TIPPLE FLUTES IN THREE OCTAVES?

Irish Flute
1

Following Terry McGee’s test for superior flutes (or words to this effect on his web page), I find I can play each note in three octaves on my Doug Tipple keyless D, with the round embouchure hole, or the larger, elliptical one. I dont know of anything that requires me to play anywhere near the third octave, but has anyone else discovered this?

2

Some tunes seem to sit better in G than D for me, and that makes it so that the third octave is used up to the third register G. The second and third octaves also allow different cross fingering for accidentals, opening up a few more options for what key you play. If nothing else, jump the octave and you can be heard over a noisy crowd.

I have found that it is easier to hit the third octave than it is to control it.

3

Absolutely.

I haven’t attempted a tune that takes me up that far. I was just amazed at being able to get there and find such steadiness and excellence of tone.

4

yeah…I think some of us have mentioned Doug’s flutes :smiley:

5

In this youtube video Jem Hammond (Jemtheflute) is playing one of my flutes with the small round embouchure hole and lip plate. He plays a two-octave scale in D, a two-octrve scale in G, and a two-octave chromatic scale in D. I think that he does a good job of getting the notes pretty much in tune, much better than I can do.
video

However, it should be said that my flutes are not exceptional in this regard. Most of the well-made flutes respond pretty well in the third octave. Some don’t, though. I think that my flutes with a more shallow embouchure chimney (no lip plate) are better third-octave performers, although they are not as robust in the first octave.

I have a special request, Jem. I want to hear you play your new high D piccolo into the third octave as you have done with my low D flute.

6

I want to hear you play your new high D piccolo into the third octave as you have done with my low D flute.

i tried this with my sweetheart new model fife (piccolo) in D, and was amazed by the fact that i could reach 4th (yes 4th, not 3rd) octave D. that means that i can actually go one note higher than the piano (that only reaches top C) :smiley:
i’ve never managed to get a 4th octave D with any flute in low D i’ve tried so far…