I'm just getting back into playing more. I'm playing with my church choir with vocalists and a piano/organ and sometimes guitar.
We've noticed that I'm sharp when I play C6 and above. Is it my embouchere that is out of whack? Or something else?
Any suggestions for staying in tune would be wonderful. Thanks in advance!
Sharp in the 3rd octave
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flutepicc06
- Posts: 1353
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 11:34 pm
As long as your tone is good, only slight compensations should be necessary embouchure wise. There are many potential causes (and you are by no means alone), and thus many potential solutions, so I will list as many as I can think of right now.
1.It could be a leak in the flute. Have a repair tech check how well the pads are sealing. This can have a drastic effect on pitch
2. You may associate higher with needing more air. Try cutting back on the volume of air you are using, and instead use faster air
3. Maybe the thought of the third octave causes you to tense, tightening the throat, and restricting air. Try relaxing, and play long tones starting in a comfortably in-tune range going up while watching a tuner.
4. The air may be unfocused or at a poor angle for an in-tune 3rd octave. Narrow the aperture slightly, and direct the air down into the flute more to bring down pitch.
5. Your flute could have a poorly constructed scale. The scale has to do with the size and placement of the toneholes, in addition to the taper of the tubing and the location of the headjoint cork. If this is the case, you can work on it, but it's difficult to do and may or may not help enough. Poorly scaled flutes are quite prevalent among older instruments, so a newer flute could potentially (and more expensively) help you out. though for decades the best flutists managed to overcome poorly constructed scales and make music, so it is not necessary to buy a new instrument.
1.It could be a leak in the flute. Have a repair tech check how well the pads are sealing. This can have a drastic effect on pitch
2. You may associate higher with needing more air. Try cutting back on the volume of air you are using, and instead use faster air
3. Maybe the thought of the third octave causes you to tense, tightening the throat, and restricting air. Try relaxing, and play long tones starting in a comfortably in-tune range going up while watching a tuner.
4. The air may be unfocused or at a poor angle for an in-tune 3rd octave. Narrow the aperture slightly, and direct the air down into the flute more to bring down pitch.
5. Your flute could have a poorly constructed scale. The scale has to do with the size and placement of the toneholes, in addition to the taper of the tubing and the location of the headjoint cork. If this is the case, you can work on it, but it's difficult to do and may or may not help enough. Poorly scaled flutes are quite prevalent among older instruments, so a newer flute could potentially (and more expensively) help you out. though for decades the best flutists managed to overcome poorly constructed scales and make music, so it is not necessary to buy a new instrument.