# C# at the irish flute - question

**URL:** <https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/c-at-the-irish-flute-question/40302>\
**Category:** Irish Flute\
**Created:** [July 25, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/c-at-the-irish-flute-question/40302 "2006-07-25T13:33:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gilagmon](https://chiffandfipplewww.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/4af34b/32.png) [@gilagmon](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/u/gilagmon)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/c-at-the-irish-flute-question/40302/1 "2006-07-25T13:33:54Z")

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Hello,

I play irish music on whistle and flute (classical flute). recently i bought a wooden 6 holes flute (I found it in a shop in sligo, there is no name of the manufacturer). When I play C# it sounds more like C natural, but I felt the same when tried the Dixon beginners flute (kind of plastic). is there a special blowing technic for C# in those flutes or its just my flute is defected?

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**Author:** ![bradhurley](https://chiffandfipplewww.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.chiffandfipple.com/bradhurley/32/293_2.png) [@bradhurley](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/u/bradhurley)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/c-at-the-irish-flute-question/40302/2 "2006-07-25T14:11:14Z")

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The C# on most conical-bore Irish flutes is flat…more so on some flutes than others. This is normal. To play it in tune you have to “lip up” on that note so you are blowing more across the embouchure hole than into it, which will sharpen the note. Everyone has his or her own method for doing this; I just raise my chin slightly to adjust the blowing angle.

On a flute with keys, you can sharpen that note by opening the long C key, but I find it’s easier to just lip up…it becomes second nature with practice.

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**Author:** ![peeplj](https://chiffandfipplewww.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.chiffandfipple.com/peeplj/32/161_2.png) [@peeplj](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/u/peeplj)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/c-at-the-irish-flute-question/40302/3 "2006-07-25T14:35:51Z")

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I agree with Brad’s take on it.

Also, for the second octave C-sharp, I will sometimes use oxx|xoo or oxx|xox as on some flutes one or the other of these produces a much better-in-tune second-octave c-sharp.

–James