How To Play The Transverse Flute

The transverse flute is a musical instrument that belongs to the family of wind instruments – wood regardless of the material from which it is made. Although in the symphony orchestra it is considered within the wooden instruments such as the oboe, the clarinet and the bassoon.

The parts of the transverse flute are head, body and foot. The head is the place where the air enters. The body is where almost all the keys of the transverse flute are located where the musical notes are placed. And the foot completes the notes of the body since it is used to put the C Grave note by putting all the keys.

Formerly they were built of bone, metal, wood, nickel silver, combinations of these elements were also made. Each flutist, according to her budget, could choose the construction material of her instrument in order to obtain better and more refined sounds.

The flutist builds the sound with his study, this is the most important thing. The column of air vibrates inside the tube and this vibration comes from the flutist’s breath thus creating the sound we hear.

What do you need to play the transverse flute?

• A transverse flute
• A case to protect it
• Know its maintenance and cleaning.

Instructions for playing the transverse flute

1. The flutist builds the sound with his study, this is the most important thing. The column of air vibrates inside the tube and this vibration comes from the flutist’s breath thus creating the sound we hear.
2. The register of the transverse flute is three octaves starting from do₄ to do. To understand this let’s think about the piano keyboard: do ₄ is the fourth do that appears on the keyboard (located in the central area) and C₇ is the seventh C on the keyboard.  In addition, between one do and the next there is an octave, therefore between do ₄ and do₇ there are 3 octaves. This register can be extended from 3 octaves to three octaves and a perfect fifth. This is starting from B₂ to F#₇. The notes are related to keys and the additional low note in this case is an additional key which makes the transverse flute more expensive. Higher notes are achieved by playing harmonics, this is a technique that highly practiced players can achieve. In order for you to better understand the sound of the notes, we show you the piano keyboard and there you will be able to see the three octaves to which we refer.
3. The transverse flute has a key system, this is called a mechanism and there are several types. At the foot of the flute there can be two different mechanisms:
4. Pie in do: in this case we have a system of three keys that are do, do# and re, with the lowest note being do_3.
5. Pie in Si: This has a system of 4 keys, these are si, do do# and re; the lowest note is do_3.
6. On the body of the flute it can be G in line, this means all keys are aligned, G misaligned and mechanism in My match.
7. In order to play the transverse flute, you must first know how to locate the left hand, which is the one that marks the first notes in the DO scale, and then place the fingers with the right to obtain the other musical notes.
8. We will look at some notes and the positions of the hands and fingers to achieve them. This seems very difficult at first because you have to work with your fingers in different positions to get the exact note. It takes a lot of practice to then change how to combine the sounds. We will teach you to place the fingers of each hand on the corresponding keys to obtain the notes.
9. To put the note SI we must place the left thumb on the key below. Then we place our index finger on your key which is the first key. With these two steps you will be playing the B natural. (We differentiate B natural from B flat) An important detail: The back key has two levers or keys, if you press the first one it will give you the B flat, if you press the second or the bottom key it will give you the natural B.
10. To put the note LA again we place the left thumb on the back key, without this step there will be no note or sound. Later we place the index and the right middle at the same time in the second and fourth keys. The little finger will always go on your key.
11. To make the SOL: the left thumb in place so that the flute can emit its sound and place the index finger on the first key, the middle finger on its key. We also put the ring finger on the key that is after the middle one.
12. To put SOL#. Firstly, the fingers are placed as explained for the sun. Then you will see that there is a kind of lever located under the key of the ring finger that must be pressed with the little finger, but we must do this at the same time and we will obtain the sun #
13. To put the natural FA note: First we follow the same steps for the G note. Then with the right hand we must put the index finger on its key. Always pinky on your key.
14. To put the note MI. we place the key of the index finger of the left hand, then the middle of the left hand on its key, then the ring finger on its key. Since we already have the ones on the left hand, we must locate the ones on the right: the index in its key and then the middle in its key.
15. To put RE: First we put the key of the index finger of the left hand, then the middle of the same hand in its key interspersed, then the right ring finger in its key. Finishing with the left we go to the right: we will pass in front of the billet and a key and thus we get to put the index finger on its key, we put the middle finger and the ring finger each on its key. In this case, the little finger is not put in its place because otherwise the note will vary.
16. To make RE#: First we put the index finger of the left hand on its key, then the middle one but inserting it. The ring finger of the right hand in its key but after having put the one of the left hand we pass it to the one of the right. With the right hand we pass in front of the billet and a key and there we can place the right index finger on its key. Also the middle finger on your key.
17. As you will see, these are the techniques for making notes that with practice can be memorized. The sound will emerge with the blowing of the flutist.

Tips for playing the transverse flute

• Learn everything you can about music and how to teach and learn music in this category dedicated to it.
• While you are not using the transverse flute, keep it in its case so that it is well protected.
• After using it, there is usually moisture left, with all delicacy dry its interior so as not to damage its parts.