How to Form a Great Flute Embouchure - FluteTips 132

How to form the right flute embouchure for you is a question that you need to answer! A great embouchure is the way that you can sound your best. It is the only way to get a good tone.
We can work on technique and get our fingers to move as fast as they can move. But if sounding good (which is the reason you are playing flute to begin with), if getting a good tone is elusive, finding the right embouchure is the solution you are looking for.
How to Form a Great Flute Embouchure - FluteTips 132
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[@user-wv5pq9od2p]

I have been playing for a short time, but couldn't even really start playing because all of my notes had too much air in them. 5mins into this video and I sound like a professional. This is the best advice I have heard or read anywhere, and I've been searching... Place the hole on your lips and roll down. SO SIMPLE!

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! I’m so excited for you.

[@dcallan812]

Bad embouchure = bad sound. Getting to your own embouchure can be a nightmare. For me especially in the upper register. Great advice. 👍👍

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks DC!

[@Andreajiayen]

I have just started to play the flute, teaching myself using KZbin resources posted by professionals like you. So far, yours are the best out there as you are so clear and concise in your explanation. I understood and tried the method immediately after watching this video regarding experimenting with “rolling in or out” to adjust the embouchure to achieve the perfect tone one is looking for. I am definitely on my way to nail it! Thanks again DoctorFlute!

[@DoctorFlute]

Wow, thank you! Great to hear. I am sure you will get that great tone in time!

[@fernandoreinoso69]

I'm a biginer and all of these tips are quite important to me, l know I'm going to get some progress soon

[@DoctorFlute]

Great, I love talking to beginners. Keep me posted on your progress.

[@Moniszka]

Thank you a lot. I could tell that the sound wasn't 'crispy' and it just didn't feel right overall. I have no teacher so that was eye-opening.

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! How is it going now?

[@WilliamCarterII]

Super useful. I'm a saxophone player finally picking up flute again and this helped me a lot.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi James, glad I could help! Have fun playing flute again!

[@father3dollarbill]

You're the only teaching how to actually place the lips. Because of your help, I can now at least make the sound. Thank you

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad I could help! Are you a beginner?

[@dianal.1279]

Thank you very much for sharing! Very clear explanation!

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad it was helpful! Do you think you have the embouchure down now?

[@jnelson508]

I have recently made a change on the placement of my flute thanks to you. My sound immediately improved. Like yourself, I have a full lower lip and was worried about covering too much of the aperture. Many sources say only cover 1/3 so it is interesting that 2/3 works well for you. Bottom line is the resulting tone is all that matters and not some rigid guideline. Your videos have provided my playing with small miracles. Many thanks.

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! We all have different shapes to our lips and knowing how we can use that to better our tone is the best thing! It made all the difference in the world to me when I realized I could actually move the lip plate on my lip and get a better tone because of it.

[@johnlaboone8380]

This lesson has been amazingly helpful. Thank you.

[@DoctorFlute]

So glad!!

[@lindaarner6080]

All your videos are extremely helpful!! Thank you!

[@DoctorFlute]

You are so welcome! I am so glad it is helping you. Let me know if you have any particular issue I can help with.

[@Gigimamapa5]

Thank you for the instruction. 🥰

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Gisele! I'm glad I can help!

[@FabricioRWitt]

Beautiful teacher + detailed high quality explanation = premium class! Thank you so much, I just got my first flute and finding the correct embouchure is being quite a challenge, this video helps a lot in that!

[@DoctorFlute]

You are so welcome Fabricio! I hope that your embouchure is coming along. Keep me posted on your progress!

[@dalevanleeder]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@DoctorFlute]

You're welcome!

[@peterfinlay7213]

Hello!! I do struggle sometimes ,but you have really helped me out with your videos .I have enjoyed them!! I am getting alittle better slowly but surely, it's becoming a little more fun to play ..less frustion.I have a long way to go ,but you have helped, thanks again,keep them coming!!

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! Thanks for you words of praise!

[@allanfan297]

So detailed and easy to understand helped me so much thank you

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic Allan!

[@rd40082]

Great advice

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks so much!

[@steve3150]

That was great teaching. I've been playing just over a week now. I play the Chromatic Harmonica so I can read music just got to learn where the notes are on the flute. Your explanation is spot on: I'm now getting the right embouchure and a better sound. Thank you. X

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic Steve! Hope the journey is going well.

[@planetenherz9895]

Hello, thank you very much for your explanations. I am very happy to receive these excellent instructions. 😊Michael

[@DoctorFlute]

I'm so glad this is helpful! Let me know what you struggle. I'm happy to give advice.

[@frs37000]

Thank you for the video very helpful ciao

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad it was helpful! How is it going?

[@AaronGlenn88]

Thank you. I am really excited to learn to play, and your video was very awesome at helping me. You are a great teacher and understander of your instrument.

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks Aaron! Have you started flute yet?

[@cesarbustos8259]

Gracias.

[@DoctorFlute]

You are welcome!

[@vincentmba258]

Nice one

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks for watching

[@salmanthorpe2293]

This is really good. I'm learning for the first time, and am teaching myself and having difficulty getting lower notes!

[@DoctorFlute]

It can be difficult to get the low notes at the beginning. Watch my video "why can't I get my low C" for more tips. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5nGdHSAgc6Hjq8

[@salmanthorpe2293]

@@DoctorFlute thank you I will.

[@zingingcutie2364]

I found Quantz extremely helpful in developing embouchure

[@DoctorFlute]

Good to hear! Yes, I can believe that it would be great as it would center in the middle registers.

[@monchichis333]

I have a fat bottom lip, and an underbite. I have a hard time getting the high registers, but I do well on mid and low. I always have to figure out where to let the mouthpiece sit on my lower lip lol

[@DoctorFlute]

Probably it needs to sit higher then you think on that bottom lip and you might need to raise your upper lip higher for the high notes.

[@visvrse]

THANKKK YOUUU I tried as my band teacher told me to work on my tone as it sounds airy and because of this i sound better and my higher octave doesn't sound too forced however I do still hear a bit of airyness but ill figure it out

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! To get that airiness out open more. More space between the lips and teeth will take out that air.

[@vlogs_editswmo]

I just subbed! I think I’m going to play the flute in school, or the clarinet, idk I’m probably going to do the flute! My teacher said to watch a video of this so i chose this one!

[@DoctorFlute]

How exciting! What grade will you be going into this year? Flute all the way!!!

[@vlogs_editswmo]

@@DoctorFlute 6th grade!

[@DoctorFlute]

I'd love to hear about your progress when you get started. Keep me posted.

[@evesmith7278]

THANK YOU! I have just recently upgraded my flute and I have been reading about the dreaded 'smile embouchure' and I wanted to make sure that I am not doing it. This was very helpful. I have experimented with tuning but rolling the the flute around. I thought that was an interesting thing. I am working on trying to have my tuning consistent in all octaves. I am hopeful that my newer flute will help with that.

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad I could help! I'm sure that the new flute will help with intonation but it intonation is a never ending project and it will change in every octave. I'm glad you have this for a goal. So what flute did you pick out?

[@evesmith7278]

@@DoctorFlute I picked an Altus 907 (closed hole). The key action is fabulous :-)

[@DoctorFlute]

Sounds fabulous!

[@evesmith7278]

@@DoctorFlute I have felt a change in my embouchure and I definitely need to play my new flute daily.

[@franperezsanchez4545]

What's the song at the beginning? Thanks! Great channel :)

[@DoctorFlute]

That is the Devienne Concerto in E minor. It's a great piece!

[@robertzsombok7661]

Great topic and video. I'm also struggling with tensing up with my embouchure when playing for hours. Especially after having a long break (years, months)from playing flute. My mind remembers how it felt to be in good flute shape but the muscles take time to build up. I try to take short breaks regularly every 20 or so minutes if practising.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Robert, that is the best plan. Often and short. Remember that when getting back in shape quantity is the key. Play through lesson books and etudes not worrying about your tone. Have fun!

[@drownless6528]

As someone with weird lips I was struggling lol thanks for the tips

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic!

[@TitoSilversax]

I'm just beginning flute and i can get a tone but the keys don't change that pitch. I'm still learning how to do the embouchure on the flute and i'll tell ya it's not easy. It's much different than a saxophone embouchure. I think my air stream is not right.

[@DoctorFlute]

Do you mean when you press the keys down you don’t get different notes? If that is the case it’s not you it’s the flute. It sounds like some mechanism needs adjustment. If you can make a sound but the notes don’t come out then have you flute looked at.

[@richardlopez8816]

Do you have an e-mail to ask you some questions about flute tone and embouchure?

[@DoctorFlute]

Sure, Go to DoctorFlute.com and you can find the email to contact me.

[@galvao4913]

Olá olha eu aqui novamente. Mandei msg para vc tá bom. Aguardo retorno abraço tudo de bom

[@SlinkyzZz]

The problem for me is that my lips are showing when I blow. It moves my lips too much. I think that’s why I sometimes have a bad sound. How do I fix this?

[@DoctorFlute]

There needs to be a little firmness in your embouchure when you blow. Use just enough to make to keep the embouchure from flapping.

[@SlinkyzZz]

@@DoctorFlute Okay thanks! I also have a double lip on the bottom because I think I’m too tight? Should I only have one?

[@leahrobinson1980]

Hi! I'm starting to play flute as an 8th grader and I'm really stressed because I've watched tons of videos and I'm still struggling to get a sound out of my flute without whistling. My teacher is teaching us our first couple notes but I'm a little embarrassed because I cant even make a sound. What should I do?

[@DoctorFlute]

Oh man, I wish I could see what you are doing wrong. If you are whistling that means that your lips are two much in a whistle shape. Probably too round. Try saying "ah" inside your mouth when you have the lip plate up to your lip. Don't have an "oo" shape. Try this and let me know how it is progressing. I really want you to have success.

[@leahrobinson1980]

@@DoctorFlute thank you this helped alot, but it still sounds a bit airy. Though I'm sure that just goes away with more practice. Right? Anyways your very motivational and I love how you respond whenever you can. Thank you.

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! Glad it is working for you! I'm always happy to answer your questions so don't be afraid!

[@eggieos8593]

ive been playing 5 years now and apparently my embouchure is wrong. it so annoying because this is how i was taught and now i need to relearn it

[@DoctorFlute]

I can understand your pain. I too had an incorrect embouchure so I know what it takes to change it. Slow and steady wins the race. You can make the difference.

[@peterfinlay7213]

👍great class again .!!!thanks,just to let you know it's Janet ,not Peter,we share e.mail

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Janet! How is the flute going? Are you having trouble with your embouchure?

[@message2ui]

I don't get it... I've been trying for 6 months and I still can't blow inside my flute. Any tips?

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Semisarcastic, do you mean you can't really make a sound?

[@message2ui]

@@DoctorFlute I figured out how to blow inside the flute, but my sound is sharp.

[@DoctorFlute]

Aim your air down. Don't blow hard. Follow these two points and it will help a lot.

[@message2ui]

@@DoctorFlute Thanks! I tried this for a while, and it helped a lot. Some notes are still a bit airy, but overall better than before!

[@DoctorFlute]

Great! Also trying opening up more.

[@KarinaEijo]

I’m struggling so much with teaching a 6 year old how to get her embouchure in the right place. She gets a sound, but it goes in and out. Right now, she’s using a Nuvo flute and she does well with it but I struggle with saying things in a way that her 6 year old brain can understand.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Karina, my advice is to not get too caught up in her tone. As long as she is on the right track little by little time will take care of this issue. Work with her for a bit at the beginning of each lesson and then move on to rhythm and other aspects of music. She will get in her time.

[@KarinaEijo]

@@DoctorFlute Thank you so much! ♥️

[@Redefine111]

@@DoctorFlute isn’t 6 too young to start? I have a 9 year old whose hands aren’t big enough to hold the instrument yet so we had to pause lessons. It broke my heart!

[@DoctorFlute]

Actually students can start quite young. I've had a couple of 6 year olds in the past. They must begin with a curved head joint. With the curved head joint their hands can reach and they can blow straight across the flute. it can work. You can find curved head joints for sale for quite cheap so if you want the 9 year old to keep playing try it. It'll work.

[@Redefine111]

@@DoctorFlute that’s great to hear you had success! My student finally got a sound after a few weeks with a curved head joint but had trouble with her left hand reaching the keys. She can’t play a middle c because most of the weight of the flute is on her thumb. She’s unable to shift the weight to the bottom of her forefinger and lift up the thumb because her forefinger isn’t long enough. :( she’s very small even for a 9 year old!

[@ryleighchrist6710]

just lost all my ability to play because i got my braces off. praying this helps

[@DoctorFlute]

I have students in your spot. Just give it time. Your playing will come back.

[@steve3150]

Just to add, I can't see my hole.

[@DoctorFlute]

Just need to use a mirror.

[@EnchWraits]

Tip: get a better microphone