Flicking Eb for High E?

[atoriphile]

I was just reading a description of a Pearl Flute on ebay and came across the following:

The purpose of the E-donut is to replace the High E Facilitator. Most players prefer the e-donut over the "Split-E", because it accomplishes the same without a clumsy mechanism. The purpose of either design is to allow a quicker response for the High E.; especially when playing from a High A to a High E. When you go from A to E, you'll notice the E will get stuck in a Harmonic. If you don't have either of the two designs, you can use the trick of "Flicking" the Eb simultaneously when you drop down to High E. This Donut does not effect ANY other nore, other than improving the high E. The Donut is removable if you desire.

My question is, do any of you know what they mean by flicking the Eb? Do they mean the right hand pinky D# key? I'm not sure how that would affect the production of the high E.

Or do they mean the left hand pinky G# key, which is used when playing high Eb? Does flicking that key help when going from high A to E?

I would try it out to see which one works best, but I'm at work and don't have my flute with me.

[flutepicc06]

It sounds like one of those "I think it will help so it does" kind of things. I've never used a split E or a donut, and I have no issue moving between A and E without flicking the key. Perhaps it changes the acoustics within the tube just enough to prevent cracking...Actually, it sounds rather similar to the idea of slapping the G key when you need low notes to speak. I just tested both possibilities you asked about (using the G# and the D#), and the D# did nothing...It was just more awkward. The G#, on the otherhand, actually made it more difficult NOT to end up cracking the E. Of course, every flute is different, so perhaps at some point in time, with some particular make of flute, this was a valid tip, but it doesn't seem to hold up now.

[atoriphile]

Thanks for trying it out.

Related to that, I've noticed on my Gemeinhardt 4W piccolo (that doesn't have a high E facilitator), the high E comes out easier if I don't use the D# key at all. But as you mentioned, different flutes (or piccolos) don't always respond the same way.

[ick27]

Rather than flicking the key, I find it's best to just leave the pinky (the right hand pinky) off altogether when going from A to E. This also helps the E be less sharp, and doesn't really compromise the tone quality. The other two E's do require the pinky..

[atoriphile]

Maybe that's what they meant by "flicking". Since the high A requires the D# key, when going down to E, you can just "flick" the pinky off.

I think it makes sense now. Thanks!