B Flat Flute Lesson # 1 - How to Blow the Flute

[utjmab1690marc]

Seems like you have some good tutorials here Stu, I'm in an accordion band in Carrickfergus but I'm looking at getting myself a Miller Browne Bb flute, just something I've always wanted to be able to do!

Honestly, is it hard to play? lol

[AccordionStu]

@utjmab1690marc If you spend enough time practising then it gets easier but I would say that the hardest part for learners is to be able to master the blowing technique. Once you can play each note clearly then the tunes that you already know from playing the accordion will just flood out. Good Luck and if I can help at all, just get in touch.

[monicamelo2296]

i have standard flute..i dont see any tutorial for my standard flute....

[AccordionStu]

@monicamelo2296 d't do tutorials for a standard flute  but youtube is full of them.

[hardcoretilidie1]

i can blow it i know my scale and i know some tunes i just cant play accuratley and i find it hard to keep up with my band

[mpopean]

I just got an indian Bansuri and could not make a sound for the life of me. I tried for days. Of course, first experience with a transversal flute. Then it dawned to me to look on youtube and this video came first. Though the tuning is different (G), I figured producing sound is the same. In minutes I was already playing almost all the pitches on this instrument except for the lowest ones. I seem to run out of air very fast on those. This tutorial was so helpful! Thank you so much!

[LoyalUlsterGirl]

Been playing since july there, playin full songs :D watp

[dwc311]

WELL! Just got a fife in the mail today. Tryed blowing it. I had absolutley no idea how to blow it. I kept blowing, had no idea how to make music with it. I was baffled. I even thought it was broke inside or something lol! So i went on youtube and found this video. Now I know how to properly blow my fife! All thanks to YOU Mr. AccordionStu Thanks alot I owe it all to you stu.

[RFCRussell1]

roughly how much would I expect to pay for Miller Browne 5 key Bb Flute?

[AccordionStu]

@RFCRussell1 Hi Russell, You can get them from anything from £55 to £100. Look on the Ulster Band Forums for sellers alternatively look for DJM Music supplies on Google

[RFCRussell1]

@AccordionStu cheers mate

[jaywolflover]

my flute is a b flat but it doesn't sound like this, same length also

[LeoVallo]

I got to say that before watching your lesson on how to blow the flute/fife I could barely play a note on my fife, now I can actually do something! I have still a lot of praticing to do, but that put me a significant step forward, thank you very much.

[nathaneastbelfast555]

Started to get a sound out of this thing. Hopefully i will be walking with sydenham blues and royals for the 12th. Cheers mate

[MrKzim95]

it hard to blow low c =.=

[MSnoobiest]

I couldn't blow the flute to make sound until i watch this video!! ty so much

[vic2nice11]

that looks like a picalo

[emmabiehlrn]

i am nine and going to be in band.i hope i can blow like this.i can blow but sometimes i can't blow.do you have any tips for me?i have never played a instrument but the piano.i hope i will do my best.i watched some other videos and this one said blow across it,is this true?i would really like to know.i wish i could play a recorder but i have never played one.i hope i can blow on my first day tomorrow!

[ricocarcia]

Beautiful flute you have, which brand is it?

I'm starting to play and buy a Yamaha fife YRF-21, is that good?

[Eightbanger]

How comes these miller browne flutes don't look like the ones we had in our band back in 78?, we had no metal keys on ours. I'd like to start playing again and use your tutorials to help me back into it, but I want to find one of those old flutes I used to play.

[AccordionStu]

@Eightbanger It may be that you were playing a fife, which is like a flute but with no keys. You can still buy fifes and I would recommend searching for Angus Fifes on the tinternet or you can still buy 1 key flutes from DJM music supplies. But if you are thinking of learning , get yourself a five key Miller Browne, the keys will help you to play notes more clearly.

[Eightbanger]

@AccordionStu Thanks Stu, I found a one key M/B from a shop in Enniskillen, I here what your saying about the 5 key but for now i'll stick with what I remember.....and at my age that's gettin harder..lol

[HARPIE411]

THANKS A BUNCHES!

A friend bought me a fife cause I told them that I was interested in learning to play the fluteI It came today and it took me almost all day just to get one note to come out. Then, I figured that there must be a vid on YT that could help me with my embouchure....since I'm used to playing the clarinet for many years it was quite difficult. Now, after watching this vid...I was able to play a simple song. I just knew my new fife couldn't be broken. (^_^)

[lionalewis]

i love your acent

[Prunesquallor1435]

Thanks a lot! I just bought a fife and spent 15 mins trying in vain to get a sound before watching this

[shadowwave5]

Thank you very much! This year I'm playing the flute.Before watching this video I was able to blow on the mouthpiece alone, but it was difficult to get the sound out when it was fully assembled.This technique helped me a lot.Thank you.

[Syvlistical]

Well the sound occurs once I press the E-flat key. "Sing, Sing, Sing" is a song that constantly uses the that specific key. I think it hasn't been oiled in 2-3 years or so.

[AccordionStu]

Iam not sure without hearing it, can you post a vid of you playing it but to be honest, make sure the pads are all in good order on the keys, if they aren't good they won't seal and you will get squeaks also if the waxed cotton barrel seal is worn away you could be drawing in air, so get some plumbers tape around it and wash the inside out with warm soap water if it is an ebonite flute and oil if it's wooden.

[Syvlistical]

Why does my flute have a high pitch if I'm doing it correctly?

[AccordionStu]

what notes are you playing? It can sound high pitched as it is a high pitched flute.

[harrypotterphile]

This really helped me with the fife! Thanks!

[Paleologos]

It WORKED !!! By George I think I've got it !!! And i've been blowing away hit and miss since handling my first flute yesterday evening.

You are one ace teacher ! Thanks for sharing !

[n10ovo]

thanks stu im a drummer starting up on flute

[crossline7]

Thanks so much! My friend is teaching me it and she did not notice that i was blowing in it rong. U tought me how! THANKS AGAIN!

[311girard]

im trying to play fife, but there are no tutorials online, so thank you! this helped a lot!!!

[KDBand]

Hey there. I tried to google 'B Flat Flute' but had no results that matched yours. Can you youtube message me info on this flute and who sells it, or offer in comment here search terms I can use to look for this?

I have a Yamaha YRF21 plastic fife in C, it is not keyed but I believe the principle in playing it is the same.

[irethamandil]

Thank you for posting this! The tobacco analogy helped me out a ton, I can get a decent sound now! x]

[calism23]

Seems like the same fingering as a b-flat fife.

[soemoithurts1337]

thanks this helped i got it the 1st time after watching this but now i cant get it again. i have a long silver-looking flute, i found in my guest bed room, with like a grove on the hole. Is there a deferent way i should blow it or no?

thanks

[AccordionStu]

Hi It sounds like you have a concert flute. Although the principle is the same, the technique differs for blowing the concert flute. I won't be able to explain it here, type James Galway Masterclass into youtube and watch one of his, they are great.

[soemoithurts1337]

thanks

[rosselanor]

Oh man, thank you very much :D. I've just made my first bamboo flute and just cannot figure out how to blow it (it sounded only sometimes and I didn't know what am I doing right :D). Now it sounds - I'm so happy :D.

[Daenerys321]

Love your accent! Wish I had one of those. My dad wants to buy me an Irish flute, we're big on Celtic music.

[veggiekila19]

I got my flute today! but when i blow into it and press notes it does not sound different it is like the buttons dont work

[AdiLovesYou]

dang i suck ;(

[twinmommy0502]

should the sound be a little airy? (I don't know if that makes sense) but I can sound notes out really clearly. It just sounds a bit airy to me.

[HanitpalSingh]

no not really. What i was taught was to focus your air flow and embouechur(mouth muscles), and dont blow too hard. Practice and get it. If you really suck, rop a circle or square of paper the sice of your index finger's top, put it against a wall, and blow. Practice focusing to keep it on the wall w/o dropping. I dont reaally suggest it, but w/e!!!

[AccordionStu]

tighten your mouth and ,, yes blow harder, but when you do, try to say "Tuh" it's not really a blow, it's more of a dry spit.

Another tip, is to imagine there is a small piece of confetti in the middle of your bottom lip and you need to dry spit it off whilst keeping your mouth tight. try it, it may work. If not, try removing the headjoint and see if it makes any difference, rotate it until you get it. If not email me.

[CrusadorForScience]

blow harder-- it worked for me, at least

[urlocalseamonkey]

i'm learning to play the fife, and i'm not getting the high pitched sound. What should i do?

[mikeygamer3d]

i almost did ti on my 1st try!!! :*(

[mikeygamer3d]

i almost had it on my 1st try!!! 8*(

[mikeygamer3d]

i almost had it on my 1st try 8*(