Hi
I currently play a Sam Murray 4 keyed flute. I’m having problems with the tuning of the flute. I’ve been playing approx 3/4 years. (tin whistle many years)…
The flute seems to play fairly consistant across the two octaves (as in low and high A being relative) but has pitch issues throughout the range. I’m aware the bottom D is flat - something I’m working on with technique to get the hard D. The main problem is the other notes seem to drift across the flute. If I tune up to A for example, the E’s, B’s and G’s would drift both sharp and flat.
I’m currently working with a bouzouki player and the pitch problem are standing out more due to the extra focus.
I’m trying to record a slow air for him to use as a reference but am struggling to get a good take - due to the pitch issues.
Is the problem my embouchure technique? I’ve tried taping the keys hard shut to minimise air loss.
How long have you been playing that particular flute? Did you try giving it to another flute player to see if it has the same issues?
Every player have a different way of blowing, and Sam Murray too. I’m sure Sam wouldn’t make a flute that is out of tune (I was talking to him about old flutes, and he said that they are over rated because they usually have weird tuning…), you should adapt your blowing to the flute… If you can’t, then maybe it isn’t the flute for you.
I used to have this problem but have improved it by working on my embouchure, intonation etc. - there is lots of good advice in previous posts on this forum
I found this very useful
Tone and how to get it - on Terry McGees page here (and his other stuff)
It would be good to know if this problem is new. Was there a time when you did not have a problem playing in tune with this same flute?
Regardless of pitch, if the quality of tone is good throughout the range, I doubt it is an embouchure problem. Usually, if the intonation is bad due to the player, the overall sound will be weak. I’m also disinclined to blame leaks. Again, I would expect the tone quality to fail before the intonation did.
It would be best to have someone else try the flute and see what happens, but more information here would result in more specific advice.
In my experience this is not true Cubitt, sometimes when I try some flute I can get a good tone right away, but it might take some little extra time to get it in tune on all notes. This also happens when I close the tuning slide of my flute all the way in (it’s usually 1,5 cm or more out, being an old flute) to play in Eb sessions (yes it works!), the first few tunes I’m not in perfect tuning, even if the tone is good.
I remember the time I was telling a box player how you have to play these things into tune on the fly. He hadn’t realised, and was very taken aback. Almost horrified, like.
I guess when you think about it, the flute has that much in common with the fiddle. Well, up to a point, of course.
I take your point, but since the OP says the relative pitch from one octave to another is consistent, I think it may be a different problem than the settling-in intonation issues you describe.
