Flat bottom D

[Fiff & Chipple]

I've recently got a Murray flute that sounds lovely apart from the flat bottom D note. What are the best tips/techniques for a remedy???? The more I play the flute the better it seems to be getting but its still bugging me.

The flute is keyed and the pads seem ok. Would air loss around the pads cause this anyway?

[jim stone]

If the second octave D is in tune, then try to blow the bottom D in tune.
The way to do this is to lift your chin and blow across the hole,
which should raise the pitch. May take some practice. Get used
to 'blowing the flute in tune.'
Not uncommon for Rudall-style flutes to have a flat bottom D.

[Denny]

might be a feature....

Like if the person, that it was made for, wanted to honk the bottom "D" hard.

If it still is annoying after six months or so then either sell it on, and get one more to your liking, or chat with Sam about bringing the bottom "D" up.


Leaky pads isn't likely the cause, they'll make it weak but not flat.

[an seanduine]

The 'flat-foot' syndrome is a 'feature' centered around the acoustic nature of the classic flutes. The end correction for the foot of the flute is slightly lengthened to facilitate blowing the third octave closer into tune. It has to do with the need to play the higher series of harmonics to achieve that third octave, and they by their nature proceed sharper and sharper as you go up. I have seen it speculated that the thinking was that it was easier for a seasoned player to bring the bottom notes up than it would be to play the upper notes flatter. . .particularly for rapid and exposed passage work. 'Course, in ITM we just don't venture far if at all into the third octave, and modern makers tend to throw the 'flat-foot' under the bus and allow a much sharper third octave on the assumption that you won't be using it so much. And some makers, refuse to 'jigger' with the old tried and true formulas, and continue to make modern flat feet. Hammy Hamilton would be an example of a modern maker who isn't interested in continuing on with the flat foot and some of the other 'artifacts' of tuning that come down to us from the classic flutes.
Donning my asbestos underwear
Bob

[Jon C.]

I've recently got a Murray flute that sounds lovely apart from the flat bottom D note. What are the best tips/techniques for a remedy???? The more I play the flute the better it seems to be getting but its still bugging me.

The flute is keyed and the pads seem ok. Would air loss around the pads cause this anyway?

It is not the flute, that is how it is designed. Once you become accustomed to playing the flute, you will have a stronger bottom D and it will have proper intonation.

[Terry McGee]

I think you'll find the answer at:

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Getting_the ... k_tone.htm

It requires you to shift the energy away from the flat fundamental (low D) and into the harmonic series (middle D, 2nd octave A, high D, etc). Providing those notes are in tune, the composite complex note will be in tune. The ear, hearing this series, reconstitutes the missing fundamental. So your job is to blow it missing.

Terry

[s1m0n]

Flat bottom D

They make the rockin' world go round.

[bradhurley]

For me it's a combination of Jim's and Terry's techniques. I raise my chin and blow more across the hole to sharpen the note, but I also tighten my embouchure almost as if I were playing a second-octave note, which produces overtones and gives you that reedy sound. Once you get the hang of it the result is a powerful, free and open bottom D that's perfectly in tune. On some flutes designed to play the bottom D in tune without this adjustment, the note can sound "pinched" (i.e., less open) although I haven't encountered that problem in many flutes.

[groxburgh]

It's probably worth mentioning that some people have more success with this than others. Stephen Doherty (2008 All-Ireland Senior flute) told me that he couldn't cope with the low D flatness on his Sam Murray flute and got Sam to alter it for him. YMMV

Cheers
Graeme

[Rob Sharer]

Flat bottom D

They make the rockin' world go round.

Beat me to it.

Meanwhile...

For me it's a combination of Jim's and Terry's techniques. I raise my chin and blow more across the hole to sharpen the note, but I also tighten my embouchure almost as if I were playing a second-octave note, which produces overtones and gives you that reedy sound. Once you get the hang of it the result is a powerful, free and open bottom D that's perfectly in tune. On some flutes designed to play the bottom D in tune without this adjustment, the note can sound "pinched" (i.e., less open) although I haven't encountered that problem in many flutes.

This is a great description of how to play a hard D. I would elaborate somewhat on the subject of tuning.

Some flutes are tuned to produce an in-tune D with a gentle blow. If you "harden up" as described you will get a sharp D, regardless of how nice it sounds. My own flute (Olwell Nicholson)produces a slightly flat D when blown gently, but pitches up perfectly with the above-described blow.

This is exactly how I wanted it.


Rob

[Fiff & Chipple]

Thank you everybody. A much welcome response and very informative. I'll work in confidence with all the advice I've been given.

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