I've been playing flute and picc for 26 years. Does anyone out there have any advice on how to get the high Ab in the picc solo to speak out more consistently? I played on a silver picc for years and don't remember ever having a problem. I later bought a wooden picc and ever since then I've had the problem with consistently getting those high Ab's to speak. It really stinks because the wood picc sounds amazing and plays much more easily and in tune. Any picc experts out there with advice?

Amy

Hello. That A flat can be a real bear on the picc sometimes. I find that it is harder on some piccs than others. What fingerings are you using for it?
On a piccolo you do not finger the high A flat as you would on the flute in which many people don't realize. The proper finger for it on a piccolo is,


-23G#-23Eb

Kara, Oh my goodness! I'm so glad I posted this. I had never heard of that fingering and by gosh it works! You saved me for my Memorial Day concert! Amen! Amy

You are very welcome I am so glad that I was able to help. Here is a great chart. Christine Beard is an awesome piccolist and an all around great person, so I trust this chart.

http://www.piccolohq.com/pedagogy.html#anchor_129