Hi Everyone,

Any tips for getting the 4th octive D to sound (D7). I have tried all of the alternate fingerings. I've tried rolling in and out. Moving my embouchure around...

Do I need to make a teeny tiny embouchre hole? Possibly smaller than I am capable of at this time?

I have even blown my brains out and managed a squeek once.

Is this note just one of the really tricky ones?

What works for you guys?

Thanks

try to approach the note, never ever roll in and out, won't work and will kill the intonation..approach the note chromatically from below and you will get it..

It really requires good diaphragm control. You can't do notes up in that range by just blowing harder.

Thanks guys.

The C# is easy as pie. I can even get some of the notes above D. I tried the cromatic approach and by doing that and blowing my brains out, I managed to get a squeek. I can hear the overtones when I am not getting the note and just gently blowing air through my flute.


I usually don't ever roll my flute, but one of the alternate fingerings said to roll out and try playing the note. It didn't work. The regular fingering is the only one that I have had minimal success.

I remember many years ago in highschool I was able to get that note. Funny, I think that I had braces.

I will keep trying the cromatic thing.

Thanks

It really requires good diaphragm control. You can't do notes up in that range by just blowing harder.

I just got it once and I can't do it again.

I just finished playing a Handel sonata and I just blew into the flute like normal and it came out.

Then I played some more and I couldn't get it again.

I will work hard on my diaphram control plekto.


Thanks for the help.

That note has taken me a very long time to even get (I can play it better now, but still not super consistently)

Just work on longtones chromatically and work on attacks. Go from C# to D C# D back and forth.

I also think that doing harmonics (finger the very lowest B/C/C# and getting 5-6 (7? Up 3 octaves to the note your fingering) notes out. The top ones are REALLY difficult to get out but they really help get your embouchere right, and i bet D will be easier if you can play those even to the one or two below the top one.

It takes a lot of practice!

Hey,what's the fingering for high C#? High D?

Micron,

The second website is awsome. I have never seen it before.

It looks like it. Good thing, actually, since it allows for some quarter tones in there and also takes into account the B foot.

I did an experiment today. I have a Muramatsu Ex with a B foot that I use as my primary flute. Right now I also have an old Armstrong 90 flute with a C foot. I tried getting the high D again and I couldn't do it on the Muramatsu. I picked up the Armstrong and I got the D4 the D#4 the E4 and I could get the F4. I couldn't try the E#4 because the fingering chart that I was using required that half of a hole be covered.

I just repadded the Armstrong last week. I had the Muramatsu looked at about a month ago. I don't think that the pads are leaking on the Muramatsu.

Could it be the C foot that is making it easier for the high notes to come out?

The cut of the headjoint on the Armstrong is square like the Muramatsu. I don't think know if the Armstrong has any undercutting. I am guessing no since it is old tech. Could it be the cut of the headjoint?

Now I need to see if I can put the Armstrong headjoint on the Muramatsu and get the notes out.

<Added>

I just ran into the other room and checked. The Armstrong headjoint is a little loose so it is leaking but it fits into the Muramatsu and I could get the D.

Now I want a different headjoint for my flute! :(

Yes, the combination of our embouchures and headjoints are of sufficient variation
for complication. I'm normally able to make every note up thru 4th octave D, but the C#3
and the D4 can be pretty tough, depending on the flute. The D4 is easier on my Sankyo than on my Muramatsu EX. The Muramatsu is a great flute anyway, but there are better headjoints.

The higher price tag flutes generally (for the most part) have better hand finished cuts from what I've seen, although exceptions are possible, and are usually welcome surprises.

Being able to coax a note in isolation or using it in a piece are two different animals, but I've never been able to get Eb4 without it being somewhat flat. I hear that E4 and F4 are possible, but it's beyond me, I can't fathom the fingerings.

Hey Micron Thanks !

I overlooked your post from last week. Those two links are useful tools in the quest for more capability. I haven't sought out info on altissimo fingerings for flute, so it never dawned on me that people were trying to incorporate them musically.

I didn't even know anyone got past F4. I had a sax instructor once that doubled on flute and didn't even know beyond C4 was possible, and he was all over the altissimo range of the tenor sax ! When I told him I had a basic fingering for C#4, D4, Eb4, E4, and F4, but couldn't get past D4, he was amazed, and asked me for a copy of the fingerings.

This was several years ago now, though. Thanks again.

surely that's what the piccolo is for?

I own flute music that has D7 or fourth octive D on the flute. That's why I am trying to learn to play the note.

It would be weird to say. "Wait, let me get my piccolo to play this note." in the middle of a song.

LOL