Which fingering is better to use? My Gemeinhardt has a bit of a different pitch for the two fingerings (though my Emerson doesn't). The F sharp seems to be a bit lower than the G flat.

Also, how often should I send in my flute to get professionally cleaned and checked?

Thanks.

There are not two separate fingerings for these two notes. They are enharmonic (the same note notated differently), and use the same fingering. I assume you mean which F# fingering should you use (RH2 or RH3)? and the answer to that is that you should use the "real" fingering (the one using your right ring finger) whenever possible, but should an extremely fast passage require it (say a fragment of a G scale with a fast transition from E to F# back to E), the alternate F# certainly has it's uses. How often your flute needs to be checked varies a little from person to person depending on how much it's played, how hard it's played, climate, and the like. The norm is a COA (Clean, Oil, and Adjust) at least once a year (I generally get it done every 6-8 months), and an overhaul every 3-5 years for the best maintenance.

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Just out of curiosity, what fingerings were you using? I mean, where'd you learn that Gb and F# had separate fingerings, and how did they differ?

Don't worry, I realize they're the same note.

I'm not sure I understand, then....

Ok... I have always heard that the G flat fingering is RH3 and the F sharp fingering is RH2 (which is entirely pointless if you ask me :P). I was wondering which is proper to use.

And, does anyone else have a problem with a slight pitch difference between the two fingerings?

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I just saw your addition.

I was using both fingerings depending on which better suited the piece, though mainly RH3. The Gb and F# names were just for the purpose of identifying the two fingerings.

OK...Gotcha! Yeah, there really are not two different fingerings (since they are enharmonic, and at least in equal temperament are the same pitch, one fingering suffices), though it's quirky little idea. You almost always want to use RH3, as I said, as the RH2 fingering generally is not as good tone- and pitch-wise. I rarely use the alternate F#, but if my memory serves, on most of my flutes (My gold, I think, is the exception), there is a noticeable difference between the two fingerings. Just in case something like this should ever arise again, generally the fingering using the middle finger of the right hand is referred to as the "alternate F#" or "trill F#," to differentiate it from the "real fingering." Using one of these names should help avoid confusion when discussing this point in the future.

Thanks for the info.

The RH2 fingering can be used on a forte high f# to bring the pitch down. The regular fingering is quite high. There is little effect on the color on the high f#.

You should only use the RH2 fingerings on the low and middle f#'s when you are trilling from e to f#

There are other instances where the alternate F# can be useful, such as in a passage involving an extremely fast G Major scale fragment. To say that the fingering only has one use limits yourself.