High G# 3 a little off

sinebar · Post by **sinebar** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:54 pm

The high G#/Ab 3 seems a bit off. I can't tell if it's sharp or flat though. So is G#/Ab 3 normally off or is it my flute?

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:05 pm

Do you have a visual tuner? That would show you whether you are flat or sharp. It's a good tool for helping to train your ear.

sinebar · Post by **sinebar** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:37 pm

pied_piper wrote:Do you have a visual tuner? That would show you whether you are flat or sharp. It's a good tool for helping to train your ear.

I think it's flat. But when I don't use the G# lever it sounds in tune and the note pops out a little easier.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:43 pm

no g# lever? What fingering are you using?!

sinebar · Post by **sinebar** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:23 am

fluteguy18 wrote:no g# lever? What fingering are you using?!

I'm using the standard G# 3 fingering with and without the G# lever. It's strange though that sometimes it's in tune with the G# lever and sometimes not. I think maybe it's just me. I'm not used to playing that note yet.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:53 am

ahh..... I hadnt tried that before. I actually pulled my flute out to try it, and it does work. However, the intonation is different [it sounds a bit more stuffy to me without the g# lever]. If it works, and you get a good sound that way, and it is in tune, then I see no reason to use a diff. fingering.

For me however, the fingering without the g# lever was a quarter tone flat, so it is probably similiar on most flutes. But if it reads as in tune on the tuner, and there isnt an audible difference, then I dont see any reason NOT to use it.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:06 am

You might want to try some of the fingerings listed here: http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/

Specifically, the various alternate fingereings for G#3 are here:
http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/fl_alt_3.html

The second fingering in that chart (standard G#3, plus RH 2&3) is a good alternate, especially for piccolo, but it also works well on flute. It makes the pitch a bit flatter, so you'll need to see if that helps or hurts your pitch...