Can a flute play a low B flat?

notootsieno · Post by **notootsieno** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:28 pm

I was just wondering if it was possible to play a
low Bb on the flute, as in below C1. If it is, could someone please tell me the
fingerings?

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:39 pm

You can play low b if you have a b foot
joint on your flute. But I don't think you can play b flat..I have read that
there is a flute with a B flat footjoint but I don't think those are very
common. Kim [quote] ---------------- On 3/20/2004 8:28:13 PM I was just
wondering if it was possible to play a low Bb on the flute, as in below C1. If
it is, could someone please tell me the fingerings? ---------------- [/quote]

notootsieno · Post by **notootsieno** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:00 pm

Thank you for replying! It would be cool
to have a flute with a Bb footjoint. I like low notes. lol I'm weird.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:03 pm

LOL if you are weird then I am too. I
love to play the lower notes !!! Kim [quote] Thank you for replying! It would be
cool to have a flute with a Bb footjoint. I like low notes. lol I'm weird.
[/quote]

flutietootie4lyfe · Post by **flutietootie4lyfe** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:27 pm

yes but only on a flute with a bflat
extension (instead of 2 keys on the end it has three) this is usually only on
proffessional models not student

flutietootie4lyfe · Post by **flutietootie4lyfe** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:28 pm

yes but only on a flute with a b
extension (instead of 2 keys on the end it has three) this is usually only on
proffessional models not student P.s. this is only for B not b flat

ick27 · Post by **ick27** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 10:53 pm

There are modern flutes with B flat foot
joints (I believe there is one in the Dayton Miller collection for instance.)
I've heard that a few pieces have low B flats, and people have come up with a
variety of ways to extend the flute body to the proper length so that the B key
produces a B flat instead. Eldred Spell has a picture of one of these things on
his website http://www.eldredspellflutes.com/Widgets.htm Of course, you could
just use a rolled up notecard to the same effect, but it wouldn't be as durable
or attractive and you'd have to tune it your self. -Bradford

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:16 pm

Bradford~ Thanks for sharing that link.
As I said above I had read that they make something special but I had never saw
them before. Kim [quote] Eldred Spell has a picture of one of these things on
his website http://www.eldredspellflutes.com/Widgets.htm Of course, you could
just use a rolled up notecard to the same effect, but it wouldn't be as durable
or attractive and you'd have to tune it your self. -Bradford [/quote]

flautist blackie · Post by **flautist blackie** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:46 pm

haha. i like the low notes too. you
would probably like playing alto or bass flute. they make contrabass flutes and
hyperbass flutes now too.

Cleartone · Post by **Cleartone** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:44 am

There is another way of course. If you
have a b foot, just adjust your head joint to about as far as it will come out
without it falling off and also pull your cork out a ways and you will have a B
flat playing your lowest note. Everything else will be a half note off and the
intonation in general will be off. but that is a funny way to do it isn't it?
So I guess I am weird too. Sometimes when I play with DJs that don't know music
I have to cheat in order to be in tune with the records they spin, so sometimes
when I find myself in that situation with no time to explain I pull the cork out
a bit. It can be to say the least a bit challenging

notootsieno · Post by **notootsieno** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 8:01 pm

Thanks to all those who replied! And
Cleartone, that sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a try.

Cryformyabsence · Post by **Cryformyabsence** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:31 pm

flutietootie4lyfe wrote:yes but only on a flute with a bflat
extension (instead of 2 keys on the end it has three) this is usually only on
proffessional models not student

That's actually only a B natural extension. I have it on my flute, it doesn't do Bb's.

biggzh · Post by **biggzh** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:26 pm

If you're pretty good, you can actually "bend" the B down to a Bb.

Jim_P · Post by **Jim_P** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:08 pm

There have actually been flutes made that go lower than the B-flat. I believe I once saw a picture of a man playing a German flute that went all the way down to G.

However, it seems to me an alto flute is the way to go if you love the dark resonance of the lowest notes and really want to play down there below C level.

--James

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:42 am

i like low notes too, my notes sound like shnit... really. very airy & stuff

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