I can squeal a nasty ear piercing Super-High C. That would be a C7 if C4 is middle C (low C on the flute). Making over 3 octaves on the B-foot flute. That is not the highest I have heard of possible. What about D, E, and even an F can be played. I have never done it successfully. My lips split at that point. Who has hit these notes? What are the fingerings?

I don't see those all listed on many flute fingering charts. Most end at High B (B7).

When would a person use these high notes? I know some pieces I played in symphony went way up there at times, mostly for effect, like flies buzzing around.

Thanks for your comments!

I've hit up to the F above C7 before and it's possible to get to F#, but that's the top of the practical range. After that, there's a "silent zone" between G7 and Bb7 (unless you move the headjoint cork) and theoretically you COULD hit notes above that silent zone, though I don't know of anyone ever having done it. You almost never need to play notes above D7, though. They do pop up occasionally in modern literature (the C# and D especially...These are basically standard parts of the range nowadays), and there are a couple of instances where you CAN use freakishly high notes, but don't have to, but they're really not all that important to know. Their main use IMO is to make the top of the third octave seem easier. I play arpeggios and scales up to E7, but pretty much because I can...Not because I need to. If you'd like fingerings, try here:

www.wfg.woodwind.org

They include several fingerings for most of these REALLY high notes.

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Of course, it's important to note that being able to hit freakishly high notes is not a sign of quality in your playing, nor of great musicianship. In most cases it would be better to spend time working on your tone than to try to hit F#7.

The high notes are bad enough on the piccolo, so I leave it to the piccolo for those crazy high notes. It sound just plain old screechy and not like music to me if I play to high on the flute and try to avoid such notes at all costs. So, I haven't really wanted to even try such high notes, so I can't tell you which is the highest one I could reach.

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This just reminded me about that really long thread.."What is the highest note on the flute." Remember that one. lololol!!

that really really high C...but especially when I want annoy someone :]
But I never knew flutes could go higher..nor have I ever imagined it...or will I try it!

I can hit that high F but the high Eb is a bugger for me.
It depends upon which flute that I'm using.
The haynes that I use reaches higher notes more easily. The Yammy with the EC head, ...not so easy.

These high notes aren't very practical as far as I'm concerned. Although one of the students brought in a try-out piece with a high D flat a few seasons ago.

If I may,
standard flute repertoire does not generally include the high e and f.
I ahve a recording where Galway played the Ibert Concerto and added a high F at the end but it's not the written note. There may be some newer pieces that have them. Avant garde and such but again they may not be considered as "standard flute repertoire".

I belive tha the High D first appeared in the Prokofiev Sonata and is also used in the last mvt. of his Classical Symphony several times.

I beelive that if you check into it, earlier players believed that attempting to play these very high notes would be detrimental to the embouchure and to a good flexible tone. I'm not sure if I agree but we are playing flutes and we should sound good and attractive. Of course if we were playing trumpets, we could compete for the highest awards.

Good info and advice, Flutist06. Woodwind fingering guide has come to the rescue for me, many times!

azflutist, there are several points to be made about the uppermost range. I've successfully played up to the altissimo f (two octaves above top line of the staff.) It's not pleasant to do or to listen to, but there are good reasons to work your range up (and down!)but you should avoid the temptation to just find the highest note on the chart and try to honk it out. Add one note to the top of your range every week or two, and practice it - in scales and arpeggios, and at dynamic extremes, but always striving for your best tone.

The first reason is that it exercises your lip muscles, and conditions them to play in all ranges.

The second reason is to ensure that the practical range common in most music will be easier if you have more range than required. If you are playing Grainger's "Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon", you don't want that to be something you have to struggle with when you have to hit that very exposed mezzo-piano high c. If you've already expanded your range up to d or e or e-flat, then the c won't be as difficult, and won't sound strained or harsh or "shrieking."

Think of it this way: if you run a 3-mile race, you'll do much better in that race if you've been practicing running 4 miles, than you would if you've been practicing running 2 miles.

During practice time, expand your range to more than you need, then you will have much more control over what you do need.

I have hit the high D many times in concert, but not the others...although I bet Jim Millen HAS

I can play the high f but its quite a challenge and we can thank my headjoint for that. i practice through a high D on a regular basis as part of my routine warmup and on occasion i go higher, but not very often. ive never had to use it except when playing piccolo parts on flute because i forgot to bring a piccolo.

Does anyone have the fingers for the C7# thru F7#? I didn't see anyone reply with that part. I really was looking for that. Thanks everyone for your replies. It was a nice learning experience! I liked Flutes06 reply, it was very helpful. Patrick, yours also! Kara, interesting as always! I know I have had a few times I hit the D7, but in the last few years, it has not come up, and now I forgot the fingering! ARGH! So I can't get above C7.



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Bilbo, your reply and advice may have been the best. Sorry I meant to include you in my thanks. Of course playing this or attempting to play them very much at all will not help your embouchure. I agree totally with you on that point. Knowing what it is has for this reason kept me from asking all these years. But, I would like to know in case it ever comes up. I may write a piece some day just to annoy people that hits a high D or E or F.... Just to be annoying...cause that is just the way I am! hehe

-Azflutist

Azflutist, I mentioned a link above with a great fingering chart. Here it is again:

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/fl_alt_4.html

Thank you Chris!

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OMG! It has the fingering for a C8, That is insane!!!

bump

I looked at thing and I couldn't understand it.
am I that stupid? @_@

I once hit a 4th octave E...I was talking on the phone when I hit it. My friend screamed and said there was a dying cat at my house. =) Right now the highest note I can hit without really trying is a 4th octave D. =D

Kate.