I recently found a site called flute info - and on there it had fingering for chords on the flute !?

Anyway I've tried them out - they dont sound to wonderful - just like someone overblowing or holding down the wrong keeys. Anyway see if you can make a better sound with them.


To play F and C - use 'F' fingering with the 1st trill key

To play F and D - use 'F' fingering with both trill keys.


hmmmm...... interesting!

I heard a saxophonist doing that the other day....he is so FREAKY!! That's the blues dude...

Sounds strange, I must admit...

In 'Suite de Ballet', in the Passepied, you have to play notes that look like broken chords, although you don't make a chord sound, as in more than 1 note than once, it does sound like a broken chord on the piano if that makes sense.

Are 'flute chords' called multiphonics or something like that!?

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Apr 12 2005, 07:17 AM)

Are 'flute chords' called multiphonics or something like that!?

That's right, Nicki. They're part of what are usually called 'extended techniques', which also include things like jet whistles, quarter tones and singing while playing. You'll find them in contemporary flute music such as that composed by Ian Clarke and Robert He-of-the-censored-name.

Ahh! I love extended teachniques, apart from I can't do them very well. I've been in a masterclass with Ian Clarke and we did the jet whistle panting, singing+playing at the same time, chords, all sorts of things

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Apr 12 2005, 04:17 PM)

I've been in a masterclass with Ian Clarke and we did the jet whistle panting, singing+playing at the same time, chords, all sorts of things

Did you do 'Walk like this!'? I went on a flute course last year where Ian did a day and had us all playing this in the morning session. It's only just been published and I've bought it to use with my students some time.

Nahhh...nanananaaaa..nananana...Walk Like This, yeh!

Yes I did do Walk Like This

PS - Which flute course was it?

I'm getting less bad at singing and playing at the same time, it's about the only time I can manage to sing in tune!

And Helen, I'll let you know how bad I sound when I've had a go when I get my flute out later. Though I doubting I'll have improved much since the last time I attempted multuphonics.

Quarter tones? aren't they just what happens when I go very out of tune... (eg my using a wrong fingering?!)

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Apr 12 2005, 05:04 PM)

Nahhh...nanananaaaa..nananana...Walk Like This, yeh! Yes I did do Walk Like This PS - Which flute course was it?

Benslow International Flute summer school last August.

Oh right! I was going to go to a summer school this year, a Just Flutes one I think, but I am not going to.

i tried the 1st chord. it sounded like im pressing wrong keys!

The F2/D2 one works quite well. I was doing this evening with a student who has to talk about the technical capabilities of the flute to her GCSE music class.

With a lot of them you have to get your embouchure into a position midway between bottom octave and middle octave, which is what most of us have spent years avoiding so we don't split the middle octave notes.

I must admit, playing around with "special effects" absolutely trashes my embouchure (carefully copied the spelling this time... hope that's right!)for the ten minutes or so!

Perhaps that's what was going wrong for you Nikki?!

Playing and singing at the same time is really fun! I can do simple tunes in parallel thirds!

Gosh, I'm really sorry (*hits computer*), please skip the next three posts! Could you please delete them, Ms. Morris? Thank you!

Playing and singing at the same time is really fun! I can do simple tunes in parallel thirds!

Playing and singing at the same time is really fun! I can do simple tunes in parallel thirds!

Playing and singing at the same time is really fun! I can do simple tunes in parallel thirds!

I don't think (AFAIK) they're supposed to sound great tone wise... they're just for special effects. anyway when I have a computer and a flute in the same building I'll have a go... I have heard of them before... vaguely!

I finally got round to trying them... hmmm, interesting!

I have never tried singing & playing at the same time...

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ May 21 2005, 05:21 PM)

I have never tried singing & playing at the same time...

Do try, it's really fun! Tone is rubbish then, though. I did the top two parts of the song my quartet is singing the other day. Definitely recognisable!

I will have to try. How on earth can you do both and not have them totally interfere with each other though???! Even to get ANY tone whilst singing??

Its more of aq combination of humming and singing, you sort of have to hum in the back of your throat, so that it doesn't interfear with your... (tis good, I still can't spell it)... mouthshape.

OK... will try sometime...


embouchure *g*

you should put it in your sig, then it'll always be handy!

(I've only learned to spell it since I started posting here, rarely have to type or write it elsewhere!... hope I got it right or I shall look like a right plonker now !)

Thats a suprisingly good idea...

*laughs* Brilliant!

You'll end up seeing it so often it'll go into your brain via osmosis!

As a fellow flautist I shall join you, I don't think you or I are the only ones who could appreciated the reminder every so often

Tsk, surprisingly good??! gee thanks... .... kidding

QUOTE (july @ Apr 13 2005, 02:57 PM)

Playing and singing at the same time is really fun!

can saxes do this?! I'll try it anyway