Yeah, i just started playing, and realized something about my right thumb. Ive been told that u should theoretically be able to squezze your index finger and thumb togther if the flute werent there. But i stop playing for a bit, and notice that my thumbs natural position is right up against the G# tone hole? Its just "drifts" over there. But when i put it where im "supposed" to it feels awkard. Is the thumb supposed to be on its side, or flat against the bottom of the flute (flat dosent feel right to me) Ok thanks alot for all the help guys!

Guest (the same one in all the posts)

Usually the rule is that you want to place your thumb in the section between your index and middle fingers. You are only supposed to use the TIP of your thumb and put the top of your thumb towards the BACK of the flute not on the bottom. For more information on hand positioning i would suggest you go to Jen Cluff`s website, she has a ton of articles on everything and they`re all very descriptive. The website is http://www3.telus.net/Garry_McKevitt/index.htm

"..You are only supposed to use the TIP of your thum.."

This could be unintentionally misleading. The player would have tensely contort his thumb to use the very tip. The flute rests against the fleshy part of the thumb, on the other side of the thumb from the nail, which is not the tip, but about 10 mm from the tip. The same part that you would use to hold something between thumb and forefinger.

Yeah i agree but most begginer flute players usually put their whole finger under the flute and their thumb is sticking out from the front which is bad hand positioning and could lead to a bad habit. I should have re-thought my choice of words, thank you for correcting me.

Yeah thats definetly not the case. I think its that im making such a concious effort NOT to have my finger "wrap around" that im unintentionally sliding it over much farther than need be. Thanks for your input and concern though!

actually i used to have the same problem you have...and really the only way the fix it is to force yourself to keep your thumb in the correct place...it can be frustrating i know...i used to have many problems with my fingers but they can all be fixed...just force yourself to keep your thumb under your index finger, there really is now other way...

"...Yeah i agree but most begginer flute players usually put their whole finger under the flute and their thumb is sticking out from the front ..."

Not in my experience with several hundred beginners. I suppose it depends on the teacher, and how he/she teaches!

Yes. Depends upon the teacher.
(I kind of disagree with Jenn Cluff`s hand postion and her F-joint location.)

I have seen many teachers in master class warm-ups tell their students to relax the right hand at their side. Then it forms the basic correct shape. For my student`s they will have their thumb underneath their index finger. Not sticking out from the bottom of the tube. -this also promotes bad finger-key location & definitely not near the G# key. Every time they put it there I will stop them and correct them. They seem to get tired of that after a few lessons.

I tend to place my right thumb against the flute underneath the first finger, slightly behind the bottom of the tube but not nearly against the trill rods. This gives better balance. The thumb is touching more on the side almost against the nail. Placing the bottom of the thumb (In the center of the finger print) against the tube will most likely cause the right hand to twist CCW and make the R-hand postion finger pressures bad. It also makes it difficult to reach the lower foot joint levers with the pinkey.

One thing to try is to practice a bit with the right thumb away from the tube. -to break the habit and to get a different feel of the balance.

Another is to balance the flute by touching the flute against the lower lip, the left index finger joint location and the right thumb. Touch nothing else but those three places and if it is controlled in that way and the flute is resting lightly against the bottom lip, it may be good postioning. If the flute isn`t balanced well, then the player will be using their key fingers to control the balance where they should be used for only closing/opening the keys. Doing this wrong will cause the flute to bounce and twist when you cahnge fingerings resulting in intonation and tone consistancy issues.

~Bilbo

ive always been told to keep my right thumb underneath the first trill key. honestly, i drift min over to the left. a lot. it seems to me as if most people who say to keep your thumb there happen to be "double jointed" so-to-speak in that joint and can manipulate their thumb into that position. its very uncomfortable for me, but when you move your thumb to where its supposed to be, your fingers are up straight and not slanted (bad thing for open hole flutes) and you can cover the holes better. i know of people who put the sticky part of a cloth bandaid where their thumb is supposed to be. i dont know if it works, but also try looking in a mirror when you play.

Bilbo wrote "...The thumb is touching more on the side almost against the nail..."

Very true.

I was trying to think of how I could describe where my thumb hits my flute and its right between the the index finger and trill 1 key, closer to trill 1 and my thumb makes contact right where Galway has his blister, but little more to the right. It`s really the corner point of thumb that I use and not the complete side or tip.

Galway Blisters:
http://www.superflute.com/hold.htm

Speaking of thumbs, I`ve been playing flute for about year (self taught) and I`ve noticed my LEFT thumb hurts quite a bit after playing for a while. Is this common and something one gets used to? Am I maybe "squeazing" too hard?

Maybe you should try to exert more force from where the bottom of your index finger (knuckle) hits the flute or raising your flute so that more of its weight is supported by your right hand to relieve the pressure you are putting on your left thumb.

snotjello, your left thumb should be in a very natural position, and pushing only hard enough to press the key down. It should not be all tensed up, and should not be involved in holding the flute.

Perhaps you are holding the flute inappropriately, and should get a lesson or two to sort out this and other problems (especially embouchure) you are likely to have if you are self-taught.

Really, somebody needs to SEE what you are doing to sort out problems such as this. Otherwise it is a big guessing game.

I`d rather my thumb hurt.