A very large diameter tube (4" x 24") with a beautiful brownish bamboo flute in the key of G is in my house. Patrick does lovely work and the stamp of his name on the barrel gives it that touch that says, this is not a toy. This is my FIRST flute, so . . .
I was excited that I got a few notes out of it after playing with my posture, grip, angle of blowing, shape of mouth and so on. I was able to get part of tune into both octaves, but I got a little light headed. Is that normal? Maybe my blood sugar is a little low right now! I haven’t eaten for awhile.
Anyway, I’ll get around to posting pics next week.
FYI for anyone ordering one of these beauties . . . you can order a cloth carrying case with drawstring for an extra $6 ($8 for Eb and D). I only mention this, because I didn’t know.
Talk amongst yourselves, I’ll be back after a while. Gotta get ready to go to a birthday dinner for one of my sons.
I’ve noticed that my lower notes in the first octave seem more focused and solid. When I get up to the top two notes in the first octave the sound tends to air out, or get less focused. Then it becomes more so in the second octave as I try to balance the amount of air I increase, with velocity.
The result is I tend to not try to play up in the second octave because the volume jumps more than I want, and the sound looses its focus.
I am thinking about finding another 6-hole flute locally to try out and see how much is me and how much is the instrument.
The result is I tend to not try to play up in the second octave because > the volume jumps more than I want, and the sound looses its focus.
Normal normal normal! Don’t avoid the second octave, it needs the practice. Try playing as softly as you possibly can in the second octave, with only a very small opening between you lips. The air needs to be moving faster, but there doesn’t need to be more of it moving. Something students are commonly told is to think of the airflow as a hose with water coming through it. Then think of covering half the end of the hose with your thumb. The amount of water remains the same, but it’s coming out with more force.
If you do find another flute to try, my guess is that you’ll find the same thing happening until you’ve got your embouchure sorted out.
Wooo! what a beast of a flute that would have been!
A low-low F flute…Im sure it would have sounded lovely.. Now; if only somebody were able to play something like that…hmmm, do whales have lips?
Congrats on your flute! Have fun with it!
Try playing as softly as you possibly can in the second octave, with only a very small opening between you lips. The air needs to be moving faster, but there doesn’t need to be more 
