Take your time. You know the flute tone that you want to produce. Experiment until you get it right. After that it will come automatically.

I worked for a long time trying to do circular breathing on a digeridoo. Then, one day I understood how to do it. Now it is easy.

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Sun May 08, 2005 1:02 pm

ChrisA wrote:
Doc 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.
I think by pout more he means sticking out -both- lips more. If you stick out only your
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.

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.

Doc

stiofan · Post by **stiofan** » Sun May 08, 2005 2:17 pm

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.