10. New notes on flute : E and F

Below is the fingering chart for notes E and F.

Watch the video on how to play these new notes

9. Flute first notes B, A, G : Mary Had A Little Lamb

Below is the muss sheet for Mary Had A Little Lamb.  It uses only the 3 notes we learnt from the previous blog, i.e. notes B, A and G.

Watch the video to learn how to play

8. Flute Home Keys and First Notes : B, A, G

Below are the home keys for each finger. Note that the red X keys are not pressed.

The abbreviations are as follows:

TH = Left hand thumb

LH1 = Left hand first finger (index finger)

LH2 = Left hand 2nd finger

LH3 = Left hand 3rd finger

LH4 = Left hand 4th finger (pinky)

RH1 = Right hand first finger (index finger)

RH2 = Right hand 2nd finger

RH3 = Right hand 3rd finger

RH4 = Right hand 4th finger

X = These keys are not pressed

The pic below shows the right hand thumb home key. Note that the one in green is the main home key. The one in blue is the Bb key. We will be using it later. For now, we will use the one in green.

The next pic below, shows the fingering chart for the notes B, A and G. Note that the red keys marked as X is not shown in the fingering chart.

Watch the video

7. How to hold the flute

Below is a picture showing the balance points:

The flute sits on the base of the left index finger. This is the Pivot point. The entire flute "rotates" around this pivot point. The right Thumb/Pinky fingers pushes forward. This causes the lip plate to push into the chin.

Watch the video.

6. Assembling the flute and marking the head joint with stickers

Below is a picture showing how I align the front edge of the embouchure hole with the centre of the first key. Note the green line.

Below are the labels that I paste on the flute to mark the alignment. Note the red arrows.

Watch the video here.

5. How to do articulation on the flute

Articulation gives a clearer note. And it also defines the start of the note. To do articulation ( also known as tonguing ), say the syllable "TU", but without making any sound.


The diagram below shows the shape of the lip opening when playing low or high notes. Referring to the above, when playing low notes, the lip opening is bigger and when playing low notes, it is smaller.

In the diagram below, when you play higher notes, you need to pout your lips slightly and this brings the lower lip forward and covers more of the embouchure hole.

In the picture below, this is what it looks like when playing low notes. To play a low note with articulation, say the syllable "TU" to start the note, then continue blowing. Note that the embouchure hole is about 1/2 covered by the lower lip.

In the picture below, this is what playing a high note looks like. To play a higher note with articulation, pout the lips (pushing it out slightly), then make the syllable "TU" to start the note and then continue blowing. This will automatically cover more than 3/4 of the embouchure hole.

Watch the video here

4. Flute embouchure for playing high notes

Below is the embouchure for playing low notes:

Next is the embouchure for playing high notes:

Note that the lips are more compressed and the opening in the lips is smaller. This creates a faster jet stream which is necessary in order to produce a higher pitch.

Watch the video

3. How to make a sound on the flute

Below is a picture of the cross section of a flute:

Note that when you blow, the air-stream is split into two by the far edge of the blow hole. Part of the air goes into the flute whilst part of it goes across the flute. 

Learn how to make a sound on the flute

2. Flute: Which hole does each key close?

What happens when you try to play a note and nothing happens or it sounds weird. Sometimes it could be caused by a popped spring which then causes a pad to fail to close ( or open ). How would you troubleshoot to find out which spring has popped ( come out of its post )?  When a key is pressed, which hole it closes is not as straightforward as one might think. For example, in the picture below, which hole do you think is closed when the finger labelled as 1 is pressed:

The answer is as below:

It closes not hole under the key 1. In fact there is no hole under key labelled as 1. It actually remotely closes another hole labelled as 2 in the picture above.

I have created a video to document which hole each key closes or opens. 

You can view it here.

1 Unboxing my new flute

This is my new flute:

Specs:

Split E mechanism, C footjoint, offset-G, Closed hole

Watch the video