I recently bought a Dixon low D duo and like it a lot, except for one problem–the high A, B, and C sharp are flat in comparison with the rest of the notes. The low A, B, and C sharp are just fine though. Does anyone else have this problem and if not do you think it’s something wrong with the way I’m playing? I have this problem with both the flute and the whistle. I don’t think it’s the way that I’m playing because I have a Ralph Sweet fife and don’t have problems with that and play lots of other whistles and don’t have problems with those. Any ideas? Thanks!
could it be your lips? on my flute, i have to lip the notes in the 2nd octave tighter so that they’re in tune. once my lips drop (?) so does the pitch.
It probably is… it seems like a nice flute and I thought it probably must be my fault, except I don’t have problems like that with my own flute or my fife…
You are referring to the dixon cylindrical bore flute/whistle body, I think.
Flat notes at the top of the second octave are almost a given, due to the shape of the head and body of the flute. That is why Boehm flutes have a slight reduction in head size, and why simple flutes are bored with a conical bore. Either of these modifications will help with the tuning of the upper registers.
I tried it out with my dixon practice flute as well as with an E whistle. Same flattening of the upper three notes. I don’t think it is just your lip. I think that the flat notes are just a function of the cylindrical bore. If you are interested in the technical stuff, try the Flute-Tech group on Yahoo. Lots of real PhD’s and stuff visit and provide a lot of technical help.
Ron
Wow! You learn something new every day, I guess. I thought it might be my embrochure but I was only having the problem with this particular flute. I’ll probably just have to try and tune it with my breath when I use those notes. Thanks for the info!