Does better flute equal easier hight notes?

[sinebar]

I'm currently playing a Yamaha 381 which is good flute. But would a better flute be easier to get high notes like E, F, F#? In other words the better the flute the easier the high notes?

[dartie]

I think that this should be true... generally speaking. On the other hand, I have a really cheap Trevor James for um... 17 years and I'm not changing it!! I give it a service once a year and I even played in my diploma with that . I tried playing with other (better) flutes, silver ones, with gold how is that called - the thing you put your lips on.. but mine remains the best . It has a clear and loud sound both in high and low notes and when I have to play with another flute, I want to kill myself Maybe I confused you now...

ps. when you say E, F, F#... you mean the third ones? Cause there's much more to go... up to fourth C and D..

[vandoren]

I'm currently playing a Yamaha 381 which is good flute. But would a better flute be easier to get high notes like E, F, F#? In other words the better the flute the easier the high notes?

What does 'better' mean - more expensive?. I can get these notes easily with Yam 211.

[kflutist]

Depending on what you are meaning yes or no. Let me explain, a better flute (better crafted) may help the notes to respond faster and more in tune. This is actually one of the reasons that I am looking into a new flute. I am playing on a beginner flute which I've had for 8 years an E.F. Olds NA77S. It has worked well for me and with the notes mentioned it usually responds as I expect it to. They come out. Sometimes I have problems with E3 and F#3 but I usually just account it to my playing.

Here is the no part. Often times the instrument helps the player, but it does not make the player. The flute is a tool that we use just like a jeweler uses pliers or saws or any number of other tools (sorry first analogy that came to mind). If you are ready for a better flute than yes it will help you but if you aren't it won't help you and could actually hinder you.

If you are concerned that the issue lies with your instrument take it to a tech and have it checked out. You could also talk to your private teacher or another more advanced flutist who knows your playing. They can probably honestly tell you whether you need to have your flute looked at or just need more practice. Sorry for the length

[sinebar]

Depending on what you are meaning yes or no. Let me explain, a better flute (better crafted) may help the notes to respond faster and more in tune. This is actually one of the reasons that I am looking into a new flute. I am playing on a beginner flute which I've had for 8 years an E.F. Olds NA77S. It has worked well for me and with the notes mentioned it usually responds as I expect it to. They come out. Sometimes I have problems with E3 and F#3 but I usually just account it to my playing.

Here is the no part. Often times the instrument helps the player, but it does not make the player. The flute is a tool that we use just like a jeweler uses pliers or saws or any number of other tools (sorry first analogy that came to mind). If you are ready for a better flute than yes it will help you but if you aren't it won't help you and could actually hinder you.

If you are concerned that the issue lies with your instrument take it to a tech and have it checked out. You could also talk to your private teacher or another more advanced flutist who knows your playing. They can probably honestly tell you whether you need to have your flute looked at or just need more practice. Sorry for the length

So I gather then that it's mostly in developing the embouchure?

[kflutist]

I think yes. Just give it some time and practice and it should get easier.

[Iolaus]

I'm currently playing a Yamaha 381 which is good flute. But would a better flute be easier to get high notes like E, F, F#? In other words the better the flute the easier the high notes?

I'm playing on an old Gemmie M3 and I practice two to three hours a day; I'm playing my exercises up to D4 with relative ease.

kflutist is right; "If you are ready for a better flute than yes it will help you but if you aren't it won't help you and could actually hinder you. ." When I first started back up with lessons, I asked my teacher if I should upgrade; she felt I had more I could wring out of the one I had and told me to wait. That was about 6 months ago. I think if I asked her now, she might answer differently, but I'm putting off the cost as long as possible. As long as I'm still progressing, I'll work with what I have.

Practicing correctly is the key. Yes, have someone experienced test it for you, but if they can make it play things you can't... a little more patience and a little more effort may be all it needs.

[Phineas]

One word....NO

Just because you have a better flute does not mean you can hit high notes better. If you have trouble hitting high notes, it is either one of 3 things.

1. You have a leak, or your instrument needs adjustment.
2. Practice Practice Practice.
3. A different headjoint.

I have a wood headjoint that favors the lower to mid registers, and a silver head joint that favors the higher register. This does not mean my flute is cheap.

Phineas

[sidekicker]

Phineas is right. Absent leaks and other technical deficiencies, the response of the flute is largely determined by the quality of the headjoint. Higher end (i.e. more expensive) flutes tend to be better in that department mostly because the quality of the heads (which are almost always hand-tooled) is dramatically better.

So, in a nutshell: IMO, if you want better response in that register (and in the others) look into investing in a hand-crafted headjoint. If you get the right one for your needs it will be almost as though you have purchased a brand new flute.

SK

[fluteguy18]

I have been watching this thread for a while now, but had decided to sit back and observe.

Now my .02


I dont think so either. While a better flute COULD yield better results, we must remember that a flute is merely a tool. So, just practice and get your flute checked for leaks. As for an example why a better flute probably won't automatically make your high notes better is a story about a principal orchestral flutist my Professor knows. For a while, my flute prof. played in an orchestra in Mexico. Nearby was one of the major latin american orchestras. She got to know the principal player there, and found out that he plays a Gemeinhardt 2sp [standard gemmy student flute]. So, her opinion is that he is a very competant principal player, yet he doesnt choose to play a very nice flute.

So, while I am sure many of you have heard this story from me many times, a better flute doesn't always mean better results.

Before you go out and spend your money, get your flute checked, practice, and work on upper register excercizes. After a couple of months of solid work, then come back and debate an upgrade.

If you do however decide to upgrade soon, just remember to try before you buy, and don't get caught up by whether it is pretty [a flutist in my studio bought her handmade pearl *over $6,000* because it was pretty and it shows in the long run].

[atoriphile]

The easiest way to find out if a new flute (or just a new headjoint) would be better is to try out other flutes. If you have no problems with the high E or F# on these other flutes, then an upgrade might help. If you still have problems playing those notes, then upgrading probably won't help.

Good luck!

[Iolaus]

I doubt the headjoint itself is to blame unless it's damaged in some way; I would think that, with a decent embouchure, any halfway decent student flute should be able to reach E or F easily.

[fluttiegurl]

That depends. Some headjoints offer a better high register for some players. The same goes for the low register. Keep in mind that I say this with regards to headjoints in general, and that they are all designed quite differently. However, if there is a great deal of difficulty getting any notes out, it could be embouchure or it could be adjustment issues with the flute itself.

In this case, I would highly recommend having the flute checked out by a tech just as kflutist suggested. If it is not mechanical, it is more likely an embouchure issue, or could be a combination of the two. High E is a tricky note for many players and may take some time to accomplish a nice sound every time.

When a student comes to me and wants to upgrade based on the newer flute being easier to play with no other basis for upgrading, pending that the flute is in good condition, I advise them to work harder on producing a noce sound first. If he/she is very serious, we will talk about a new flute when the time is right.

[kflutist]

[quote="Iolaus"]I doubt the headjoint itself is to blame unless it's damaged in some way; I would think that, with a decent embouchure, any halfway decent student flute should be able to reach E or F easily.[/quote]

Even a damaged headjoint (while a very bad thing) is not necessarily to blame. In high school one of the girls in my section had a headjoint with a major dent in the underside. She, playing on the flute, could not play F2 let alone F3. However when I asked to see if the headjoint was the problem, using her flute and headjoint, I was able to play up to Bb3, in the case of a c-foot, the one way above the staff, without a problem.

This is why I advise to have another more advanced flutist or a tech to check the flute. This way you can be sure that it is the flute and not a lack of practice.

[Iolaus]

[...]
This is why I advise to have another more advanced flutist or a tech to check the flute. This way you can be sure that it is the flute and not a lack of practice.

Absolutely.