Hi all.
Im playing the flute for 6 months( playing Traditional music 25 years mainly Uilleann pipes and whistles) and am starting to get the hang of it now. But even-though I get a good low octave tone from G down to D , when I switch the high octave and then back to low again , I loose the focus I had when I started , especially going back down to e lower octave. Any advise.
Thomas
Those transitions (from the upper octave to the lowest notes) will likely remain difficult for some time.
One exercise that might help things along is overtones – play the low D, tighten the lips to get the middle D, then second-octave A, then high D, then high F#. Then back down again. First become comfortable with all that, then see if you can get them to sound any faster. If you can go from high down to low quickly, then you’ll be able to do that when you’re playing.
Long tones might help too, possibly in front of a mirror to see what your lips are doing when each note sounds strongest.
A variant of this idea:
play a high B then, while still sounding the note,
drop to the low octave B. Then a high A, then, while
still sounding the note, a low octave A, and so on.
You may wish to tongue or glottal the lower note,
but you might try it without.
Maybe doing this fast will help, but my prejudice
is to do practice slowly.
I spent an hour or so lastnight on youtube watching the James Galway Masterclass videos some of which may be helpful to you. Believe there is one specifically on upper octave and the embrochure & tone production too. Even though he play’s Bohem his technique for embrochure seems dead-on to me for IrTrad playing. But I’m still a rookie so maybe some other C&F’ers can comment.
Best,
Deisman
Thank´s guy´s I´ll give your advise a go later today. The wooden flute has proven to be a real surprise in how hard it is to play , trying to keep the tone going is a real challenge. But I love the instrument and am determined to play it , you help is appreciated.
Thomas
Many of us have written such posts. I was told:
Wooden flute is not for the faint of heart.
Patience, practice.
The higher in pitch a flute is played, the “tighter” one’s embouchure must be.
Similarly, the lower in pitch a flute is played, the more “relaxed” the embouchure.
Now, it just might be easier to tighten muscles, rather than to loosen them, but to loosen them must be done to switch from high to low octave, as the fact.
As you could imagine, perhaps this could call for some practice, and maybe even some more practice, after all.
hmmm… I’ll have to respectfully disagree with Cork. Only in the characterization of Tightening vs Loosening the embrochure/muscles involved. 2nd octave requires changing the airstream to more focused and changing direction so not so much down into the flute as with the lower notes… not necessairly “tighter” as much as an airstream direction change. …when I find myself tightening up or trying too hard that is when my embrochure is less effective. Um - relaxed & focused I’d say for both upper & lower, but the focus is different for each. Sorry if I am mis-interpeting your post Cork, just for me tighter = worser ; )
Deisman
Apparently we agree!
The higher one goes on a flute, the faster the air speed needs to be, and faster air speed calls for a more focused embouchure, hence, “tighter”.
Let me add another twist, in that air speed and air volume are two different things, the lower tones calling for a greater air volume, at a lower air speed.
That is, it’s possible to hold a higher tone for a longer duration of time, given a limited supply of air.
good - thanks for clarifying.
Deisman
good - thanks for clarifying.
Deisman
what is surprisingly common, innit?
Not on this board!
point to Cork 
One item not mentioned…
Have you considered that your headjoint “cork” might be misaligned? the position of the cork/plug determines the the crossover frequency. If the cork is pushed too close to the embouchure, it will favor the higher register and could interfere with resonation of the lowest notes.
Many Flute players are “Askeered” O’ their plugs. If you insert your cleaning rod up to the plug and make a mark on it through the center of the embouchure, you can return it to the “original spot” if adjustments go wrong.
Remove the cap and loosen the “set” screw, then push the plug in a tiny bit to favor the high register or use the cleaning rod to push it up a tiny bit to favor the low register. If your plug is stuck, it should be greased anyway to give a better seal.