Bamboo flute muting/cutting out during ornaments

[theotherleadingbrand]

Just wondering if it has something to do with:

-my embouchure quality
-tone hole size
-bore size
-pitch of notes being maniputed
-speed and depth of ornament
-type of ornament (crans seem to be the worst)
-anything I didn't mention or any combination of the above

I've started doing cuts with the finger above the note in play instead of always using the G&B fingers and this helps out, (thanks Bretton for the advice). Otherwise I practice at a sloth-like pace and make sure I'm somewhat comfortable before speeding up. I try to always start from a good solid tone before I manipulate it in some way. Still, sometimes I get an ornament and sometimes I get silence. Any suggestions? How can I expect a good quality woodenflute to compare to a cheap bamboo flute as far as responsiveness goes(or is it mostly a matter of ability)?

[sturob]

We're talking about your playing a bamboo now, right?

Bamboos tend to have a slower response than conical wooden flutes. It's more of a feature than a flaw, in some ways. I feel like, with cylindrical flutes (like your bamboo), there's more of a difference in the octaves, for example. Bamboos tend to really feel like they're "shifting" into the next octave.

Likewise, they respond a bit differently than a conical flute. I said "slower," but it might just be different. I think they tend not to respond as well to cross-fingerings, which might be why your flute seems to "cut out" when you try to play ornamentation.

When you've got such an instrument, it's helpful to ornament as Bretton suggested to you, with fingers close to the note, and not using just G and B. However, if you can't get stuff like cranns to work, you might be lifting up other fingers or something. Eh, hard to diagnose over the internet.

Stuart

[talasiga]

....... How can I expect a good quality woodenflute to compare to a cheap bamboo flute as far as responsiveness goes(or is it mostly a matter of ability)?

I think you have ansewered yourself with your own question

I made a live recording of a flute seller in Delhi
playing the most fantastic music in two and a half octaves
and very fast on the crappiest piece of bamboo this side of the Ganj.

Having said that I must say that the flute I bought off him
(it was the only way he would accept "payment"
for allowing me to record him - I HAD to buy a flute)
is a bit of a wall hanger around these parts.

There are other "cheap" bamboo flutes here that sound much better.
Please don't compare a good wooden with a bad bamboo.

Get a better bamboo or knock on wood.