New flute and my F and F# are very sharp

coconut · Post by **coconut** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:33 am

So I've had my new Yamaha 481 for about 2 months now, and I love it. My only issue is when I play my high F and F# they are quite sharp, rolling in as much as I can barely helps. I've found that if I use the fingering for the mid F/# and overblow it, I am within range, but of course this is not ideal =/

When I play up chromatically with a tuner, everything else is in tune, and I can't really see any visably disfunctional keys/pads. Has anyone else had this problem , and can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:22 pm

Have you checked the position of your headjoint cork?

vampav8trix · Post by **vampav8trix** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:56 pm

After you check the headcork.

You should try adjusting your embouchure instead of rolling the flute. You should be able to play a half step up and down from a note just by adjusting your embouchure. It takes a lot of work and I still can't do it yet. There are some people who can play a whole note up and down in tune.

For example, finger the F and be able to play a half step up F# in tune using thte F fingering.

coconut · Post by **coconut** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:32 pm

The first thing I did when I got my new flute was check the head cork and it is fine. I suppose I do need a lot of work on my embouchure, but should that be necessary when it's a new flute ?

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:29 pm

coconut wrote:The first thing I did when I got my new flute was check the head cork and it is fine. I suppose I do need a lot of work on my embouchure, but should that be necessary when it's a new flute ?

You must always remember these key facts.

1. Flutes are never "in tune", the player has to play in tune. I have just recently joined a community concert band, and experience this all to well. Everyone in the section has a decent flute, but rarely does everyone play in tune...lol

2. Whether you are having a headjoint issue depends on what your last flute was. If you are coming from a Yamaha 200 series, there should not be any adjustment. If you are upgrading from an Armstrong 104, then you will have to work on more embouchure control. Anytime you change your headjoint, there will be some adjustment that has to take place. This goes for any flute, no matter how much it costs.

3. Throw away the tuner, and use your ears. Tuners are good initially, but the most important thing is listening. Being at perfect pitch does not mean anything if you are out of tune with your section, or other players in your group.

I am sure, you will over come your tuning issue, just give it time. It is not a big deal.

Phineas

coconut · Post by **coconut** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:16 pm

Great advice

thank you

coconut · Post by **coconut** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:18 pm

oh and my previous flute was a Gemeinhardt that I've had since 1988