flute types general

[Reaktorrent]

Hello (sorry for my English)
I'm a very beginner flute player and also experimenting with building flutes.
I'm trying to understand the different kinds of flutes and techniques, i hope you can help

I'm pretty sure i'm missing somthing very basic but i'm asking here anyway

_____________________________________________________

I recognize four basic main actions that happen in the flute:

1. in fipple flutes,
the player is the -air stream generator
then it goes to the mouthpiece windway which -compresses the air
and then to the window and the edge that -cut the stream
then to the -resonant cavity

2. in transverse flutes and most end-blown flutes,
the player is the -air stream generator
the player with the lips also -compresses the air
and then to the window and the edge that -cut the stream
then to the -resonant cavity


3. This is my question, is there a type of flute or a technique the the player is doing all the first three actions and the flute is only being the air cavity?


4. when whisling all four actions are in the mouth

_____________________________________________________

Thank you very much, hope you can help

[pied_piper]

If you don't get an answer here, you might try the Yahoo Flutemakers group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/flutemakers/info

[Reaktorrent]

Thank you
Yes, a flute makers forum is probably more suitable for this questions

[JButky]

I recognize four basic main actions that happen in the flute:

1. in fipple flutes,
the player is the -air stream generator
then it goes to the mouthpiece windway which -compresses the air
and then to the window and the edge that -cut the stream
then to the -resonant cavity

2. in transverse flutes and most end-blown flutes,
the player is the -air stream generator
the player with the lips also -compresses the air
and then to the window and the edge that -cut the stream
then to the -resonant cavity

I think you have the mechanics not quite correct. There is not compression as such, it is direction. The edge itself does not "cut" or split the stream as far as the sound being produced. Flutes are air pressure control devices that basically create a standing wave within the tube. The resonant cavity is variable and controls the pitch. It has resonance, but not in manner of which you speak.

3. This is my question, is there a type of flute or a technique the the player is doing all the first three actions and the flute is only being the air cavity?


4. when whisling all four actions are in the mouth

The flute is not simply the air cavity. As a result there is no flute such as you describe. The mechanics don't really work that way. Whistling is a bit different.. The only thing that comes close to what you are describing are helmholtz resonators, Pan pipe, jugs,

[Reaktorrent]

Hello, Thank you for your answer!
Very interesting the things you said,
i have read and heard different terminology of explanations of what is happening inside the flute, maintly wikipedia and other internet sources, so thanks for clearing up my confusion..

can you elaborate more on the difference between the science of whistling(in the mouth) and a flute?

[JButky]

can you elaborate more on the difference between the science of whistling(in the mouth) and a flute?

Think of windways.. A fipple flute has the windway attached. It is not variable and limited to how it was made. On a transverse Flute, the player acts as the windway and is variable to help control the sound, (e.g. soft on high notes. You can't do that really on a fipple flute where the windway is fixed, You have to blow faster which also makes it louder. There is no other way to speed up the airstream). With whistling, the windway is farther back in the mouth (space between back teeth and tongue and the front mouth cavity is variable to control pitch. Whistle is high pitched and requires a fast air speed and small cavity so the mouth is perfect for this. The tongue against the teeth create a space to form the variable windway.

[Reaktorrent]

Hello again

I just watched how a Ney flute is played and it seemed to be the technique and kind of flute i asked about

Do you know how the physics we talked about apply here?
Thank you!
Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRUKveL3big

[JButky]

Hello again

I just watched how a Ney flute is played and it seemed to be the technique and kind of flute i asked about

Do you know how the physics we talked about apply here?
Thank you!
Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRUKveL3big

Yes, the tongue forms the windway along with the outer portion of the lip to direct the air. If you took the headjoint off a flute and could but the barrel of the flute into your mouth (unfortunately you can't get the barrel ring between your teeth), but it works the same way. I can get a flute to sound this way although it is a little bit difficult. But the physics work exactly the same, the mouth is a fipple utilizing the tongue and upper lip as a windway. On a regular flute, the lips form the last part of the windway.

[Reaktorrent]

Thank you Joe!, you helped me a lot!!
Tom