# flute anyone?

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Friday, 17-Jun-2005 23:20:41

Hey y'all. I am just curious if anyone on this zone knows how to play the flute. If so, I am just a beginner, and I have tried to play just a single note, and nothing comes out at all. Can anyone help me? I love the flute, and I want to be able to play it as well. If anyone knows how to play it, please let me know.
Thanks,
Lordlover

## Post 2 by Resonant (Find me alive.) on Saturday, 18-Jun-2005 9:03:04

Getting a consistent tone out of the flute is half the battle. It takes some time, and practice, and all those fun things, but once your sound comes easily, the rest is easy. The fingering's easy to memorise, and you'll just work your way gradually into the upper register. Also, do you have a closed-hole flute? They're much easier to learn with. Good luck, and don't give up on it, it's worth the wait. Erin, who was a flautist once.

## Post 3 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Saturday, 18-Jun-2005 12:18:29

I am not sure what type it is. All I know is that it is a flute. heheheeh. But how do you get a sound out of it? I have tried, but it seems as if it won't work. How does that work?

## Post 4 by Resonant (Find me alive.) on Sunday, 19-Jun-2005 5:51:23

Do you have a flute teacher? If so, they'll be able to coach you better. Basically, hold the flute horizontally, with the mouthpiece in front of your lips and the flute sticking out to your right. You use your left hand to work the keys closest to your body, and your right hand to work the keys towards the end of the flute. When you're blowing, you should cover about a third of the hole with your bottom lip. To get a sound, you need to blow at an angle, sort of across the mouthpiece and into it as well. About a 40 degree angle downwards, but the best way to get it is just to experiment with your mouth-shape and blowing angle until you get something. You'll probably have a very breathy sound at first, but the tone improves as you practice. Is that any help?

## Post 5 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Sunday, 19-Jun-2005 10:54:19

Thanks. that helps. I always thought that it was just blowing straight in to the flute. Interesting. Thanks for the help. I do not have a flute teacher. I am working on my own. This should be interesting. LOL

## Post 6 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Sunday, 19-Jun-2005 20:10:42

Just a while ago, I had my aunt show me in person how to play, and I played my first few notes! I may be just a tad too excited, but it is something that I have been wanting to play for a long time. Thanks for all of your help. If you have any other tricks up your sleeve, please let me know.

## Post 7 by Resonant (Find me alive.) on Monday, 20-Jun-2005 2:28:38

Yay! I'm glad you've got someone to demonstrate. The fingering is just complicated enough so that it would be really hard to learn without someone around who knows what they're doing. Other tips? At this point, start around the C above middle C. The notes in that region are the easiest. You get that C by pressing your index finger on your left hand, and the little finger on your right hand. To get the B, use the same fingers and add the thumb on your left hand. The A is the same as B, but adding the middle finger on your left hand. Remember, the index finger goes on the second key from the head, and the middle finger goes on the fourth. The 4th finger (that's your ring finger) goes on the 5th key along, with the little finger on the little curly key that sort of sticks out. The thumb goes on the flatter, longer key underneath the flute. You probably know all this already, but let me know if you need anything described. Just keep working at it, I promise it gets easier.

## Post 8 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Monday, 20-Jun-2005 20:47:47

thanks bunches.

## Post 9 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Tuesday, 21-Jun-2005 11:07:33

Another thing is, when I play, I find myself wistling with out meaning to. Is there a way to quit that bad habit?

## Post 10 by Happy Little Faith (One day closer to eternity! Wahoooooooo!) on Sunday, 26-Jun-2005 11:07:46

Whenever I blow in to my flute, I find myself slightly whistling with out meaning to. Is there anyway to train the tounge not to whistle? I try not to whistle, but once I start whistleing, I have to stop and rest for five minutes or so then come back to practice. So I could use all of the advice that I can get now.
Thanks,
Lordlover

## Post 11 by singingsensation (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 14-Apr-2009 16:00:19

Hi Chelsea,
I am also a flute player, I have been playing for 7 years, this is my 8th year of playing. I am already starting to look into auditions, and I am learning the Carmen Opera Fantasy.