very stupid question (or not)

well, i have a tipple 3-parts, what’s the best way to play it?
the headjoint absolutely inline with the body, or can i turn it slightly? (yes, i know i speak a very bad english, but my language is music :wink: )
i’ve searched for this subject, but haven´t found anything about the pvc pipes.

Crank each piece around any way you like. The pitch is a function of the various lengths of the tube (embouchure to tone hole, embouchure to end plug, etc.) and where the tone holes are located around the tube only affects how it feels.

Now stop asking stupid questions and go play your flute.

Roger

(That wasn’t really a stupid question, I just couldn’t resist that closing line.)

Most Irish-style flute players will turn the head joint inward (so if you hold the flute out in front of you like a rifle, looking down the tone holes from the bottom of the flute, the embouchure hole will be to the left of the center of the tone holes…this assumes you are playing the flute right-handed).

The amount to which you turn it in is a personal choice and depends on how you hold the flute and to some extent on the design of your flute itself. I know some players who turn the headjoint way in, so that the far edge of the embouchure hole is in line with the near edge of the toneholes (some people turn it even more inward than that), while others leave the embouchure hole exactly in line with the tone holes and others who actually leave it turned out.

But turning it in a bit should help you get that “reedy” sound that Irish musicians are after. If you turn it in too much, the tone is like to sound “pinched.” Just experiment and see what sounds best and what feels most comfortable.

There is a lot of information on Terry McGee’s site.

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/index.html

There is a page on holding the flute.

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Rocksto_on_holding_the_flute.html

Denny

That was not a stupid question! :laughing: I’m the king of stupid questions, and that was definetly not one.

Your English is dandy (that means good). :slight_smile:

Welcome to the forum.

Doc