3 Tips for Playing Low D on the Irish Flute

[@theloveboxquartet]

Thanks very much. First video I've found that actually addresses the muscles used in the embouchure. Has helped me to understand this for the first time..

[@brianqueally-xj1zd]

Best embouchure lesson ever I had…. Thank you much, grateful & kindly regards, B.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

What a nice thing to hear! Glad it was helpful. :)

[@lois2911]

Thanks, teach. It's the low B that I'm having a problem with getting a constant good sound. It's a silver flute with a b-foot joint. The low D is really really easy and even the low C. The low B is a killer for consistency.

[@BrotherB4]

Thank you so. Extremely grateful .Very concise & clearly expressed .🪻

[@c47force15]

It might be worth making a list of some of the flutes that allow you to get that deep resonant low D as many flutes can't do it no matter the embouchure. For example my hami will go very deep and very loud and allow a huge range of overblowing to the point of industrial abstract noise without ever wanting to go up a register. Its great for sessions and jazzy expressive playing but its extremely hard to make it sound "sweet" especially up high, although it can be done. Then my Rudall produces a super beautifully sweet tone effortlessly but lacks volume and will never produce that deep resonant D. It's perfect for recording but gets lost in the open sessions and good luck trying to overblow it to compensate as it will instantly pop into the upper register.

[@jofftalbot1348]

Super useful, thank you so much for this. I've lost count the amount of times I've fallen asleep late at night and re-watched 🙃 That aside, love your clear instruction and friendly demeanour 👍🏽🙏🏽🌈

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hooray! So glad you are finding it useful. :)

[@BrotherB4]

Whoops. Also , I would like to buy yer book…glad to return the appreciation ( hoping it has some hitherto unknown tunes for me) but either way please lmk best path to that . Thanks again Leslie, keep the flute hot & best of days,sincerely yours, Brian.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Thanks, Brian! You can find all my books here: www.melbay.com/Author/Default.aspx?AuthorId=164592

[@GolemHarmonics]

thanks ! very nice and educative video :)

[@doodeen]

Greetings from UK.Just like to add to the wonderful comments below.This is best demo of how to develop the emboucher for Irish Trad.I'm 74 and I must admit Ive bought nearly every make of flute there is.Olwell,Grinter plus original Prattons and Rudalls.I sold them all ss I could never get a consistent tone on the simple system.I have an Eric Juileret flute at the moment which i really like and through your demo I'm a getting a good consistant tone l.I have got your first book.Just wondering if you could do a lesson regarding the 'Off Beat' in Jigs and reels.Thanks for a wonderful lesson.Cheers Jim

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Thanks, Jim! So glad it was helpful. I'll see if I can do another video at some point. Thanks for the request.

[@piper5johnny]

Brilliant work, Leslie! I play a Colin Hamilton Irish flute and a Grenadilla Di Zhao Boehm flute--- and your 2nd tip (Direct with the Lower Jaw) changed my Low D almost instantly. Your tip helped make that note like a hard bottom D on the Uilleann Pipes.Many thanks and please Play On!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

So glad you found it helpful!

[@waltcamp45]

Thank you so much for this lesson! I've been trying lately to improve my low D on a new simple-system Irish flute I got a few months ago. Every new flute takes a while for your fingers and mouth to become accustomed, and I'm now at the point where it's all finally coming together. And thanks to your tips, i can immediately hear an improvement in my playing. Greatly appreciated.

[@sahdu1239]

thank you so much for this video. It's one thing to be able to play the flute, it's another thing to be able to teach, and this a highly informative and descriptive lesson on embouchure and breathing. Many things to keep in mind and experiment with to get that wonderful, rich tone.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

So glad you like it!

[@IanFontova]

You did make me yawn when talking about yawns 🥱 Really useful tips, thanks! I'm still learning embouchure and the corners of my lips where getting so tired constantly. I'm happy to be able to get a sound without forcing those!

[@lutherblissetti2862]

fantastic lesson, thank you so much for sharing this knoledge with everybody, much appreciated

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Sure thing! Glad you liked it.

[@BrotherB4]

So cool Leslie! Whenever I am tone-frustrated this video was (& is again )my go to for reminding me how big the role of the jaw & mouth shape is to intonation (internally too)it has really helped me to focus & keep themuscles engaged. Its really a great focus point,particularly after playing sets for dancers ( clare sets especially )you’ve such a calm yet firm approach & great advice & I wanted to let you know I am still grateful! I thanked you a few years ago because your videos helped my embtr. So much….overnight. I too

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Thank you! Glad it's been helpful.

[@gerardbraun8269]

Exellent tips ! I personally also favor the embouchure approach of the old master Marcel Moyse. What about the the positioning of your tongue and the space in your mouth when applying some tension in your cheeks ?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hmm. Tongue at the bottom of my mouth, and I usually have very little tension in my cheeks.

[@justplayflute]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@amidala3927]

This is fantastic! Thank you!

[@No_Ghosts]

these three tips were super helpful as a self learner dumb question but this is relevant to the entire range not just low D, correct?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

That’s a great question. The ideas of breath, embouchure, and jaw placement are relevant to the entire range, but you’ll likely want to do different things with them depending on whether you’re in the low, middle, or upper register. I have a bunch of videos on the topic in The Irish Flute Library if you want to know more. :)

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

www.leslieanneharrison.com/the-irish-flute-library

[@No_Ghosts]

@@LeslieAnneHarrison Thanks! I will check it out

[@Pipingpicker]

Very good and helpful advice!

[@mellowmel2012]

Low D is a challenge! Thank you for your detailed explanation!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

It certainly is! Happy to help.

[@petelinnett]

This is useful and interesting. Thanks.

[@mellowmel2012]

Nice, concise instruction. Thank you!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Glad you liked it!

[@kittygillane273]

Very good id liketo get another practising time

[@RubesMate]

Very good tips here.some similarities here to flute player Shannon heaton .love that low d. Any tips on the position of the lower lip.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hi there! Glad you found it helpful! The positioning of the lower lip is a great question. With low notes, my lower lip is in a pretty neutral position. It follows the movement of my lower jaw, of course, but I’m not engaging it much beyond the minimum amount necessary.

[@ClaytonCook12]

Lovely recommendations. Looking forward to practicing this and getting a stronger low D!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

So glad you find it helpful! Happy practicing!

[@jonathaneyken1176]

Great tips!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hooray! I’m glad you like them!

[@Heleendje]

Ah here. I just bought my first Irish flute (zero other flute experience). This is gonna be a wild ride isn't it 😝 Looking forward to it anyway!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Exciting!! Best wishes on your flute journey!

[@riaboorsmabouma4508]

What did you bay. And where did you bay one.

[@Heleendje]

@@riaboorsmabouma4508 hi! I got the Low D Kelpie from a French online music store bc new EU rules means it's too tricky to buy from the UK. Love it to bits!!

[@isaiahhall5565]

Great job!

[@AndyLetcher]

This is genius! Thanks so much. Super helpful and made an instant difference to my tone 🙏

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hooray! So glad to hear that!

[@mtb71]

Beautiful and yes, I did yawn!

[@mellowmel2012]

Hello! I have Playing Outside the Lines 1 which mentions tuning to a note other than A, and the notes on a simple flute which tend to be off. But I also saw your video somewhere that discussed this. I don’t think I see it here. Where can I find that?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Sure thing! I talk about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6mQna15m5eSlbc

[@riaboorsmabouma4508]

Thank you for this video. I play the silver flute. De settings for the vinger is that the same on Irish flute? I love the sound of the Irish flute.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hi! They're pretty similar if you're playing a keyless Irish flute. Big differences are F# (fingered like F natural on the silver flute) and C natural (fingered like high D on the silver flute).

[@stephenbrown9205]

Great tutorial! Some really useful, practical tips on the nuances in developing a robust low D bell note. Just wondering, is the wooden flute you're playing an Olwell, Lesouf, or by another maker? Sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing these instructive videos.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hi Stephen! Thanks, I’m glad you’re finding the videos useful! My wooden flute is an Olwell Nicholson model. Silver flute is an Altus.

[@djlogan1222]

Do you have a video addressing rhythmic breathing/practice - development tips?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Hi Damian! I don’t as yet, and it’s definitely a great topic. I can add it to my list of requests. I also have several chapters and lots of exercises on the topic in my book, Playing Outside the Lines, Volume I. The chapters address backbeat and breathing in compound meter tunes and reels.

[@djlogan1222]

@@LeslieAnneHarrison great, thank you. Your book is available at Melbay?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

@@djlogan1222 My pleasure, and yes! www.melbay.com/Products/30742M/playing-outside-the-lines-volume-i.aspx

[@djlogan1222]

@@LeslieAnneHarrison Found it, thank you.

[@irishflutegirl9022]

Your 100% right 👍🏻😊

[@williamswhistlepipes]

Sound advice in more ways than one😀

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Glad to hear it! ☺️

[@twodogstudio2]

The elongation of the nose concept is super powerful.

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Glad you find it helpful! That can feel like a real "a-ha" moment for some people.

[@twodogstudio2]

Yes indeed - I am still working to flatten out my lips and my latest thought process is to get the opening as small as ever possible but with only the last muscles at the very end of the lips engaged tightly while everything behind them is relaxed (relatively) It is an eternal ongoing process for sure but I am loving the journey. @@LeslieAnneHarrison

[@troyfry7432]

How can I feel the vivisection when you play the flout

[@TheMKEWERBY]

Leslie, I play the Low D whistle. Does it have the same notes and range that the Irish flute in D does? In other words, if you can play that, can you play this flute?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

Absolutely! Fingerings are all the same, so you can certainly play the Irish flute if you already play the low D whistle. If you’re switching to silver flute, a few fingerings will be slightly different. Whichever flute you choose, the biggest change from whistle will be the embouchure and breathing.

[@TheMKEWERBY]

That’s what I thought. Thank you. Also, Leslie, I’ve noticed that in some videos, like this one you’re wearing glasses, others not. Now do you just wear them, like I do, or do you go between them and contacts?

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

@@TheMKEWERBY I need them for some thing but not for others!

[@TheMKEWERBY]

@@LeslieAnneHarrison Thank you. I really found these tips helpful for MY new Irish flute!

[@LeslieAnneHarrison]

@@TheMKEWERBY So glad to hear that! I hope you're enjoying the new flute!

[@Kitiwake]

Great. But a bad lip day can happen to anyone.

[@Mulberry2000]

Unfortunately way too much talking. Great playing at the end. How far do i pull out to tune the flute. I have just started. I notices yours is not pulled out too far. So could you get me some tips, like how much in cms etc. Thanks.

[@giorgiolamborghini813]

I'll try to answer you. If you play alone there are very wide tolerances, but if you play with others the position of the head is fundamental and depends on various factors: your way of playing, the type of flute, whether you have played it before at least for a few minutes , from the temperature of the environment, then, you tune with a fixed pitch instrument, for example a piano, choosing an intermediate note of your flute such as A or G or use an electronic tuner. However, know that in the warm seasons the notes are higher and therefore the head of the flute goes further out and vice versa.

[@silverpairaducks]

Reasons I love flute. The women are dorky hot and flute dudes are super confident. Mock my flute. I dare you..boi.