Reaching the 2nd Octave...

Irish Flute
1

Hi Guys!

Long time lurker, first time posting!

Alright!

I’ve been playing a Tipple PVC D flute for about 6 months now and while I can get a decent tone on the first octave, once I reach the E and sometimes F# the tone gets airy and breaks up into the lower octave. Try as I may in making my embouchure smaller it just doesn’t work! This is driving me crazy, because if I could get my second octave steady I could play something other than “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. I also notice that even when I’m getting a good tone in the lower octave, the E hole just doesn’t sound as strong as the others. I just know I’m doing something wrong with my mouth! Also, I’m in the Portland Oregon area and was wondering if anybody knew of a good teacher for Irish Flute?

Thanks!

2

Strange, usually when beginners try to get a low d or e (of f#) they can’t and jump to the second octave.
Together with a smaller emb, you also have to increase the air speed.
It’s normal that E is not as strong as other notes, just look at the last hole (not the 2 on the foot), it’s the smallest, and less air will come out of it. With practice you’ll learn to blow it in a better way and it will get closer to the other notes, it just takes time.

3

Strange, usually when beginners try to get a low d or e (of f#) they can’t and jump to the second octave.

Yeah I can play the second octave E and F# no problem but after that its like stabbing a cat!

Together with a smaller emb, you also have to increase the air speed.

Hmmmm, very good to know! I thought making your emb smaller was enough to make the airspeed faster, so I have to blow harder?

It’s normal that E is not as strong as other notes, just look at the last hole (not the 2 on the foot), it’s the smallest, and less air will come out of it. With practice you’ll learn to blow it in a better way and it will get closer to the other notes, it just takes time.

Also good to know! I thought it was just me! Do you have any suggestions that would point me in the right direction for fixing this?

4

no, you do not have to blow harder :smiley:

a bit faster perhaps but not harder (not the same things at all)

you will, most likely, be a bit sharp in the 2nd octave once you find it

later you will find that the first octave is more work than the second :astonished:

5

You also need to change the direction of the air column. Rather than try to explain it take a look at this teaching aid being used half way through this video.

6

Try playing long soft notes. When you are getting a solid notes, try working on the attack, playing a series of quarter notes.

I think that this is something that is part of the simple system flute.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

7

the E hole is the little one at the end (the one open when you play E)

the E is weak 'cause the vent hole is small

the vent hole is small because ya need to be able to reach it

8

Makes you wonder why someone hasn’t figured a way of attaching a series of flaps so that all of the holes are the same size.

9

yes…too late with yet another great idea, eh :laughing:

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Siccama.html

not to mention typical German over engineering :open_mouth:

10

You also need to change the direction of the air column. Rather than try to explain it take a look at this teaching aid being used half way through this video.

WOW :open_mouth: :open_mouth:

That cleared it right up!

Thank you!

I wish I could have seen this earlier! :astonished: