In subsequent practice sessions, it is advisable to play through this octave exercise with an electronic tuner to determine intonation idiosyncrasies of the particular instrument, so it can be played better in tune.
When these notes can be played comfortably, proceed to playing octaves through the chromatic scale starting from C1 to at least G3, getting to know the proper air stream angle of the notes through most of the range of the instrument. Then play octaves to determine proper air speed and angle of the air stream–F1 and F2, G1 and G2, and A1 and A2 are good notes to start with. Remember that playing the larger flutes requires more air than playing the concert flute. Start slowly with some long tones on notes on notes such as A, G and F in the first octave, to determine the air stream width and speed necessary to produce a good tone. When playing an alto, bass or contrabass flute for the first time, it is advisable to warm up and get to know the instrument. If the airspeed is too fast when playing a high note on one of the larger flutes, it may result in a harmonic instead of the desired note. When playing concert flute, many flutists increase the airspeed in the higher octaves. When playing alto, bass or contrabass flute, the airspeed used should be slightly slower than for concert flute, especially for notes in the second and third octaves. Although the higher notes have a beautiful and ethereal quality in alto, bass and contrabass flutes, finding the proper air speed and angle for the air stream to play these notes accurately requires finesse, as they can be overblown easily-the larger the flute, the easier it is to over blow the higher notes. While the upper octaves are the strongest and loudest for the concert flute, they are the weakest octaves for the larger flutes. Sometimes it’s helpful to think about blowing into a pop bottle to play a note, to get the air stream wide enough for the larger flutes.Īir management: finding the best air speed and angle. Contrabass flutes sound two octaves lower than the concert flute and are approximately twice as long with a larger diameter than the bass flute, requiring even more air and a slightly wider aperture. Bass flutes sound one octave lower than the concert flute and are almost twice as long with an even larger embouchure hole and more than double the diameter, requiring even more air and a wider aperture than for the alto flute. Since the embouchure hole and tube diameter are larger than those of the concert flute, and the instrument is almost 8 inches longer, a slightly wider aperture in the embouchure is necessary to provide a sufficient volume of air to play the alto flute. InstrumentĪll measurements are for instruments with a b-foot.Īlto flutes are pitched in the key of G, a perfect fourth below the concert flute. Thank you to Paige Long for the following measurements of even larger flutes…. For comparison purposes, approximate measurements of concert flutes are InstrumentĪll measurements are for instruments with a c-foot. The alto, bass and contrabass being successively larger than the concert flute, both in diameter and in length, require successively larger volumes of air to play along with proper support of the air column to achieve a pleasing and projecting tone. Although the basic fingerings and written range are the same in all members of the flute family, the larger diameter of the tubing in alto, bass and contrabass flutes require the player to make adjustments in air management, hand position and alignment of the instrument that differ from those used when playing concert flute. Getting Started Playing Alto, Bass and Contrabass Flutes by Phyllis Avidan Louke Florida Flute FairĪs flute choirs get more and more popular, more flutists are purchasing alto, bass and contrabass flutes than ever before, both to play in flute choirs, as well as to explore the expanding repertoire written for the larger flutes.
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