How to Play the Flute

Posted on April 25th, 2009 by RJ

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Playing the flute may look like a monumental task for any beginner but all it takes to master this skill is a little bit of patience. Practice the basic steps and how the parts of the flute go together and you’ll surely astound your audience instantly. Here are some basic pointers to remember:

Purchase a flute and study its parts.

You can buy a brand new beginner flute at any music store. For second-hand flutes, make sure you visit a flute or instrument repair shop first to make sure that it’s in perfect condition.

Next, study your instrument. At first, you may notice that your flute has many pieces. The headjoint is the smooth and long section. On one end, it is closed — this part is called the “cork.” The other end is called the “embouchure” — a round empty space. Then there is the body that houses the keys. The footjoint is the short part.

Start playing.

flute playing With a mirror to observe your every move, you can now begin playing. Hold the headjoint using your left hand. With your lip on the embouchure, put a lid on the open area of the headjoint using your right hand.

Blow through the hole and slightly cover with your mouth. The key here is in producing a low-pitched sound with a small, triangular patch of condensation on the other end of the embouchure. If you did not achieve this sound, slightly roll the headjoint outward or inward and try once more.

Once you have mastered this, blow a bit harder while tucking in the corners of your mouth. The note will be an octave higher than the first one. Make sure that the air comes from your diaphragm.

Assemble the flute.

Hold the headjoint with your left hand. Hold unto the smooth part of the body of the flute, right above the keys. Insert the headjoint into the body. Next, hold the footjoint at the end and make sure you do not press on any keys. Insert it on the opposite end of the body.

Make sure that the keys are lined up properly. Once this is done, make sure your fingers are all in proper position. Place your first finger on the second small key while your left thumb should be on the triangle-shaped key on the back of the body. Do not place any fingers on the next key. Instead, put your second and third fingers on the next couple of keys. Your pinky finger should be on the lever.

With the thumb from your right hand, hold the flute. The last three keys of the footjoint should be occupied by the first three fingers respectively. Let the pinky finger from your right hand remain on the semi-circle key. Do all these while relaxing so that tension won’t fill the air.

Depress the keys where your left-hand first finger, thumb from your left hand, pinky from the right and right-hand first finger are located. Blow the flute using your mouth accordingly.

You will develop a high B-flat or a low B-flat. Mastering these basic steps may take a few days but be patient, as you’ll get the drift soon as long as you continue following the instructions. Work on every note before taking more formal lessons.

Above all, have fun and enjoy your new hobby. Good luck!