vanessa wrote:Thanks, chas, I didn't know that it depends on the type of flute one plays whether one can use crossfingering. I play a large hole flute, a Hammy, so it looks crossfingering isn't all that useful - in this case any tips for a beginner with a still floppy embouchure on how to successfully half-hole in tune without the note going completely inaudibly weak? I have been practicing for months without showing the slightest bit of improvement re half holing accidentals...
Thanks,
Vanessa
Chas is indeed our resident guru on crossfingering.
However these can differ from flute to flute.
Also I can crossfinger succesfully on my Olwell Pratten,
which has largish holes.
On my flutes Bb goes
First Octave:
X0X XXX
Second Octave X0X 0X0
It's worth trying on your Hammy, nothing to lose and it
might work--either Chas's fingering or mine.
I prefer to half hole, personally. Here's how
I go about some of it, FWIW. Others may
do it better.
On the Bb I bring the center of my second finger down
on the bottom lip of the hole. I balance it on the
bottom lip. This leaves some of the hole open.
It enables me to shift
the finger pretty easily to get the Bb.
Works in both octaves.
Going from A to Bflat I rock the finger up on the
bottom lip. Going from B to Bflat I strike at the
bottom lip, just aim a little below the hole.
G# is more difficult, but doable.
Basically the same idea--I put the ring finger
on the bottom lip of the hole.
From G to G# I slide the finger down.
For A to G# I strike at the bottom of
the hole.
Eb is harder still, but doable with practice.
Again one half holes by resting the finger
on the bottom lip of the low D hole.
Sliding into it from D, striking at it
from E (I mean by 'striking' nothing dramatic here,
just putting the finger down).
Methodical practice here, playing D, Eb, E
and G, G#, A, up and down slowly.
Hope this helps. Others may have good advice
and a search may help too.
