Playing a D flute, I’ve noticed when a tune has a low D note following B that I have trouble sounding the D. For example, in the A part of this tune -
https://thesession.org/tunes/12270
It seems like slowing the air down a little helps some but I’m wondering what else I need to try. Any tips?
Yes, dropping from a higher note to a lower one requires embouchure and breath control.
You can practice octave jumps to gain skills:
D d D, E e E, etc
d D d, e E e, etc
Investigate using pulses of air to push more flow, or tongue/glottal cuts to the air flow.
Are you “blowing across” the embouchure hole or “blowing down into it”, SimpleWhistler? I think the latter approach which leads to a more gutsy low D might be helpful here.
See http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Getting_the_hard_dark_tone.htm
Hi Terry,
Yes, I feel like I’m blowing down more for low D and getting good tone. It’s just when I need to make a big jump, like from B to D where I have trouble.
I guess it just takes practice. Thanks for the link!
A book I have has exercises on the lines of
dD CD BD AD GD FD ED D
or you could do the other way around, low then high.
You can easily make up various permutations of the basic idea.
Another one is
DEFEDdD EFGFEeE FGAGFfF and so on.
When I say F it could just as easily be F# … and C# and whatever.
If you have difficulty on a particular interval–and I often do–not all flutes work the same–make an exercise of it.
Good suggestion!