If bottom C & C# are hard to get then...................

[vandoren]

.......... try the following.

When putting the flute to bed, hook a rubber band over the post next to the lowest C key, over the key (ie. the actual cup with the pad), and around the back of the foot and on to the post again. This tension will hold the C and C# pads in the closed position and will assist bedding of the pads. This helpd to form the pads which usually take longer to do so due to these notes not being called very often. I find then that the C, C# speaks much more reliably, even though there is no real problem with the setup. Probably most effective with a new flute or new pads.

[fluteguy18]

Sounds like an interesting tip, although, not guaranteed to work. It could help with student and intermediate model flutes, but usually with handmade flutes [or any flute that is padded well] the pads are shimmed so that there is very little [if any at all] 'breaking in' needed.

If you are going to try this, then another band over the C# key cup would be beneficial to your cause [because often the shimming between the c# and C key is exact, leaving a leak if only the low c key cup is depressed].

Interesting idea though!

[vandoren]

Sounds like an interesting tip, although, not guaranteed to work. It could help with student and intermediate model flutes, but usually with handmade flutes [or any flute that is padded well] the pads are shimmed so that there is very little [if any at all] 'breaking in' needed.

If you are going to try this, then another band over the C# key cup would be beneficial to your cause [because often the shimming between the c# and C key is exact, leaving a leak if only the low c key cup is depressed].

Interesting idea though!

Good point

[ick27]

Prolonged use of rubber bands can tarnish silver (due to the sulfur needed to vulcanize rubber). You could actually buy pad clamps if you wanted, but if it is a leak you should take it to a repair person. To seat felt pads after the keys are adjusted and the pads are properly shimmed, the pads are moistened slightly, heated briefly, and clamped (gently) for several minutes.

[nasxxx]

From my basic flute playing I do find the lower register alot easier the higher, whilst tootling with my Odyssey flute (beginners) the low C I do find hard to play quickly. A close friend of mine has a different flute is about 10 years old I forget the name but I can play the low C on that flute very easyily but on mine I really have to press hard upon both boton C-Keys with my little pinkie to achieve a pure sound. The pads when I look at mine cus its a new flute don't have a true circle or constant depth, so i'm thinking over time it will wear in, else its just the brand of flute that I have may need shimming or something. The elastic band method also "clamp" is a good Idea might try that to try and help quicken the seating but I guess a tissue or lint free cloth under the band to prevent any marking as ick27 mentioned about tarnishing the silver will help also.

[sinebar]

[quote="fluteguy18"]Sounds like an interesting tip, although, not guaranteed to work. It could help with student and intermediate model flutes [quote]

Does this apply to a Yamaha YFL 381?

[Iolaus]

Another trick along those lines that a fellow flutist told me about was, if a newly re-padded instrument seemed a bit rough, to wrap the whole instrument lightly with an ACE bandage for a day or so before getting too frustrated and returning the flute for more work. She said it worked a miracle on her flute.

[fluteguy18]

Sounds like an interesting tip, although, not guaranteed to work. It could help with student and intermediate model flutes

Does this apply to a Yamaha YFL 381?

That flute falls into the student/intermediate catagory. So, unless it was professionally padded, and even at that, padded well, this might work. However, I am not neccessarily advocating this method. It is merely an interesting method that could work in a pinch in my opinion.

[john101]

Rubber bands are a terrible idea for silver flutes. My daughters band director suggested that all the flute players do this after a wet marching day. Well, the next day her flute had black tarnish marks every place the rubberbands contacted the flute. It was really difficult to remove. I had to clean it with a treated polishing cloth several times to get rid of most of the marks. It still retains some of the marks. It might work on nickel flutes, but definitely don't do it on silver.

The real problem is your pads need shimming. Get it fixed properly. Pressing too hard will just cause you to develop bad technique. I'm not nuts about the ace bandage idea either. It may cause some keys to bed in too deeply, which will result in the need to re-adjust the mechanical screws or even shim some ot the cork spacers on the key mechanisms.

John

[flipib05]

I learned the hard way with putting rubber bands on my piccolo. It now has tarnish stripes on the keys that will not come off. Good thing i got rid of that piccolo.

[flutepicc06]

While getting a deeper imprint in a pad can get it to seal better, thus making it easier to produce low notes, it will also take longer for that seal to form, which will slow response (which for most flutists is already poor enough in the bottom octave). At the base of this problem is whether or not the pads on the footjoint are sealing like they should. If they're not, you're certainly going to have trouble playing low notes. So rather than go through all this business with rubber bands (which as other have noted are not a good idea to use with silver flutes), take your flute to a repair tech if you suspect pad issues. It's a much more effective solution than jerry rigging the instrument.

[piccolo1991]

First, I agree...pad problems should be taken to a pro. Second, make sure you are not bumping any keys while trying these notes...for example many of my students accidentally bump the trill keys or the D# key while trying to reach their low notes. Also, you can try the trick of slapping down the G key right before you tongue. I think this was recommended in the Nancy Toff book and by several of my teachers. Hope this helps!

[fluteguy18]

Indeed. If you can take it to a tech, do so. I would only try something like this, if A: I wasnt playing my Miyazawa, and B: if I was in a real pinch and had no other choice...

But, it is something interesting to think about though. I have heard [ and seen this past week] of worse ways to jerry rigg a flute. One in particular was a combination of wadded up paper keeping a key closed AND acting as a spring...... and she was a collegiate flute major too..... ::shudder::

[atoriphile]

Also, you can try the trick of slapping down the G key right before you tongue. I think this was recommended in the Nancy Toff book and by several of my teachers. Hope this helps!

I wouldn't recommend getting into the habit of slapping down keys to get notes out. On a well-adjusted flute, with the appropriate embouchure, you do not need to do any of these gimmicks. I have never had to slap down a key to make a note come out.

I do agree that you should make sure not to bump one of the trill keys. Also, if you have an open-hole flute, make sure the holes are still sealing.

[piccolo1991]

It is really odd then that several of my professional flute teachers...some of which are in major ballet orchestras or symphony orchestas...recommend the slapping of the G key and that I have read it in many places. I would never have thought if that many sources said it worked that it was a bad idea. It is just a trick that helps. I don't know why, but it does help a lot of people apparently...so maybe it will benifit others. I just thought it was worth sharing some of my knowledge from all the years that I have been playing. Hey, it is worth a try! And no, I do not always have to do this...Sometimes it seems to help when playing a low note at a forte volume.