I just bought myself a new casette recorder today, which I was playing around with by recording myself playing my Hamilton flute. When I played it back (always a painful experience), I realized that I was going unbelievably flat from about low G to low D. I think the intonation got worse on low notes toward the end of phrases where I was running a bit low on wind, but I’m wondering if anyone else struggles with this and if there are any particular exercises to address it. I was pretty surprised, since I haven’t been able to hear myself going flat while playing. I guess it was just my day for a nice cold water bath!
How much of this problem is likely to be related to this particular instrument/model–a big, honking Hammy Pratten–and how much is just my lack of time spent in the woodshed? Would a small-bored Rudall give different results in this regard? I suspect the answer obvious here–long tones, practice, practice, practice…?
I’m guessing it’s all in the technique and is just a case of getting used to how your flute wants to be blown. (Mine wants to be blown by someone better than me!!!)
I had a nameless 19C English flute that was way flat on the bottom hand. I decided to sell it to finance a new instrument. I bought a Dixon 3 piece to tide me over the wating list period and was really impressed with it, it had the strong low notes that I craved (though I did find it a bit flat in the upper register). I then got a Prowse and took easily 3 months before I was getting any form of consistency on the low notes - and even now they’re still a bit flat. It has been played by people who can get a good, in-tune low D, so I know it’s in there but you have to work hard to get it - which lends weight to the “technique” argument.
Anyway, after all of the above rambling, the point of my post is this. I tried a Hammy a few weeks ago and the whole thing was bang-on in tune with a great, strong bottom hand. But did this come easy to me because of the technique I’ve had to adopt for the Prowse? Even stranger, when I now go back to the Dixon, the low D is sharp. :roll:
Will someone remind me why we put ourselves through this.
Rolling the flute and adjusting your embouchure to find the sweet spot is definately the way to go - and guess what, practice!
As for me, I’ve got 8 months to sort out my technique on the Prowse. After that, the Hammy arrives and I fully intend to be breaking windows in my house with the power of my low D.
I guess practicing blowing the low notes so they’re
just at the point below which they go into
the second octave.
If none of it works, talk to the maker, check
the cork, ask us, etc. but give it some time.
I agree, it’s in the practice. Of all the flutes I’ve ever played or owned, my Hamilton is probably the most in tune – almost to a fault – as it does not have those quirky intonation moments that old flutes and old geezers seem to have and utilize, nor does it seem to need much or any rolling or changes in embouchure to alter the pitch.
What you probably need is a bit tighter embouchure in general (more focused air) and more air in general to really fill the flute; it’s a big 'un! Also, you should never be running on empty as you go for a low note in trad music! Try tuning your octaves – make sure your bottom D and your 2nd (and 3rd) are in tune with each other. My only other thought could be a moved cork. But, if not, work on octave jumps anyway (on all your notes) and that will help keep you in pitch during tunes themselves.
Gordon
I’m pretty sure everyone above is right about practice, and Gordon’s advice on focused embouchure may be key here. However, I just wanted to say I don’t think it could be cork position for the lower notes. In general, and per information from Terry McGee, if your upper octaves are in tune moving the cork will not influence lower octave pitch. Moving the cork mainly changes the pitch in the upper 2nd and 3rd octave. Check out Terry’s website for good information on checking tuning between the octaves like Gordon recommended.
FWIW, I had tuning problems with my upper octave (slightly flat) that have since been solved by practice, tighter embouchure, and simply getting to know my flute better.
Most Irish style flutes are designed with a slightly flat low end so that you can play really nice, honking, harsh low E and D without going sharp. Tighten your embouchure, blow harder… make those low notes grow!
Chris
I’m having the exact same experience with the Olwell I just got, after working with a Dixon for the last year… blowing the low D so flat, sometimes it becomes a C# - but when I get the embochure just right, it’s dead on… figure it’ll take weeks (maybe more) of practice to get it consistently right - Tod
How old is the Hamilton you’re playing? Mine is a bit of an old one (I think he made it in '88 or '89) and when I first got it a few years back, I found the low d to be exceedingly flat. Of course, as the others have mentioned, tight embouchre and a whole lot of air does sort this out. I played a more recent Hamilton a while back and found that the low notes came out a bit easier.
This is a new Hamilton, which Hammy just sent me hot off the lathe in December 02. Conal O’Grada remarked once that he likes Hammy’s flutes so much because they “can take buckets of wind.” I wasn’t quite sure what that meant at the time, but I think now that he meant that Hammy really designs these instruments to be blown hard. In fact, they demand it! I’ve been experimenting a bit more since my original post and I’ve found that I have no problem playing it in tune on the bottom as long as I really do push the air through it. The challenge for me is to manage my breathing and phrasing more skillfully.
I also want to be clear that my lack of skill is no indictment of Hammy’s workmanship, which is excellent.
By the way, 6 days later and that low D on the Olwell is coming together really nicely…hard to understand now why it was difficult at first - just a subtle, unconscious embochure change makes all the difference, what amazing instruments flutes are - Tod
What amazing instruments PEOPLE are! - As you say,you can struggle away at a ‘problem’ and a couple of days later,you wonder how you found this now seemingly straightforward and simple thing so hard to do!
- but when I get the embochure just right, it’s dead on… figure it’ll take weeks (maybe more) of practice to get it consistently right - Tod