Can Not Play Anything in the Lower Octave
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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TaffyTafolla
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:56 am
- Contact:
Can Not Play Anything in the Lower Octave
Hello everyone! My husband bought me a cheap flute for Valentine's day which I am sure is half the problem. I can not play anything below an A flat in the lower octave. None of the little springs are un done that I can see. Does anyone have any ideas? Repair shops are few and far between so if it is something I can do myself, I'd much rather take a stab at it! Thanks guys!
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pied_piper
- Posts: 1962
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:31 pm
- Location: Virginia
Is this your first flute? Beginning players sometimes have more difficulty getting the lower notes to speak properly.
If you have played before and the lower notes are not playing, there is probably a leak someplace. If the flute was bought new from a local music store, take it back and ask them to check it. If it was bought used or online from eBay, you'll probably have to get a flute technician to inspect it.
Unless you have experience with flute repair, there is not much you can do. Checking for leaks or doing any other repairs requires experience and specialized tools.
If you have played before and the lower notes are not playing, there is probably a leak someplace. If the flute was bought new from a local music store, take it back and ask them to check it. If it was bought used or online from eBay, you'll probably have to get a flute technician to inspect it.
Unless you have experience with flute repair, there is not much you can do. Checking for leaks or doing any other repairs requires experience and specialized tools.
"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--
--anonymous--
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TaffyTafolla
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:56 am
- Contact:
No, not my first flute. I have been playing for 10 years and sold a really nice flute right before I had twins so my husband thogut it would be neat to get me a new one and he bought it off of Ebay. It was ubber cheap so I'm leaning toward that as a possible reason! Thank you for your help! Looks like I will be finding a technician because I'm already having withdraws!
Could be several things going on or compounding the problem, but for starters .... If you press your G and the lower of the two pads seems to be not completely sealing, that would probably be the prime suspect. If the flute is one of those with the split-E mechanics, the usual "double-G" key is split so that the lower pad is independent and regulated to the G pad with an adjusting screw. (You need very thin/small screwdriver tips to turn these.)
You might get more useful help if you describe the make/model and feature set (open/closed-hole? split-E or not? inline or offset G? and so forth....)
You might get more useful help if you describe the make/model and feature set (open/closed-hole? split-E or not? inline or offset G? and so forth....)