Playing f#

BlackSakura · Post by **BlackSakura** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:14 am

Am I going to hell for playing F# with the 2nd finger as opposed to the 3rd finger? Hmm...

thermodynomite · Post by **thermodynomite** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:50 pm

I wouldn't think you're "going to hell" per say....

but you surely might be out of pitch.

etgohomeok · Post by **etgohomeok** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:46 pm

Yes

Just kidding.

The 2nd finger doesn't have good sound. It's the clarinet fingering for that equivalent note, and doesn't work as well as the 3rd finger on the flute.

BlackSakura · Post by **BlackSakura** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:43 pm

The reason I've been playing it that way is because I am having some horrible ergonomic problems with my right hand. I have the exact same problem on oboe (my primary inst). I went ahead and bought a ton kooiman thumb rest and it helps but doesn't solve the problem. I really don't know what to do.

vampav8trix · Post by **vampav8trix** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:10 am

I tend to play it that way in fast passages but mostly in the third register. My F# tends to be really sharp and playing it with the middle finger flattens it out. I can't adjust my embrouchre fast enough to flatten it out when I am zipping along.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:13 am

You really just have to learn to use the third finger F#. It is a pain for a long time, but after a while, it isn't a big deal.

And on the subject of ergonomics....

I haven't tried the ton kooiman. I tried similiar things, and they did nothing for me. But, the Thumbport made a world of a difference in my technique.

Dusk · Post by **Dusk** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:44 pm

I liked life more before I knew that the third finger was the better fingering. As a clarinet player, I was rather irked that there was yet another deviation from the fingering comparisons that I had derived from my other instrument.

OdetteBrion · Post by **OdetteBrion** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:02 am

The only time I would use the second finger for F# would be if my third finger had a serious cramp and nobody in the audience was looking. I know the third finger is a little more troublesome (a.k.a. not lazy lol) but just get to the point where you are comfortable playing F# with it, and then it won't seem like a fingering to avoid or dread. There's a concerto by J.J. Quantz (Concerto in G Major) which is rather embedded with F# trills... plus it's fun to play because it whizzes by rather quickly. A few years ago I learned very fast that I had to be comfortable with the third finger, or else my flute teacher would turn purple in the face. Also, I don't know if this will help, but when I have to do an F# trill now, I think of fireworks going off.

vampav8trix · Post by **vampav8trix** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:01 am

I just got a Muramatsu. I was playing yesterday and I played an F# with my middle finger and was shocked. There was a huge difference in sound with this flute. No more cheating.

With the Yamaha it was hardly noticeable.

Dusk · Post by **Dusk** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:22 pm

OdetteBrion wrote:The only time I would use the second finger for F# would be if my third finger had a serious cramp and nobody in the audience was looking. I know the third finger is a little more troublesome (a.k.a. not lazy lol) but just get to the point where you are comfortable playing F# with it, and then it won't seem like a fingering to avoid or dread. There's a concerto by J.J. Quantz (Concerto in G Major) which is rather embedded with F# trills... plus it's fun to play because it whizzes by rather quickly. A few years ago I learned very fast that I had to be comfortable with the third finger, or else my flute teacher would turn purple in the face. Also, I don't know if this will help, but when I have to do an F# trill now, I think of fireworks going off.

One should never fear a fingering. They can't hurt you or anything...

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:44 pm

vampav8trix wrote:I just got a Muramatsu. I was playing yesterday and I played an F# with my middle finger and was shocked. There was a huge difference in sound with this flute. No more cheating.

With the Yamaha it was hardly noticeable.

I also play a Muramatsu and have the same experience. There is a significant difference in both pitch and tone, at least for me.