So here’s an honest question for serious strivers from a frustrated one.
OK, so maybe it’s two questions:
— How far into the third octave can you play consistently?
— Being that our tunes rarely go there, is this even relevant?
I ask because one of my standard exercises for embouchure development is a G-chord arpeggio: G B d g b d’ g’ d’ b g d B G etc…
In good form, I can do this easily on my best flute. Other times, the third octave G (notated as g’) is a challenge. I want to hit it dead on at will, and I feel like I should be able to. (Heck, I earned it). But it often alludes me.
And so I ask. Useful pursuit, or am I just channeling my inner Oskar Matzerath?
Out of interest, what fingering are you using for that third octave G?
I have spent the last four years trying to develop my embouchure. And it is, gradually, improving. I practise third octave notes lots. I find that, after I’ve practised them, the bottom notes magically have much more tone. And this effect is just beginning to last a little bit longer, so as to start being incorporated in my general playing.
I, too, notice improvement in regular playing after wrestling with the high notes, which is the only reason I bother. It just led me to wonder how many have reached a point where g’ is consistently achievable.
I can normally play easily enough up to high A (oxx xxo), high B (xoo ooo) is more challenging. Also, I find high G easier than high E and even high F#. I think how easy varies from flute to flute. The highest I’ve ever got to was 4th octave D, but the only instrument that made it possible for me was a piccolo (ouch!).
It can be fun to hit these high notes at the end of a tune, just after the long final note on the tonic. There are some tunes that go up to high E, but other than that, it’s just a good training for your lips.
There are some players in trad music that go up there during a tune, I can think of Michael Clarkson. Also, I’ve heard quite often Desi Adams hitting high G in some kind of trill (?), not sure how to describe it but it sounds quite nice.
Mine is (I might have to correct myself once I get my flute out ) XOX OOX. And yes, it is consistently achievable. Like Lorenzo says, it’s easier than either high F# or high E.
Slightly away from the topic, but hopefully relevant… I’ve been using the “one-handed scale” (described here) for embouchure work. Seems to have a similar effect improving my embouchure in the lower register—without going so high that the dog protests.
By the way, my Watson keyless hits that high G (occasionally) with the X O X O O O fingering.
I get no credit for it; it was from Brad Hurley and others… (Unless you want to give me credit for being able to remember something further back than what I had for breakfast.)
FWIW. I’m a real newbie on the flute having taken lessons on and off for a couple years. I’m not consistently good at much yet but the high G F E always play easily on my flute ( Paddy Ward). So maybe it’s the flute? In my case that’s all it is.
I get no credit for it; it was from Brad Hurley and others… (Unless you want to give me credit for being able to remember something further back than what I had for breakfast.)
See resources linked in the Fingering Charts Sticky for alternative fingerings! Best fingerings can vary from flute to flute. The main alternatives for 3rd 8ve G are (xox ooo) or (xox oox,) - latter normally with Eb key open! (Ben!!!) Obviously the latter isn’t viable on a keyless flute. On some flutes it won’t speak properly without vented Eb, though it may and the tuning will change, so try it! The (xox ooo) fingering usually won’t speak at all with the Eb key open. One will be more in tune &/or speak easier than the other, but you have to find which for your flute with your embouchure…
Lorenzo, you should investigate more alternatives for high A (on most C19th English flutes, better with one of an F key or the G# vented) and B (one of the harder notes, with E)…
As for hitting those notes, yes, practicing them will do your embouchure good generally, and they will get easier with practice… Finding the optimum fingerings helps, but isn’t a game-breaker.
BTW, and a little off-topic, but it has been referred to… 3rd 8ve E is probably the least satisfactory and maybe the hardest note on an 8-key flute. Various possible fingerings are given in the period charts, but I have never seen (save as part of a trill alternation) any mention of one I have “found” for myself and which I find to be both more in tune and easier-speaking with a better tone-quality than any of the standard, commonly given fingerings. The down-side is that it is rather awkward to use, though with signifiant practice it can be used and is well worth it for sustained noted and in passages where it isn’t juxtaposed with other notes to/from which it is very difficult to switch the fingers… It is (xxo’xxx,)
Lorenzo, you should investigate more alternatives for high A (on most C19th English flutes, better with one of an F key or the G# vented) and B (one of the harder notes, with E)…
I confess I don’t really care much about the 3rd 8ve
High A works well for me with oxx xxo anyway, easy on fingers and lips.
“Being that our tunes rarely go there, is this even relevant?” OP
No, not relevant for me as I only play hardcore Irish traditional. Maybe relevant for those who play different styles of music. My embouchure has developed over the years without leaving the two octave range. I suppose it’s up to you what you think you need to do to improve your flute playing, whatever works or turns you on
I am new to this forum and not much of a flute player, but I had the same questions once.
I then took special lessons to develop my embouchure; my teacher was a classical trained flautist who also played some wooden flutes. He advised me to practice third octave notes as this would help to develop my embouchure. As he figured out, the fingering on my flute is xox ooo for the third octave “g” (which is easy for me to play) and oxx xxo for the third octave “a” (not so easy).
In playing tunes, I rarely use third octave notes now. For some time, I practiced to play one or two tunes - like The Rambling Pitchfork - to play a whole octave higher, just to have some variation at hand for the third round. But I gave that up and turned to learning the basics first
) XOX OOX. And yes, it is consistently achievable. Like Lorenzo says, it’s easier than either high F# or high E.