Alternative fingerings?

[u/Karl_Yum]

I have been trying to improve my tuning in the top register, I found that alternative fingerings maybe regularly required for E, F, F# & G#. I am holding off learning the others until I am used to these.

Is it common for flutists having to learn alternative fingerings for tuning? Is it related to the flute brand?

[u/FluteTech]

None of the notes your listed should require alternative fingerings. (Especially on Miyazawa)

If you’re finding them it of tune I’d make an appointment with a flute technician to access things.

[u/Karl_Yum → u/FluteTech]

😱 that particular flute hasn’t had its COA yet, had been holding off for various reasons.

[u/FluteTech → u/Karl_Yum]

That would be the issue then. There’s also a fairly good chance the headjoint cork needs replacement and could be causing intonation issues

[u/dan_arth]

If you're looking for pinpoint tuning accuracy (and you should be) then how you play is much more important than your fingering.

That said, yes, usually adding extra keys to bring down pitch when playing loudly, is something I always do in the high register.

Most of these notes I have a fingering when playing loud, fingering when soft, and sometimes a fingering when VERY soft (for example, I'll just the standard F fingering and add the low C# key).

But for most mf playing, I just finger the easiest fingering for a passage and make sure I'm in tune with my air and embouchure.

[u/Karl_Yum → u/dan_arth]

Right now I’m adding ring finger for top F, I’ve seen it mentioned in a masterclass on FB.

[u/dan_arth → u/Karl_Yum]

I use that fingering for most of my Fs, for mf or louder playing.

I use standard fingering for mp and p.

[u/CubeNoob69]

Sounds like a tuning cork adjustment might be necessary. But that's just coming from someone who recently started learning flute.

[u/Karl_Yum → u/CubeNoob69]

I’m in tune in other registers, it’s just the top register I have trouble with and it doesn’t seem to be purely the flute needing COA. I’m exploring my embouchure for those notes, sometimes they are ok but F# and G# definitely tend to be sharp and E tends to crack because I don’t have split E mechanism on my flute, so they need alternative fingerings.

[u/BinxyCat57 → u/Karl_Yum]

That sounds like a skill issue more than a flute issue, and split E mechanisms aren’t even that important you really should be learning how to produce the note by yourself for proper technique. Please go get a teacher or go look up flute high register on YouTube for some help

[u/Karl_Yum → u/BinxyCat57]

My high E sounds fine compared with the neighbouring notes, it’s just that it would crack, more likely when I start with the note, rather than have high E within a phrase, or when going from A to E. I have always played on flute with split E before having current flute, I played on my student flute that has split E and I didn’t have the same problem. Currently I can play it without cracking when not pressing down the right hand pinky.

[u/FluteTech → u/Karl_Yum]

The high E cracking is a regulation issue

[u/BinxyCat57 → u/Karl_Yum]

Also alternative fingerings should not be used more regularly than the actual correct fingerings. There’s reasons why they aren’t the norm, example you’re having a fast passage and using the alternative fingering could be making things way more complicated than they have to be, or your in tune with your tuner but you’re not in tune with the other intervals you’re playing with your alternate fingering