Not wanting to sound stupid but at the top of the headjoint on a flute there is a screw sort of thing....

well the other day in my lesson i was fiddling with this only to be promptly told off by my teacher for doing this

i was wondering what was so important about this screw that it can't be fiddled with??


xxx
T


ps just realised i'm an advanced member!! hehe

Doesn't it have something to do with a cork which is in the headjoint that affects the tuning?! Sorry, not an expert, but my guess.

The screw (I think it's called a crown but don't quote me on that) alters the tuning of your flute. If you screw it down too tight it flattens the tuning. You can use the notch on the end of the cleaning rod to check by placing the rod in the head joint. If the notch is in the centre of the mouthpiece hole, you're okay. If it's not in the centre you'll need to make adjustments.

QUOTE (woodwind @ Dec 21 2004, 04:57 PM)

The screw (I think it's called a crown but don't quote me on that) alters the tuning of your flute. If you screw it down too tight it flattens the tuning. You can use the notch on the end of the cleaning rod to check by placing the rod in the head joint. If the notch is in the centre of the mouthpiece hole, you're okay. If it's not in the centre you'll need to make adjustments.

If the cork is in the wrong place, octaves and harmonics will cease to be in tune, i.e. the intervals will no longer be octaves, twelfths etc. Also the tone will suffer.