I have a Sweetheart rosewood fife in G,
which I like. But for the life of me
I can’t reliably sustain the high B,
which I really need on the street.
It breaks up, etc. I don’t know if anything can be
done about it–I’m sure it isn’t me,
as I can do it on other G flutes,
including other Sweetheart Gs.
Does anybody have any advice?
I suppose the man to talk to is
Ralph S. but I’d like your suggestions,
if you will. If there are no answers,
I will suppose I’ve asked a mad question. Jim
I wonder if it’s the fife and not you.
An unusual fact about piccolos (similar to a fife, but higher, one octave about the orchestral flute) is that even some high-end professional piccolos either will barely play the third octave B-natural, or won’t play it at all. All the notes around it are fine, though.
It is the worst note on the piccolo–any little thing can throw it off, a pad that’s too thick or too thin, even the tiniest little bit of moisture accumulating at the wrong point in the bore, even a key that’s being pressed down just a little too hard. And some piccolos won’t play it no matter what you do.
I wonder if you’ve hit the same trouble in a fife. Is it the second octave B or the third?
–James
It’s the second, my embouchure is strong.
I’m not having this problem
on other g flutes. It can be
somewhat hard to play on
every G, I agree, but this
is driving me crazy…
Cause I’m performing and
it happens. Thanks
Jim,
I had a Sweetheart rosewood whistle with the same problem. I feel your pain. Same intonation problems. I sold it.
oh dear.
Is it a ‘screecher’ of a note? Mine was.
Oh, ya, are we talking about the same note? one finger down over the closest tonehole to the fipple/embouchure hole? The “B” note on a “D” instrument is what I mean. You did say a “G” fife, but I’m assuming you mean the same tonehole as I do.
Jim - you haven’t had this problem with the larger D flutes that Ralph makes, have you?
Just curious - I like the look of his 4 keyed rosewood flute, and the price is certainly good. I thought it might make a nice little flute for playing classical pieces on at home.
Eric
Rama, yes that’s the very note.
Jayhawk, no I haven’t had the problem
with any other flute Ralph S. makes,
and I’ve played plenty.
Have you tried covering the right hand holes while playing the B? I have a couple of bamboo flutes that have the same problem. this seems to work for me. Play x00xxx instead of x00000. Hope it works for you too.
Tots
Tots Lives!!!
Loren
Tots may be onto something with covering bottom holes. I had a flute that I made that did best with either XOO OXX or XOO OOX.
Also, have you tried moving the cork closer to the embouchure hole? It’s just a thought.
BTW - I had a Sweet folk fife in D and a renaissance fife in D and neither had this problem. The high B was fine.
Eric
Thanks, Tots, will try, but it’s seven AM here…
I haven’t seen this problem on other
Sweet instruments, including the other
rosewood g flute I’ve played.
The flute is perfectly in tune,
so I suppose I don’t think it’s
the cork. Thanks again