Survey: Flute head position and angle
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Survey: Flute head position and angle
Folks,
I'm curious: how do you hold your flute, and where? I'm currently struggling to find the optimal position of flute and embouchure hole for that 'perfect' barking hard D. I find that it's easier to hit the D when I place the flute head on my lower lip (D, see below for illustrations), but playing comfort and the second octave works better with the flute head between lower lip and chin (B).
I'm interested in how you're holding your flute when playing. And do you alter positions for different 'normal' notes (ie. not for special effects like 'double' tones etc.). Please also add what type of flute you're playing, i.e. large-, medium- or small-holed, Rudall, Pratten, large embouchure hole, small hole...
Thanks in advance!
Figure:
(excuse my poor drawing skills )
I'm curious: how do you hold your flute, and where? I'm currently struggling to find the optimal position of flute and embouchure hole for that 'perfect' barking hard D. I find that it's easier to hit the D when I place the flute head on my lower lip (D, see below for illustrations), but playing comfort and the second octave works better with the flute head between lower lip and chin (B).
I'm interested in how you're holding your flute when playing. And do you alter positions for different 'normal' notes (ie. not for special effects like 'double' tones etc.). Please also add what type of flute you're playing, i.e. large-, medium- or small-holed, Rudall, Pratten, large embouchure hole, small hole...
Thanks in advance!
Figure:
(excuse my poor drawing skills )
- peeplj
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I don't see a difference in A and C; I think something between B and D would represent something perhaps a bit similar to my approach.
--James
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"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending" --Carl Bard
I hold mine closest to D, but a bit lower, so the edge of my bottom lip is more or less against the edge of the hole. My top lip also sticks out way past my bottom lip, but less so when I'm playing higher notes. I don't have any other flutes to compare against, but I think mine's small-holed with a relatively small bore.
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I almost missed it myself, but the difference between A and C is the elevation: you'll notice that the lip opening in the A example is placed higher than that in example C.peeplj wrote:I don't see a difference in A and C; I think something between B and D would represent something perhaps a bit similar to my approach.
--James
Like you, James, I'm into B&D. Oh, my. That didn't come out right at all.
Like Huliyska, my upper lip extends out past the lower. I do a combination of embouchure change and rolling when it comes to the 2nd octave, but prefer to bring the 2nd ocatve into tune without rolling when I can. One rule of thumb I go by: the embouchure focuses the higher I go, and "broadens" the lower I go, and the lowest notes get more breath force.
My flute is a Noy 8-key, supposedly Nicholson-esque body and toneholes (not so large as Pratten, maybe, but not small; some people have remarked that the toneholes are large), and a so-called "Rudall" embouchure hole. The tone is "narrower" than that of a Pratten, but all in all, I think that the optimal position for what sound you want depends quite a bit on the individual as much as on the flute.
"If you take music out of this world, you will have nothing but a ball of fire." - Balochi musician
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I've never really thought about it before but "A" turned just a wee bit back towards me, but not just quite as far as "D".
That gives you the whole hole to play with. Maybe move the lips a bit for getting the bottom D to bark a bit. It also depends on the flute. Trial and error is maybe the best way though. Sometimes not worrying too much about it gives the best results.
Good luck with it.
That gives you the whole hole to play with. Maybe move the lips a bit for getting the bottom D to bark a bit. It also depends on the flute. Trial and error is maybe the best way though. Sometimes not worrying too much about it gives the best results.
Good luck with it.
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Gabriel, your drawing isn't that bad. You can clearly see what you are aiming for. Heck, any attempts of mine would have looked like a cross between bluesman John Hurt and an Ewok of some kind.
I'm smack in between B and D. I have the odd need to get the very lowest part of my lower lip slightly in the hole and have the embouchure hole slightly tilted towards me, less than in the drawings.
I don't know if position this is a carryover from years of playing bansuri or a subconsciously need to find a consistent place to "set up" my lips, but it works very well for me. My position doesn't seem to vary from flute to flute. It gives me reasonable volume and wide dynamic range (if needed) and can get a broad spectrum of different tone colors.
My flute is a 6 key M&E Rudall Rose copy, which I've played for a few years now and rather pleased with. It has a 12 cm embouchure hole, ovalish and slightly asymmetrical l like the originals I've seen, with medium size tone holes. It does what I ask of it without undo cajoling.
As Brother Nano implied, individual results may vary!
B&D...Jimmity Christmas! You think you know a guy after a few years....
I'm smack in between B and D. I have the odd need to get the very lowest part of my lower lip slightly in the hole and have the embouchure hole slightly tilted towards me, less than in the drawings.
I don't know if position this is a carryover from years of playing bansuri or a subconsciously need to find a consistent place to "set up" my lips, but it works very well for me. My position doesn't seem to vary from flute to flute. It gives me reasonable volume and wide dynamic range (if needed) and can get a broad spectrum of different tone colors.
My flute is a 6 key M&E Rudall Rose copy, which I've played for a few years now and rather pleased with. It has a 12 cm embouchure hole, ovalish and slightly asymmetrical l like the originals I've seen, with medium size tone holes. It does what I ask of it without undo cajoling.
Elegantly put. I do much the same thing, with my upper lip slightly out over the lower. But odd as it sounds, on the lowest note, I try to focus on a very specific spot which seems to blow into and through the whole instrument getting a nice bright hard low D.One rule of thumb I go by: the embouchure focuses the higher I go, and "broadens" the lower I go, and the lowest notes get more breath force.
As Brother Nano implied, individual results may vary!
B&D...Jimmity Christmas! You think you know a guy after a few years....
"Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has not kindness has not faith."
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
- Nanohedron
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- Nanohedron
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Oh, yeah: also a mod here, not a spammer. A matter of opinion, perhaps. - Location: Lefse country
I'm closest to "D", the difference being that I place the bottom line of my lower lip on the edge of the embouchure hole.
I rotate (only) the headjoint toward me slightly.How do most of you that use B or D achieve the angle-by rotating the head forward or by keeping the hole aligned with the finger holes and simply rotating the flute?