question about high E

Callidor · Post by **Callidor** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:13 pm

Everyone knows this note is annoying. I typically have no problems with it when I'm just playing scales, or if I give myself a "running start" from some lower notes, but when I have to hit it in certain contexts, it becomes troublesome. It's not usually that I fall short of it (and produce an A from the octave below) Rather, I may produce a totally different pitch, much higher than the desired E. I cannot for the life of me, do this deliberately. I have no idea what I'm doing differently that causes this. I am making no changes to my airstream.

If anyone can give me some advice on how to avoid this tone, that would be wonderful. (I wish my flute had a split E

)

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:51 pm

Ah yes, the infamous high E.

Since you don't have a problem with it when playing scales, practice playing intervals around the high E. Try playing DEDEDEDE slowly and work to get a good solid tone and pitch on the E. Then try C#EC#EC#EC#E, then CECECECE, BEBEBEBE, etc. AEAEAEAE takes a bit more work, so don't be discouraged if you have trouble with that one - it will come in time, but may take a bit longer. If you miss the E on one particular pattern, repeat it again. Then try approaching the E from above: FEFEFEFE, F#EF#EF#EF#E, GEGEGEGE, etc. Do these for 10 minutes each day. Practice playing them loud, then try it soft. After a while, you should start to fell more secure about the E - it WILL get better!

MathWizard · Post by **MathWizard** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:30 pm

Split E's in my opinion are the worst and most lazy invention that was ever put on the flute. When practiced, a high E is just the same as playing any other high note. Also, split E's make your high F# sound extremely out of tune.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:33 pm

That's an extremely closed minded view. And the high F# is only overtly sharp if you use the fingering using the right hand ring finger. Using the right hand middle finger (for high F# only) brings it down to pitch and the note clarity and stability are improved as well. Now both of the notes (which are usually sharp) are both in tune.

I love my split e, and it is by no means a lazy way of getting the E to sound better. It is a legitimate method and does not make a player any less capable. To say so with such a blanket statement is short sighted indeed.

Callidor · Post by **Callidor** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:18 am

pied_piper wrote:Ah yes, the infamous high E.

Since you don't have a problem with it when playing scales, practice playing intervals around the high E. Try playing DEDEDEDE slowly and work to get a good solid tone and pitch on the E. Then try C#EC#EC#EC#E, then CECECECE, BEBEBEBE, etc. AEAEAEAE takes a bit more work, so don't be discouraged if you have trouble with that one - it will come in time, but may take a bit longer. If you miss the E on one particular pattern, repeat it again. Then try approaching the E from above: FEFEFEFE, F#EF#EF#EF#E, GEGEGEGE, etc. Do these for 10 minutes each day. Practice playing them loud, then try it soft. After a while, you should start to fell more secure about the E - it WILL get better!

Thanks for the advice. I'm taking lessons from a friend of mine (who is an extremely talented flutist), and of course we've both tried each others' flutes. He has a split E and I told him that it's like a night and day difference for me. (It's just like any other note!) He said that he didn't find it any more difficult for him to play the note on my flute, except when going from A to E, as you mentioned, where he said it seemed a lot harder. I'll keep working on it though!

MissyHPhoenix · Post by **MissyHPhoenix** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:13 am

One of my students has the same trouble as you are describing with the high E. She also does not have the split E mechanism. Last week we tried having her emphasize her abdominal muscles everytime she had to jump up to the E and it made a big difference in her ability to get the note out purer. We did this particular exercise because she is so aware of the high E that she tightens up her mouth and jaw every time she has to hit it, which makes the problem worse. This solution is working very well for her.

cflutist · Post by **cflutist** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:25 am

fluteguy18 wrote:That's an extremely closed minded view. And the high F# is only overtly sharp if you use the fingering using the right hand ring finger. Using the right hand middle finger (for high F# only) brings it down to pitch and the note clarity and stability are improved as well. Now both of the notes (which are usually sharp) are both in tune.

I love my split e, and it is by no means a lazy way of getting the E to sound better. It is a legitimate method and does not make a player any less capable. To say so with such a blanket statement is short sighted indeed.

Thanks for the tip FG. I tried it out and it really works, especially when I need to play it ppp.

I have one flute with a Split E, and one without. I can play both flutes equally well, but must say that the Split E sure makes slurring from A-E-A very easy.

Zevang · Post by **Zevang** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:31 am

There is nothing like practice to solve ANY playing problem. Mechanisms can help, but they too are not perfect. They solve things but can create other problems.

beelady · Post by **beelady** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:47 am

I am resurrecting this topic because it interests me to hear how so many flutists on this forum seem to have an issue with high E.

It has never been a problem for me. It is E2 or middle E that is sooo annoying.

It just does not want to come out most of the time or I have to either relax my embrouchure or tighten it up... depending for it to project. Could it be my flute?

Does anyone else have problems getting their middle E to speak with ease?

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:23 pm

E2 should be very easy to produce. Does your flute have closed holes or open holes? If open hole, you may not be covering a hole completely.

For either style, if you are having problems with E2, there could be a leak caused by a worn pad or an adjustment is keeping the key from closing completely. Have you had your flute checked by a repair tech?

beelady · Post by **beelady** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:13 am

Yes. I just had it tuned up. I'm looking for a more professional model at this point. I'm playing professionally with a trio on a Gemeinhardt 530 SHB. I can produce a good tone on it, except it feels sluggish and not responsive enough. And then there's that E2 that has always been problematic. I'm planning on trying out a Pearl 795 Coda. Any other recommendations on a better flute at that price range?

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:32 am

In that price range, there are TONS of flutes. Check out fluteworld.com and check their stock. Usually they have a wide array of instruments available at a good discount. Furthermore they offer a trial period, so if you don't like it, you don't have to buy it.

beelady · Post by **beelady** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:07 pm

Thanks all!