Long before I discovered C&F, I had purchased a maple D and blackwood picc from Ralph Sweet. I was already playing a concert flute fairly well. My D cane Olwell’s reach was too much for my right hand, but I was happy with the sound I was getting out of E through B.
I read on the internet about larger embouchure holes being “easier,” and I compared the embouchure size of the Sweethearts to my other flutes–the Sweetheart embouchure holes were like little tone holes. I also read on the internet that if I carefully filed all the way around the embouchure hole, that I might not change the intonation–(I think this word means relative tuning of notes). This is what I did–I filed all the way around the embouchures of both Sweet flutes. I had had them for many months of frustration, too long to return them to Ralph, anyway.
I didn’t think to check them with a tuner mainly because I didn’t have one or want to buy one. I had a tuning fork and they sounded okay to me.
After I was done filing, I had two much much easier playing flutes.
Then months later I had an opportunity to check them with a tuner, and to my dismay they were both almost 50 cents FLAT. I moved the corks as much as possible closer to the embouchure holes, but this only made them even easier to play, didn’t change their tuning.
So, I have two flutes that are useful for solo playing. I did check with multiple tuners to rule out the possibility of a bad tuner.
What I want to know is, did I make these flutes flat by enlarging their embouchure holes by about 25%? Or did I start out with flat flutes? I thought the longer the flute the flatter the bell note, and that if I took away wood that meant sharpening …
JessieK teased me for taking a file to a flute. After reading the Pakistani flute tweak thread, I thought I should post this experience. I don’t have any regrets.
Lisa
When you enlarged the embouchure hole, you allowed more of the tone column to travel into the atmosphere. You may be able to remedy this by putting wax in the embouchure hole to build it back up. You also might be able to make a more permanent filler by using a colored sculpey clay.
Also, you should move the plug back where it belongs.
Lisa,
I feel guilty…I led you down a dark and winding path without a light. Daniel is correct that a larger embouchure hole will flatten the flute. I’m not surprised they are easier to play – I don’t like a small embouchure holes myself. I’ve not played one of Ralph’s flutes, but is there any way to saw off a bit of the head joint/piece of the flute? That would sharpen the flute. That can be a big risk though, and depending on how the two parts are connected it may not be an option without some major work you may not want to undertake. Then again, if you hate them being flat, you might be willing to try something. If you do, don’t take off much–maybe even just file down the wood or take off 1-2mm at a time. THe other option is just to have two easy to play practice flutes which is valuable, too.
As for the cork. If the flute plays just as flat in the 1st and second register (ie - both are .50 flat), then the cork is in the correct place. If the higher note is flatter than the lower one an octave below, then the cork needs to be moved nearer to the embouchure, but if it’s now sharper than the lower note, it needs to be moved away from the embouchure hole. Did that make sense?
One final note…you may regret it now, but I would have done the same thing you did. What good is a flute you won’t play? I think tweaking/tinkering with low end flutes is a great way to learn about the physics of your instrument. I’ve got a brass one I messed up, a bamboo I killed (not an Olwell), and probably 20 feet of CPVC I ruined…but I’ve learned a lot, had lots of fun, and have one really nice CPVC I made myself. Now if only that Pakistani flute would arrive I’ll join you in the tweaking wooden flute world!
[ This Message was edited by: Jayhawk on 2002-11-28 19:19 ]
Daniel,
Thanks for the “flat” explanation! I prefer easy and flat. I did the cork test that Jayhawk describes, and I needed to move the corks a tiny bit back again.
Jayhawk,
I did this more than a year ago. Then I took up whistles and no longer feel the need for in tune flutes like I do for in tune whistles. I’ve also bought and sold lots of world wind and string instruments just to try them out. Some people throw their money away on vacations, nice cars, big screen tvs–I threw lots of money in Shark in the Morning’s direction, among others…
I do play my flat flutes. And you are right, I am learning lots about the physics of wind instruments–as Daniel up there can attest.
Cheers,
Lisa
Try this experiment. Decrease your embouchure hole size by adding a small bead of putty on the back and sides. What happens to the pitch? You’ll discover the pitch decreases. Making a larger embouchure hole will result in raising the pitch of the flute.
I recommend you look at Terry Mcgee’s website, http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Stopper.html he has a good writeup on the function of the stoppers position.
For the most part, the stopper influences alignment between octave. According to Terry, it may also affect the lineup of harmonics produced.
Mea culpa - Shoner is correct that enlarging the embouchure raises the pitch instead of lowering it. I took the old file to my recently made bamboo flute in the interest of science (it also was a quarter sharp throughout it’s range which made it unusable in playing along with my wife — she is sooo picky about singing/playing in tune). Now, after a minor embouchure hole enlargement, the flute is a nice 50 cents sharp instead of it’s prior quarter…
Oh well, back to the store for more bamboo which I found to be much more fun to work with compared to PVC/CPVC pipe.
Lisa,
You might want to send Ralph Sweet an email and ask what he suggests (RalphSweet@aol.com). You might also find that he may be willing to re-tune it for you for a fee. I had a Ralph Sweet Cherry wood D that I bought used, Ralph was helpfull on a couple of occasions with questions I had about the flute.
Jayhawk; If ya dont mind me asking, where do you get the measurements and whatnot to make your own flutes. I have passed out 3 times today trying to get a couple of notes out of an old bamboo flute Ive had laying around for years. It has more cracks then holes in it and I would dearly love to try to make one myself. I will be trying to repair this old thing but still the thought of makeing my own might take my mind off of buying a real honest to god flute until I can afford it. Is there a web site I should check out or what. Thanks
Blackbeer (great name BTW) - save yourself now and don’t keep trying to play your cracked bamboo flute. Those cracks are seriously counterproductive! I made 2 bamboo flutes a few weeks back. One sounds great but is annoyingly about .25 sharp (I cut the piece too short - my fault). The other had a great sounding low D, I drilled a few holes, and then it would no longer play. Eventually I found a hairline crack that was leaking air.
You could try wrapping the cracked areas with dental floss (my preference since I use waxed dental floss which is durable - any thick & strong enough thread will work) to close the cracks, but if there are too many cracks that won’t work. Here is a link on how to wrap bamboo:
http://www.startunzflutes.com/care_flutes.html
I just started working with bamboo, but I really like it. Bamboo is slightly conical which helps with tuning, and there is just a nice tone with bamboo. Also, my local plant store has some rather nice pieces for $1.19 for a 4 foot length.
My other flutes are all made out of CPVC (my past favorite) and more recently schedule 40 PVC. The PVC is thicker so I decided (just last night actually) that I prefer this material. You can cut a great embouchure in PVC without adding a lip plate like you need with CPVC. I hate the white color though, so I just spray painted it black and it looks rather nice.
Here is a great link for making pipe flutes:
http://www.cwo.com/~ph_kosel/designs.html
Here is the link for an online calculator that will determine hole size & location (I would have gone nowhere fast without this little tool):
http://www.cwo.com/~ph_kosel/flutomat.html
I’m sure the flutomat was designed for pipe based flutes, but it worked well for my bamboo flutes, too. I always make the holes the size smaller with a drill bit and then enlarge them with a knife & file until they are in tune.
I hope that all helps. I find it an addictive hobby, and with pipe and bamboo so cheap if you mess up it’s no big deal.
Oh Boy Oh Boy; God I love this place. I wake up in the mourning turn on my confusser and the answer to all my questions apear. Thanks Jayhawk. I am off to the hardware/music store.
I am going to try and save my old bamboo flute just because when I bought it 20 or so years ago it made a very pretty sound. I cant remember what key its in but I do remember it was a pentonic (spelling)scale. Or what ever they call anciant music. Its about 21 in. long, 16 and a half from blow hole(dont ask me to spell ambacure) to the bottem hole. Anyway I have to try and save it. Thanks again. If I could figure out the smily face thing it would apear here.
I’m glad I could help. This board is the absolute greatest, and I no longer can tell the difference between my hardware store and the music store (or the garden center for that matter).
I hope you can save your flute. The key is to wrap it as tight as possible as close to the middle of the crack as possible. One site that also listed that same wrapping style recommended using a stick or something for leverage, but I’m not bright enough or mechanical enough to figure out what they meant by that! You know, you might be able to seal it with some form of silicone sealant, too, but I’ve not tried that…perhaps that would be my method of last resort.
As for the smiley thing, I think you just type in 
(If that worked I just typed in a colon first, then a dash, and the parenthesis so on my computer it looks like a sideways face).
Ta Da!!!
Lee,
After I’d had the Sweetheart picc for about a month, a piece of the cork fell out into my lap. I contacted Ralph about this and he very kindly sent me a few replacement corks and instructions on how to compress one. I chose to fix it myself rather than ship it back to him. It was easy.
Instead of bothering him again, I think I’ll just not buy another flute without trying it out first…
And I may research what kind of changes I can still make to it and play like Jayhawk has been doing. Not too much though because I need to practice whistle at least three hours a day!
Lisa
After not having touched those flutes for weeks, I just checked them with my pc tuner…they aren’t flat if I play them right. I will check them with a friend’s digital tuner tomorrow just to make sure, but this is weird…meaning probably me…
Lisa