Alternate F#, why not.

m3the01 · Post by **m3the01** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:55 am

Ive looked around for some answers but havent found anything good. LOL

I played flute for a number of year but recently have become absolutely addicted to it again after having close to 10 years or more off.

Anyway, why would i not want to use the alternate F# fingering? I notice no changes in sound, im an amateur though so maybe my ear is not as well trained. Seems a common fingering from F# to E or D is that much easier, im wondering why not?

Thanks for your time,

-SE

MathWizard · Post by **MathWizard** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:23 pm

The alternate fingering is just what it is said to be, an alternate fingering. Just like you can press down the Briccialdi lever when you are playing the Bb. It is just an alternate. The right ring finger being set as the fingering for F# was taken from mere history of how it was normally played. Also, it may have been because the regular F# fingering is used for two normal trills (F to F# and D to F#), while the middle finger F# fingering is used for only one normal trill (E to F#). It also may be because that the third octave F# requires you to use the right ring finger in order to keep it in tune.

Honestly, no one is going to care that much, so it is not something that big to worry about.

apicultrice · Post by **apicultrice** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:01 pm

Oh, me.

Sorry, have to jump in and say that the middle finger F# is kind of verboten in the lower and middle registers, except in very fast passages (although, according to Kujala in his Vade Mecum, it is OK to use middle F# in ascending passages, but not in descending.. Hmm.) The sound tends to be more dull and is almost always out of tune - flat - as opposed to the regular F# fingering, which is your right hand, third finger.

Again, in trills or faster passages it may be OK to use R2 for mid/low register, but I was actually reamed in a masterclass for using it in the Reinecke Undine Sonata, which contains fast and tricky E-F# sextuplet passages, so.. Just know what you're getting into there if you do choose to use it. Personally, I think it's important to work both fingerings in technical studies.

The F# upper register fingering that is typically preferred for tuning purposes is the right hand middle finger, not the ring finger.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:13 pm

I agree with apicultrice. There is a difference in tone and tuning with the alternate fingering. The alternate fingering should be used sparingly and only when it wouldn't be noticed. (Like rapid scales/thirds.... and I don't understand that from the Vade Mecum either).

Use the standard fingering.

apicultrice · Post by **apicultrice** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:36 pm

Yes, seems a bit weird to me too!