Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

I built the new high D flute tonight, decided the fingering was uncomfortable, and built a second one that is a clear improvement. Its a two piece flute, 13.5" long (assembled), and needs some tuning, but it plays through the B note above the top line of the treble clef staff (at least with my limit...

The cost of a good quality Boehm flute is high relative to the type of simple system flute I had in mind, either made by Mr. Doug Tipple, or created in one's garage with some PVC pipe and the cork from a bottle of wine. I'll probably make a high D flute sometime this week, if I remember to swing by ...

Try a low G whistle if you've got shorter, stubbier fingers. I can manage a low D whistle, but it takes some practice to learn not to overblow and focus on finger placement with a low whistle. I am inclined to believe you need lessons more than an odd flute configuration. I don't know how Boehm flut...

Here is a web page at Amazon FULL of low D whistles. They're a great instrument. Most relaxing. No embouchure issues. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=low+whistle . I'd recommend the $9.00 (new) low D cane whistle. That's the type I own. It's a fine whistle,...

The simple system flute has a great deal of appeal. It can be purchased very cheaply, requires no maintenance of pads or springs, and can be played in a variety of styles. (It's also a lot less intimidating than the Boehm system flute!)

Please consider the ergonomics of playing a Boehm system flute held in front of you and pointing downward. If you have the flute in your picture, try fingering notes of a scale in that vertical position. The development of an embouchure won't happen overnight. Even if you do get a sound from a flute...

Mine sounds warm and wooden (low D). I think Mr. Tipple's flutes are quite unique. He's certainly pushing the evolution of the simple system flute to a new level! I look forward to seeing what people say about his new embouchure. I suspect he may perfect it to the point of being able to deal with in...

I just got word from Mr. Doug Tipple (dougsflutes@gmail.com) that he is moving to a new embouchure design: "I haven't mentioned this yet at my website. My newest embouchure design is a larger oval shape. It is more time-consuming to cut by hand, but it makes for a more powerful flute. I think that i...

I received a cedar, all wood, hand carved, Native American flute yesterday. :D I immediately did what I typically do with flutes, and attempted to play something traditional and Irish. I found that this flute is better suited to meditative pieces. 8) I made up a little tune last night (after practic...

www.whistlethis.com (short Irish pieces with MP3 files to show you how they're played). Google "O'Carolan". There's a guy on E-bay selling downloadable sheet music books inexpensively for many different instruments. I think he had a "buy 2 get one free special", but I'm not sure. They're all electro...

I recently acquired a "Melody" brand (primitive) transverse flute made in Maryland. It was used, and after a trip through the dishwasher (without drying cycle), I gave it a try. This flute is constructed like a tin whistle turned on its side, with a "cheater" welded to the side to direct air flow to...

The slow metronome setting (actually, bluegrass style rhythm section on my keyboard (style 90 on an el cheapo Yamaha) providing a "whump- chhh-whump- chhhh" effect) is doing more than just improving my timing. Its permitting me to pay more attention to reading the sheet music, because the slow BPM s...

Here I am, telling myself that I should forget about 4/4 and 3/4 time and think only in 8/8 and 6/8 time to make it easier to keep time, and I miss the obvious extension of that thinking to a metronome. (I'd substituted counting in my head for foot tapping, because my lower leg would get tired after...

I just put the PVC flute (and all others) down for a few days due to the imminent demise of a certain feline. Now I pick it back up, and somehow seem to be able to play with lower volume and more control. Odd. Did I just have to forget some of my beginner mistakes, or is it just a matter of not tryi...

Yeah, no problem. Just play it like a D major scale whistle, and it will work out fine regardless of the Dizi traditional scale or the western scale. (Either that, or I'm tone deaf...)