Use of Eb key

[Steve Bliven]

I have a one-key Sweetheart flute. (Lovely sound by the way.) I'm trying to sort out when to use the key — other than the obvious use to play Eb. Some folks say just turn the key out of the way and don't bother with it. Others say use it as a vent to make the other notes of the scale have a better tone and tuning. A sub-set of those suggest using it only on E, F and G.

So what do those of you with keyed flutes do with the Eb key?

Thanks and best wishes.

Steve

By the way, I tried to search on this topic using "Eb key". The search ignored the Eb and brought up every reference to "key" ever used on the forum. How should I have phrased that to do a more refined search.

[Denny]

sometimes the best you can do is use Google....

enter "eb key" f=2 site:forums.chiffandfipple.com in Google

the site:forums.chiffandfipple.com limits the search to this board
the f=2 limits it to the flute forum

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22eb+ke ... fipple.com

[Sillydill]

Hey Steve,

Simple Rule: If your RH 3 isn't down then the Eb should be open. Only Exception is when you need to play Eb. Of course let your ears be your guide and modify the rule as you see fit.

The great thing about the Eb-key, other than being able to play Eb, is that it dramatically strengthens the E note! It also generally improves the harmonics of other notes, but not always (depends on the flute).

So be a SLOB and keep that pinky down!

[Denny]

Newbie Technique Question

2nd page....

[chas]

It is very flute dependent. The Sweet has pretty large holes, so it will have less of an effect on the E and F# notes. On many flutes you either need the key open to sound an in-tune E or you CAN'T have it open to sound an in-tune E. On some, as Jordan said, it has more of an effect on the strength of the E note than on the pitch. On most it will help the F#. Above that it generally doesn't make a difference, except that the cross-fingered notes. The second-octave Bflat (XXO XXXk) and C (OXO XXXk) are usually much more in-tune with the key open. My experience with the Sweet is that the key doesn't have much of an effect on the E and F# and its use is entirely optional. Which means that I generally have it depressed.

Of course, it's a huge help in the third octave, but we generally don't go there on this board.

[Julia Delaney]

I use the Eb key all the time, but only when I want to hit the Eb note. It's fun. Adds a little twist to some tunes. You can of course play good music without using any key on the keyed flute. But if you have keys you can fool around with them and hear the music in different ways.

[utsilasi]

it depends on the flute, but in the third octave Eb key make possible some notes otherwise unplayable (E above all): there is always a tone or harmonic a seventh hole can adjust

[MikeS]

In my exploration of the traverso my main guide has been Janice Dockendorf Boland's "Method for the One-Keyed Flute."

http://www.amazon.com/Method-One-Keyed- ... 704&sr=8-7

I highly recommend getting a copy. Among other good things it contains as thorough a fingering chart as you are ever likely to find.

She suggests following Quantz' recommendation and avoiding overuse of the key. In particular Quantz was concerned about the Eb key raising the pitch of e', e'', f' and f'' to unacceptable levels. Boland recommends using the key, outside of the fingerings shown on her chart, on two occasions. One is for fast passages through notes where the key does not affect intonation, such as f#''-g''-a''-b'', where the key will be used for one or more of the notes in the series. The second use is on trills like g''-a''-g''-a'' where holding the key down can increase the stability of the flute in your hands.

As with everything else in music, let your ears be the final arbiter. You will definitely want to experiment with using the key for cross-fingered accidentals. Boland's fingering chart shows, for example, six different possible fingerings for a#'. Some use the key and some don't. I've found Boland's suggestions seem to work for me. I have no doubt that what Jordan suggested works well for him. Take some time, listen, and figure out what works for you and your flute.

Since someone might ask, the a#' fingerings are:
x-o-x x-x-o
x-o-x x-x-x K
x-o-x x-x-x
x-o-x x-o-x
x-o-x x-x-o K

[Denny]

But the Eb was the first key
it should be used more than the others!

[benhall.1]

But the Eb was the first key
it should be used more than the others!

Yeah, and guess what the second key was? (According to some, at any rate.) The D# key!

I'm still puzzling that one ...

[Denny]

just ain't equal now, is it

[benhall.1]

I just ain't got the temperament for it I guess

[jemtheflute]

Oh well, I blame it all on that German feller who sounds like a pole for punting barges in the Fens. (Very quaint!)

[benhall.1]

Er yes ... I get the German fella you're on about ... but now I can't find the word for that pole. I thought it was just "pole"

[jemtheflute]

Ah, mis-spent youth: obviously didn't read your Ransome.
Think of a Mary - one of cosmetic renown.