I’m new to the Irish flute and I’m having some trouble with how to hold it. I seem to be gripping it way too tightly, and it’s causing a lot of pain in my wrist. I only got the flute yesterday, so I’m still figuring things out. I’ve tried sitting up straight and adjusting my posture, but I can’t seem to find a position where my wrist isn’t strained and my fingers can stay relaxed.
Right now I’m just working on the D major scale. My hands are pretty small, so I’m not sure if the spacing on the flute is the issue or if my hands might just be too small to play comfortably.
I’m relatively new at the flute myself compared to many others here and struggle with excess tension as well. Or at least tension in the wrong places, but using the Rockstro hold has helped me quite a bit. It’s all about balancing the flute using outward pressure from your right hand thumb pressing outward on the side of the flute roughly between the 4th and 5th holes against inward pressure from your left hand index finger and outward pressure at the chin. Then your other fingers should be relaxed and able to cover the holes without tension. This hold also generally requires the embouchure hole to be rotated inward toward the player (which rotates the hands outward), usually with the outer edge of the embouchure hole in line with the middle of the finger holes. If you search this forum or the web for Rockstro hold you will find better descriptions than mine and illustrations and videos. Good luck!
I’ll second the Rockstro (or, out of deference to Terry McGee, the 3-point hold) as being the best way to hold the flute. Chances are, after a long time, you’ll find yourself modifying the flute hold to best suit your body, but the 3-point hold is the best starting place, in my opinion, and gives the most freedom and flexibility while, most importantly, not encouraging painful RSI’s.
Also, consider that it takes a while to build up strength in those areas. When I started, I also got wrist pain just from the weight of my PVC flute! After a while, you’ll get stronger. Just remember, “If it aches, take a break. If it’s painful or numb, you’re doing something dumb.”
