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vampav8trix
(223 points)
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Hi everyone,
I am looking for some ideas. I think it's me.
I am having the worst time trying to get the high E on my new Yamaha. I have to tongue it really hard or blow really hard to get it to come out. I have spent hours trying to get a nice sound out of that pesky E. Playing anything lagato with a high E is out of the question for me. The note sounds sickly.
It didn't seem as hard on my old Armstrong.
It comes out as a horrible squeal half the time or it comes out as a bad A.
I looked at all of the keys to see if they were closing properly and they seem to be.
I put plugs in the holes and I had the same result. Squeal!
I am having an easier time playing the C two octaves above the staff than playing the lovely E.
Any ideas?
Lana
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Alieannie
(746 points)
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E is a bugger. Practice, practice, practice to find the perfect combination of airspeed and pressure. When I say pressure, I mean breath support, not pressure on your embouchure.
Try playing a c scale, starting on c below that e and work your way up.If you get the air speed a little faster that should help you get it out. Or start on the e below the one you're having trouble to give you a good running start. Don't be afraid of the note because if you hold back, you definitely won't hit it. And that's one thing you might do the longer you miss the note, which is just psychological.
Also, what fingering are you using? I play the standard fingering but don't use the Eb (thumb 1 2||1 2). It speaks easier and is a little flatter, so it's more in tune. It won't stick out so much so long as your other higher notes are relatively in tune.
High E and F# are the pain in the butt notes
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vampav8trix
(223 points)
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Thanks,
It seems not to be a problem unless I am playing something like A to that E or G to the E.
It just sounds bad. Sick. Like I stepped on a bird and it made a sickly squeek. (I have never stepped on a bird but use your imagination.)
I have been practicing scales very slowly. Long tones and going from A to E. (My neighbors are sick of me!)
It seems easier without the Eb key. But it is still not pretty.
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arabians207
(187 points)
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Did the Armstrong have a split E, while your new flute doesn't??
You probably just need to practice.. a lot. It took me a while to get pretty good at playing that note, and when I first learned it, it was with braces which didn't help..
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leighthesim
(233 points)
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i'd say practice untill you find a nicer sound then try to improve on that (it was what i did and my teacher told me to do ) as they say practice makes perfect
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Micron
(1365 points)
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"I am having an easier time playing the C two octaves above the staff than playing the lovely E."
If it is that bad, then I suggest one of the following:
1. The crown cork is way out of position, or leaking, possibly only at the end closest to the embouchure hole.
2. Your embouchure needs the attention of a good teacher.
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Micron
(1365 points)
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My comments referred to 2nd octave E (which is often called "High" E here.)
Check the crown cork anyway. If it is not right, the effects can be odd.
Third octave E? I agree that you were possibly used to a split E flute. Blow the air faster, as suggested by Aniealie. That does NOT mean more air. Use LESS air, but blown faster. For this, you need more pressure from the lungs, AND good lip control to keep the lip aperture hole really small.
To achieve this, perhaps practice harmonics, using low note fingerings.
"I have to tongue it really hard or blow really hard to get it to come out...."
Quite possibly you should be blowing harder for all the higher notes, to get good airstream speed for good tone and control. I think you would find that players such as Galway get their good tone by blowing really hard (while looking very relaxed!) for high notes, even when playing ppp, and converting that air pressure into a wonderful airstream by their excellent embouchure. Third octave E (also F# and G#) are more demanding of that high airstream speed than are neighbouring notes, although those neighbouring notes can cope with it high airstream speed too.
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jose_luis
(1374 points)
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Some time ago I improved the high E by adjusting the cork of my new Yamaha 674. It came in wrong position from Flute World, far from center as measured with the rod mark
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vampav8trix
(223 points)
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all your help.
I have decided that it is my flute.
I went to a music store and decided that I have to have a Powell.
That's besides the point.
Every flute that I played in that store hit an E easily. I played two Powells and a De Medeci. I couldn't even begin to afford the rest of the flutes there so I didn't even bother.
I picked the flute up and hit an E cold. I played around and hit the E.
It's my stinking flute. I am going to have someone look at it.
Wish me luck.
Lana
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vampav8trix
(223 points)
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1. The crown cork is way out of position, or leaking, possibly only at the end closest to the embouchure hole.
Thanks,
That was one of the things I did.
Didn't help.
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Alieannie
(746 points)
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Well, at least you know it's not you. If it's not a cork issue, it's probably some tiny leak, just enough to throw the note off.
I say get the Powell ;-) lol
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suzie
(387 points)
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I was going to suggest getting the flute regulated (a.k.a. setup so that everything closes as it should). That may be an issue as well as if there's a slight adjustment needing to be made, it is sometimes (depending on how you play) more obvious in the upper registers as the lower registers utilize more keys. I'd suggest having it looked at to make sure everything's closing as it should. *shrug*
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Micron
(1365 points)
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"The crown cork is ... leaking, possibly only at the end closest to the embouchure hole."
"That was one of the things I did."
I hope you removed it to check. Sometimes I remove it and then put it in backwards (temporarily) to check how tight the important end of the cork is.
BTW, is the embouchure hole clean and shiny?
Is anything stuck inside the flute?
Is it possible that the upper tenon leaks?
Have you done a mouthful-of-air-squirt-test-with-cork-in-the-other-end test for leaqking air, in both the head and body of the flute? One flute I worked on had a mysterious minute hole, right through the tubing.
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vampav8trix
(223 points)
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You might have something there with the tenon. My headjoint is not really tight. It is not so loose that it comes out of position but it is not tight.
I will see if I can get it looked at next week when I get back from work.
Thanks Guys and Girls!!
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Alieannie
(746 points)
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You can use a little plumber's tape (teflon tape) to snug it up. It's not sticky like tape, it's just called that. It won't harm the flute in any way and makes for a snug seal.
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