Perfecting Your Third Octave FluteTips 105

[@maniachan438]

My 3rd octave sounds a bit empty and not as soft, so that was just what I needed!

[@DoctorFlute]

Great! You are not alone as we all struggle filling it out!

[@rafaelmorenorivas7468]

Thanks.

[@joannebuchweitz8450]

I have a new Miyazawa MX2 headjoint that is very open and beautiful in the high register. Never had that before.

[@DoctorFlute]

Sounds beautiful! Head joints do make a world of difference.

[@camaroman19691969]

Thankyou Dr. I need this info, words cannot thank enough. Hood flutetist.

[@DoctorFlute]

Thank-you!

[@trihandoko2102]

thank you for the lesson, I'm from Indonesia, interested in learning to flute. it's really very useful for me. Please reproduce the video about the flute.

[@PaulCrimea]

THANKS to you, from Russian listeners, watch with subtitles! Impressed, about the resonance.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi over there in Russia! Glad that you are watching.

[@jorgeabatocab]

Much to be perfected indeed, thanks Angela, God bless

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks Jorge!

[@fluteteatime]

wow great explanation! thank you😍❤️👍👍👍

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad it was helpful! Are you getting the sound you want now?

[@anatorres-wr3ik]

Wonderful ideas

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad you like them! Are you having any difficulties in your playing?

[@pianodesu]

The biggest problem for me in 3rd octave is to play in tune. The higher the note the more out of tune it gets with even half tone difference. Im wondering if its because of technic or if its because the cheap amazon flute eastar efl2 I own makes it impossible. I tried to direct air flow lower and it helps a bit but its almost impossible to play in tune in highest register

[@DoctorFlute]

It could be because of the flute. If the flute is one of the cheap amazon flute the cork in the head joint might not be positioned correctly. Also the positioning of the keys could be poor. The good news it might not be you!

[@Toipno]

Very interesting! Thank you

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Mauro, Your welcome! Do you have trouble with your 3rd octave?

[@Toipno]

@@DoctorFlute Hello! For me the third octave is a bit tricky, my mouth has some old unconscious habits as a mouthpiece for trumpet. I am still in the critical phase of setting lips and breath. with respect to the first two octaves the positions change and the spontaneous mechanism has not yet entered the head. As I am no longer young I get tired easily, however I insist, sooner or later it will become automatic and spontaneous. Thanks for your teachings.

[@DoctorFlute]

I see. When I change a students embouchure or work with them in the 3rd octave, I tell them it is much better to do many short sessions of practice then a long one. Short 10 minute practice sessions where you can think about the embouchure 2 or 3 times a day is best. So if you have short practice time because you tire that may be the best thing for your embouchure.

[@Toipno]

@@DoctorFlute I don't miss the time, I can do more study sessions a day, every now and then my imagination passes, but then it passes immediately! For the next lesson I should prepare the scale of Ab major and Bb major in third octave !!! I am very tired, but that too will come ...

[@Toipno]

@@DoctorFlute I need your opinion for my instrument, when and where can I export the question? Thank you

[@laradurrant2590]

I’m a beginner flute player (just started learning this summer) and reaching up to the third octave is very hard for me. Even toward the top of my second octave I’ve noticed it’s hard to get good sound quality. I definitely want to try out these tips. I might be tensing and tightening up too much! Thanks for posting this content.

[@DoctorFlute]

You are welcome! What do you know about support? It sounds to me like you are having a support issue. Do you know what I'm talking about?

[@laradurrant2590]

@DoctorFlute After some troubleshooting this weekend, I was able to get some stable high notes, and ones that didn't sound terrible! I think it was multiple problems converging into one, starting from a misunderstanding that I needed to pump a large volume of air to get higher notes. The notes kept cracking down and were never stable. Changing the embouchure and the way that I've conceptualized things has made a big difference. I was trying to solve things with brute force rather than finesse. I'm learning with flute stuff, more force is rarely the answer... Thanks for your feedback! 😀

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad its starting to work!

[@Kndnsssrlgn]

Thanks! I enjoyed this video. Doctor Flute, would you mind listing the composers and pieces you played in this video?

[@DoctorFlute]

Sure: 1. Three Pieces, Ferroud 3rd mvt 2. Autumn in Homeland Anze Rodman 3. American Suite Bruce Stark 2nd mvt

[@Cazarace]

Hello DoctorFlute! I'm trying to be play in the 3rd octave and I've been struggling to play the scale chromatically. At some point the note stops or I will over blow very hard and squeak when changing one note to another, typically from 3rd F to F#. My flute is very cheap, would that be one of the possible issues or does it all have to do with my embouchure and the open and closed throat? That high C is just nearly impossible unless I release a good pressure stream of air for it to come out (and is very airy!). I hesitate to believe it has some leaks since the other 2 octaves I can play fine without much difficulties. Is it also normal to play very loud in the 3rd octave? I can't really play the third with much dynamic. (And I'm starting to annoy my family while practicing haha!) Thanks!

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Kastell! Hmm interesting. It could very well be a leak that shows up with the particular fingerings involved with the 3rd octave. One thing to check on F/F# in the 3rd octave is to make sure that you thumb is not on the Bb key. Make sure that roll off. You should not have to blow hard at all for your 3rd octave. Faster air maybe but not hard. The 3rd octave is produced because of air pressure not because of pinching the embouchure or blowing hard. You want your air support to get the high notes so that your embouchure can remain relaxed. Only then can you get soft dynamics. Is there any chance you could send for a trial of an intermediate flute (at least one with a silver headjoint) or go to a music store and try out an intermediate flute. You would at least know if it was you are the flute. I know you might not be able to buy it but at least you could find out whether or not your flute is the problem and if its you then you will know that you need to fix some problem areas in your playing.

[@callumscorner6930]

I can hit everything but a G it’s so annoying

[@DoctorFlute]

It's all about the pressure and loosening up your embouchure. Also you must move the air faster. You can do it.

[@michaellord1962]

I have no teeth am I able to play the flute good or should I quit playing the flute altogether

[@DoctorFlute]

The question is can you play and do you enjoy it? If so keep going!

[@michaellord1962]

Thank you doctor Flute that made my day .