Guide to Solving Flute Problems

Problem                                               Possible Cause and Solution

Breathy Tone                                        a) Flute at wrong angle to lips.  Keep flute parallel with horizontal line of lips.

b) Lip opening too large.  Close center of lips and let the air stream make its own opening in the lips - like saying “pooh”.  This will create the proper amount of resistance and will keep the air focused at the center of the embouchure opening.

c) Cupid’s bow or teardrop in upper lip which splits the air stream in two.  Move the flute to either side of the dip in the upper lip and form the embouchure there.

d) Chin receding too far causing air stream to focus down the chin.  Move chin forward to redirect air stream against opposite edge of blowhole.

e) Lack of proper breath support.  Blow firmly.  Practice putting enough intensity into low tones so that they almost, but not quite, jump the octave.  Also, sometimes the introduction of vibrato helps.

                                                            f) Flute rolled out too far.

Breathy Whistle                                    a) Flute may be rolled in or out too far.  Experiment for clearest sound.

                                                            b) Embouchure could be too tight.

                                                            c) See “C” above - - teardrop lip.

Small, thin tone lacking                          a) Lack of proper breath support.  Practice

intensity                                                harmonic series to develop tone intensity.  Finger low “C” throughout, but move corners of lips and increase air to get harmonics. (low c-c-g-c-e-g)

                                                            b) Smiling – embouchure too tight.

                                                            c) Lack of focus.  See “E” above.

d) Too much or too little or the blowhole covered by the lower lip.  The former wastes air, the latter takes very little air.  Experiment rolling in and/or out.

                                                            e) Student line flutes do not produce good sounds.  Get an intermediate or professional model flute.

Hard, forced sound                               a) Flute pressed too tightly against lips.  Let flute just rest against the lower lip.

                                                            b) Too tight a smile.  Embouchure should be VERY loose.

                                                            c) Too much tension in the throat.  Open and relax throat.  Think of blowing “warmer”, rather than “cooler” air.

                                                            d) Over-blowing.  Remember, the flute will not have the dynamic range of a larger instrument.

Unable to get low register                     a) Air direction wrong.  Aim air lower into mouthpiece.

                                                            b) Leaky pads, or finger uncovering hole on an open-holed flute.

                                                            c) Lack of proper breath support and intensity of  tone.

                                                            d) Lip opening too large or too small.

Intonation problems throughout             a) Flute a the wrong angle.  Keep parallel with lips.

the range of the instrument 

                                                            b) Flute pushed against lips too hard.  Will produce flat pitch throughout.

c) End-joint cork out of adjustment.  Use the line on cleaning rod to measure correct placement.  Cork          should be 17mm from center of blow-hole.  Line should be in the center.

                                                            d)  Lack of support causes the tone to go flat.  Proper air support corrects most problems.

e) Flute rolled in too far – pitch will be flat and tone not unlike a recorder.  Flute rolled out too far – pitch will be sharp and tone very airy.

                                                            f) Students tend to push head joint in all the way causing sharpness.  Flutes are made to play in tune                                                                                       at 72 degrees when head joint is pulled about 1/8” to 1/4”.

Tone flattens in decrescendo                 a) Push chin forward to raise air column thus raising pitch.

                                                            b) Embouchure opening between lips may be too big.  Bring teeth together a little.

Harsh, uncontrolled attack                    a) Tongue hitting between lips causing lip motion.  Tongue should hit somewhere around gum line above top teeth.  Think “doo” for a smooth attack.