Hey everyone,
I have been playing the flute now for almost a year and have found it relatively easy to learn as I practice clarinet also. I do, however, have a few questions.
The first is to do with tonguing. It comes out like a 'tuh' sound every time I play a note and really effects the piece of music that I am playing. It has put me of using it. I was just wondering if I am doing something wrong or does it just take practice to make the tonguing smooth?
Second is the D note. Take a really easy song, like 'Old Mac Donald' for example, and the D note that has to be played is so high compared to the E and F that it makes the piece sound out of tune. Considering that almost all of the notes sound the same on the bottom of the staff and an octave higher, is this just the way that it is meant to sound?
Are you referring to the low D? There are different fingerings for the D below the staff and the D on the staff. If you are asking what I think you are asking, put your first finger left hand down when you play the D and you should be able to play it in the right octave. The E-flat is the same way.
As for tongueing, it is hard to say that you are doing something incorrectly without watching you play. There are several styles of tongueing, and they have different applications for the most part. Keep working with it. I highly recommend a lesson or two, even if it is just with a band student, so that you know you are at least attempting proper technique.
Hi again,
fluttiegurl: I am referring to the high D on the fourth line of the staff. It is so high compared to the E and F that have to be played next to it that it sounds wrong.
Just wondering if that is the way that it is meant to sound.
It sounds as though you might be playing a higher note harmonically. You are fingering the D but you are playing an A or something. Do you have a tuner? You can play the note and read what note you are actually playing using a tuner.
You might have a leak in your flute causing this to happen or you are doing it with your embouchure.
A leak has to be fixed.
You can always work on your embouchure. I would suggest a good flute teacher.
I do not think that my flute has a leak in it because the D sounds in perfect tune to the C before it. The problem is that because all of the notes (except the D) have exactly the same fingering and sound the same on the bottom of the staff and an octave higher, the D sounds out of place because it is so high.
After a bit of a Christmas break, I am starting up my instruments again and am afraid that the problem has not gone. I was just wondering if anyone might have heard anything that could help me figure this rather confusing problem out.
To describe the problem a bit better. The D is too high compared to the E and F that follow it. They sounding low and the D sounding way to high. If I play the Low D in place of the high D it sounds in tune, though this is not the note required in the piece of music.
Also another question. All of the notes (except for the D) have the same fingering and sound the same on the bottom of the staff and an octave higher? Is it because the flute has a limited range?
If anyone can help it would be great, and I am sorry if I’ve just now confused everyone a little more.
It sounds like your E could be the problem instead of the D.
Also, the low E flat has a different fingering as well (first finger left hand down as opposed to up). Do you have a good fingering chart? That may help because it sounds like it could be a fingering issue Not sure, just throwing out ideas.
Look online for a good fingering chart and let me know if this helps any. Otherwise, you may have an embouchure problem, though I do not see this kind of embouchure issue in that range.
Fluttiegurl :: Sorry I should have stated that I was referring to natural notes. I have a chart that is the same as the website. I was wondering how the high D sounds to all of you when played with the E and F.
Well, I have just now figured out what the problem was all along. I had no idea that you had to make the notes sound higher yourself. I am suprised that my music book did not metion that
So Ill give that a go and see how it works out. Thanks for all of your help .
Not sure, just throwing out ideas.
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