Whew! E3

[sinebar]

I can play F3 pretty good but that E3 is tough and it is popping up a lot in my learning material. Is there a trick to getting this note to come out. I can play it fairly well just by itself but going to it from other notes most often doesn't go well.

[flutepicc06]

E3 and F#3 are usually the notes that people have the most trouble with in the moderately high range. Try angling your air upward and increasing the pressure of the airstream to get E3 to speak. Since slurring into it is an issue, work some slurred long tones starting relatively close to it, and slur into it. Eb3 or D3 would be a good place to start....Slur D3-E3, C#3-E3, C3-E3, etc. Over time you'll become more used to it, and odds are it won't be a problem, but there's always the option of adding a donut if the problem doesn't show some improvement eventually (or you could plan to get a Split E mechanism on future flutes).

[sinebar]

E3 and F#3 are usually the notes that people have the most trouble with in the moderately high range. Try angling your air upward and increasing the pressure of the airstream to get E3 to speak. Since slurring into it is an issue, work some slurred long tones starting relatively close to it, and slur into it. Eb3 or D3 would be a good place to start....Slur D3-E3, C#3-E3, C3-E3, etc. Over time you'll become more used to it, and odds are it won't be a problem, but there's always the option of adding a donut if the problem doesn't show some improvement eventually (or you could plan to get a Split E mechanism on future flutes).

Thanks for the insite but I have to ask what is a donut?

[flutepicc06]

E3 and F#3 are usually the notes that people have the most trouble with in the moderately high range. Try angling your air upward and increasing the pressure of the airstream to get E3 to speak. Since slurring into it is an issue, work some slurred long tones starting relatively close to it, and slur into it. Eb3 or D3 would be a good place to start....Slur D3-E3, C#3-E3, C3-E3, etc. Over time you'll become more used to it, and odds are it won't be a problem, but there's always the option of adding a donut if the problem doesn't show some improvement eventually (or you could plan to get a Split E mechanism on future flutes).

Thanks for the insite but I have to ask what is a donut?

It's a small insert that's placed in one of the G# toneholes to reduce venting. It has the same effect as a Split E, but can be placed and removed after manufacture.

[rocky]

I have an old (1978) flute with no split-E. Back then, they didn't have split-E's (however they did have Pacman, Pong, low-powered microwaves, and we just got cable TV service in the neighborhood).

Anyway, try playing that high-E with your right pinky up. That might help some.

It's just a booger of a note. Oh well.

[c_otter]

I find that with E3, I have to get the air speed just right. Other notes allow for some slop, but with E3 and F#3, I find getting the airspeed fast enough at the start of the note is important.

Try doing intervals with E3 and another note (D3, E3, D3, E3, ...), going back and forth, starting slow and increasing your speed. Also, work your way to increasing the size of the interval, working your way to octaves or more.

I will on occasion raise my right pinky, but it's a good idea to become proficient at the regular fingering too.

[sinebar]

I can play F3 pretty good but that E3 is tough and it is popping up a lot in my learning material. Is there a trick to getting this note to come out. I can play it fairly well just by itself but going to it from other notes most often doesn't go well.

Ha! ha! funny how time and practice can solve a lot of problems. I posted this I guess about a year ago. Now I can play up to high B pretty well and not too bad of a high C.