I’m new to flute. I’ve been playing less than a year and feel I’m making pretty good progress.
My question is this, is there any kind of ‘rule of thumb’ concerning hole size and the ability to cleanly half-hole? Is this just a matter of practice, practice, practice or are larger holed flutes generally easier to half-hole (which seems logical)?
I play solo, and can’t ever see myself playing alongside someone else so the idea of buying a larger holed flute for volume reasons doesn’t really seem logical to me. On the other hand, the ability to half-hole seems important. If I buy a smaller holed flute will I ever be able to cleanly find G#?
Thanks for your insight. I hope this question makes some sense.
Some of the ability to half-hole is related to the flute, some to your fingers. Personally, I find sharp edged holes easier to half hole, but I’ve only ever felt the G# half holed to be clean in the upper octave - the lower just isn’t as clean. I find the upper octave note also clearer on Fnat. The Bb seems fine in either octave to me.
I’ve never half-holed a respectable Eb/D#, though.
You can also cross finger G#, but now that I have keys I can’t recall what works. Cross fingering is in general easier on a small holed flute. In fact, with an Eb key you’re remarkably chromatic with a small holed flute.
generic G# cross fingering XXO ???
where ??? means some combination (I think I stole that from Terry McGee but I’m too lazy to go look)
C, Bb & F are fairly easy, G# works fine but takes a bit more practice
A Tipple is the only flute with large enough holes to get an Eb that I’ve played
The thinner the flute wall and the larger the holes (relative to the overall dimensions).
This is why the indic bamboo flutes (bansuri-s) have large tone holes and employ thin walled bamboo. This type of flute is used in a tradition that revels in glissandi and requires half holings and slidings with all possible notes on the flute. Thicker walled bamboo reduces the effective response to half holing.
You may note that a thin walled whistle allows half holing easier than thick walled ones. The original whistle made of tin comes to the fore in this.
I think I have said all this several times elsewhere including my bansi links topic. You obviously haven’t been paying attention.
Thanks ! That’s great ! I didn’t knew these possibilities and as I’m perhaps going to buy a small holes flute … is there something similar to do the E# or natural F ? I love to play the Flatbush waltz and there is this note to play on my Léhart and her very large hole, no problem to get it but on the flute which has been lent to me, with small holes, it’s mo re difficult …
on my Léhart and her very large hole, no problem to get it but on the flute which has been lent to me, with small holes, it’s mo re difficult …