What Key is my flute? Fingering question too...

[silverflute09]

There are different kinds of flute. The most commonly seen is the Concert or "C" Flute, which is pitched in the key of C Major.

Does this mean that when I blow through my flute with no valves pressed it should play a C note? If so, I need to pull out the head joint almost all the way to get the C. If this is true why is there a fingering for C on all the charts I have seen?

No. There is a fingering for every C in the concert flute range (C4, C5, C6, C7). C5 and C6 use the same fingering to produce sound, whereas C4 and C7 use different fingerings (but even they are not the same).

LH = Left Hand; RH = Right Hand; T = Thumb; P = Pinkie

C4 is: (LH) T123/(RH) 123P (the C# key and the 1st roller key above it)
C5 is: (LH) 1/(RH) P (the first pinkie key closest to the body of the flute)
C6 is: [the same as C5, but with more support and air]
C7 is: (LH) 123P/(RH) 1 (but there are alternate fingerings for this note)

And about fingering, everyone online fingering chart doesn't seem to correspond with the flute I have even though it is just a normal western concert flute. I discovered that I can produce a B, C# and D note with only pressing one valve for each note respectively.

I don't quite understand your question. If it's a usual western Concert Flute, then the fingering charts DO relate to your flute.

On the fingering charts usually there are several valves pressed down for each note. What gives?

Those are the fingerings. Every note on the flute requires a combination of finger patterns to produce the right pitch on the instrument. The specific finger patters, combined with the right amount of air speed with create the desired note.


I hope I helped even a little bit. If not, that's fine. I'm sure there's others around here who can explain it better.

[silverflute09]

Thank you! I guess I am just frustrated since I am doing this self-taught.

Is it normal for certain notes to come out fine on a flute and other notes to come out a different pitch or not at all? Is it because I need a different mouth shape for these notes?

How long have you been learning? And what brand/model flute do you use (Yamaha, Emerson, Gemeinhardt, etc.)?

For beginners, that's the norm. Your embouchure (mouth shape) isn't developed yet, so some notes will be sharp or flat, or not even come out at all. And you shouldn't have to change your embouchure to get a note out; the embouchure will only slightly differ between octaves, but not by much. I suggest the purchase of a tuner, so you can learn what notes on your flute tend to be flatter/sharper than others. Then you can make necessary adjustments to air speed and headjoint length (whether it's pulled in or out). Also, if you have a tuning rod, check if the cork is in the right place.

[ed]

Ask someone who plays flute to try it out. It takes much practice to develope the lip needed to blow properly and attain a pure note.
I've been playing flute for 5 years on and off and still have trouble with this. If I put it down for too long, I lose the lip I have.