Piccolo 3rd Octave Notes - FluteTips 70

[@emusqueak]

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou! As a 3rd study flautist now being required to do more and more piccolo, this was very helpful and improved my piccolo playing almost immediately!!!

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad it was helpful!

[@michellemontgomery7092]

Thank you!!! Working on a piece that has nothing but a butt load of 3rd octave notes where the wonderful arranger includes octave jumping. Your explanation was what I needed to hear

[@DoctorFlute]

Great news Michelle!

[@RyanMones-sz3ni]

I immediately had results with hitting the 3rd octave in less than a minute, THANK YOU SO MUCH🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@DoctorFlute]

Excellent! Such great news. It’s exciting when that happens.

[@sophiecheng7847]

I've been struggling on my Bb on the piccolo but while i was practicing, I watched your video! You're right! I made my mouth too narrow. The moment I loosened it up I found it much easier to play it! I've been struggling for the longest time so this was an absolute breakthrough!

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! That is exactly what I like to hear!

[@x.enderboy.x8485]

I’m playing the Stars and Stripes Forever solo in my high school band and I don’t have any issues with that but I have been trying so hard trying to hit the high B flat, I need it for a piece that we’re playing for our winter concert and I can’t seem to figure it out

[@DoctorFlute]

Really fast air, keep a lot of air pressure. If you have a lot of support (aka: air pressure) then your embouchure can be more relaxed and allowed to get this note to come out. Try it and see what happens.

[@x.enderboy.x8485]

@@DoctorFlute I was able to hit it a couple days ago now!! Turns out all I had to do was lift off my left index finger lol TwT

[@WanderingUkes]

Thanks for the tips. They have really helped.

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad to hear it! It makes my day to hear this!

[@toci8475]

I can play 3rd octave A bit not 3rd octave Ab which is confusing me, I started piccolo again yesterday and I have a parade tomorrow, please help

[@DoctorFlute]

If you can play A but not Ab then I think your problem is a leak on the Ab key or the G key. That would be the only reason they don't come out. Make sure your air is blowing straight out across the the lip plate and that you have enough pressure from your breathing to keep those high notes where they should be. Hope that helps.

[@toci8475]

DoctorFlute thanks!!!

[@accio_hufflepuff3274]

@@DoctorFlute would this also be the case for lower registers? my lower notes between F and D haven’t been coming out with the loaner piccolo I have, but the notes around it and everything else is working fine thank you!

[@DoctorFlute]

This sounds like a leaking pad problem. Have a technician take a look at it. I don't think this is a you problem but rather a picc problem.

[@accio_hufflepuff3274]

@@DoctorFlute ok, thank you so much!

[@retpoll28]

I am currently having a hard time pushing out a clean F# and G# in the 3rd octave, do you have any tips on how to improve on these particular notes?

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Xenolith, I have a couple flute tips on getting high notes out so check those out. Much is the same between piccolo and flute. The main idea is making sure the air is high enough and don't pinch the embouchure but us more air pressure. Check out flute tip 66 for easy high notes. Let me know if this helps you.

[@toci8475]

DoctorFlute I can play 3rd octave A bit not 3rd octave Ab which is confusing me, I started piccolo again yesterday and I have a parade tomorrow, please help

[@emilyteoh7]

Me too

[@eitandavidrothenberg1719]

How long would the process of adding notes slowly take? I have an audition in a month, and the highest note I can play with out my lips buzzing is 3rd octave f natural.

[@DoctorFlute]

You should be able to get all the notes in a month. It sounds like your embouchure is too tight. Make sure that you are creating pressure with your support to get those notes out without tightening your embouchure. Play through a lot of etudes and make sure that you are strengthening your muscles little by little. Don't play too long 30 minutes or so at a time.

[@eitandavidrothenberg1719]

@@DoctorFlute also, why does my flute sound airy when I transition quickly between piccolo and flute?

[@DoctorFlute]

Well that could be a couple of reasons. One could be that you are blowing too hard when playing the piccolo thus when you return to the flute your air output is too much. Another is that you go from a small embouchure to a larger one that isn't controlling the air by support. When you switch back to flute try making sure your lips are farther apart and see what that does. Sometimes its just the air bouncing off the lips and all you need to do is open up more to clear it out. Try these and let me know how it's working.

[@fabiominerva4543]

I cam reach with my piccolo to high G but G# and A comes up just if i do a chromatic scale, but if i have to play them in "one shot" or trought a music phrase is hard. High B and High B flat doesnt not come at all either into chromatic scale...any advice? Thanks a lot

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Fabio, That really sounds like a problem with the pads on the picc. Have you had it serviced in a while? it shouldn't be that difficult to play in that register. Also make sure that you are open and do not squeeze your embouchure tightly.

[@fabiominerva4543]

@@DoctorFlute thanks so much, i follow the advice of the video but i just notice couple days ago a fact. After 30 min of exercise the key of B and B flat seems like doesnt work. After a check i notice that uder the pads of the B and B flat key there is lot of split; if i pass throught a rolling paper that i use for dry the pad it is soo wet, more that other keys and this "wetting problem" obstruct the hole of the keys. Is normal having so much humidity during a session of exercise? If not what could be the problem ? The piccolo is a study piccolo trevor james (vivace model) silver nickel the headjoint mechanicanism and abs body

[@DoctorFlute]

That does not sound normal. I'm not sure why that would be happening but I would definitely take it to a technician and have them check it out. I think it may need a new pad.

[@onesyphorus]

_"Picking up the piccolo..."_

[@胡安琪-w3c]

i can reach the high high c for the first time i play the picc without buzzing ahahaha, i think its just air support lol, like u hv to push out a lot of air with ur diaphragm with a firm embochure in a vry short time. but the sound is a bit cursed lolll. And can we hv a vid on articulation on the picc uwu? i feel like its more to the front than flute? ahahaha tysm uwu

[@DoctorFlute]

Hey fantastic! Those high notes on the piccolo is all about support. If you can support then the pressure is taken off the embouchure. Articulation on the piccolo? Sure that sounds like a good video. I'll get to work!

[@胡安琪-w3c]

@@DoctorFlute thank you sooo much uwu

[@suzanneprior3251]

Do you have any particular recommendations for études for the piccolo? Or just use the same as the flute? Thank you

[@DoctorFlute]

I use the same ones as for flute. I particularly like the Druet and Kohler etudes. You want to pick ones that don't stress the embouchure but work to warm the embouchure up so that you don't get the dreaded buzz.

[@suzanneprior3251]

@@DoctorFlute Thank you! Since watching this video, I have greatly reduced the frequency of occurrence of the dreaded buzz

[@DoctorFlute]

So glad I could help you! Exciting!

[@wolfgangvanchopin4093]

Hi i can t play 3rd octave g flat should i change fingering(because am using the same fingering of 2nd octave) Thanks

[@DoctorFlute]

I don't think you should have to change fingering. I think its probably your piccolo that is causing the problems.

[@wolfgangvanchopin4093]

@@DoctorFlute oh you mean my piccolo do not work well?

[@DoctorFlute]

Yes, that is what I'm wondering.

[@wolfgangvanchopin4093]

thanks !@@DoctorFlute

[@etudelina]

is it normal to struggle from a third octave a to Bb? i tried long tones and i have to play a b flat for this piece but it seems impossible to get out

[@DoctorFlute]

Yes, it can be normal. You need to figure out how your flute works. Maybe with your flute you need to angle the air higher or perhaps roll in a touch, I would do a lot of experimenting to find out what works. Keep me posted!

[@donkeys8433]

why am i able to hit like an Ab but not an F or F#?

[@DoctorFlute]

I’m not sure. Are you positive that your thumb is not on the Bb key? You might need to blow your air down a bit as well. Try these and let me know.

[@manbrey6060]

Hello, I just got my piccolo back in January and I’m struggling a lot on getting the 3rd octave Bb out. I’ve been unable to get it out consistently and only a few times while playing the scale. Do you have any tips?

[@DoctorFlute]

Sometimes the 3rd octave Bb is really difficult in some piccolos. But if it is not the picc, do you think you have enough support? The key is always to use enough pressure so that your embouchure does not have to squeeze the note out. What type of picc do you have?

[@manbrey6060]

@@DoctorFlute it’s an Easter. I think the problem is my air. I’m pushing too hard

[@DoctorFlute]

Tight stomach muscles and an open embouchure. That'll do the trick.

[@nicopadilla8544]

I have to play The stars and stripes forever next Friday and I think I'm done for.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Nicolas, I feel your pain! Slow and steady wins the race.

[@tershsangster8225]

I feel you🙁

[@jenniferwu7685]

I play a lot of 3rd fingertip in short air length. how to find the music piece in a way I can play Christmas music for to listen

[@DoctorFlute]

You can play Christmas music on the piccolo. Any music the flute can play the picc can play too.

[@jya208]

But I cannot control my intonation bruh

[@DoctorFlute]

That is difficult. You need to start with a great embouchure and then work on intonation from there. Use a tuner and adjust the emb.