Bamboo Flute Playing Tips for My Oriental Minor Scale Flutes
How To Make A Tone
Blowing across the blow hole (Mukha Randra) to make a tone may take
some time but, with just a little practice, you will soon be getting
strong, clear notes. Remember; you must blow a thin stream of air
ACROSS the opening, NOT INTO the opening.
To begin, hold the flute extending to your right side. This is the
traditional position whether you are right or left-handed. Of course,
you can always be UN-traditional and position the flute out to your left
side but it might cause unnecessary confusion. Place the edge of the
blow hole just above the edge of your lower lip. A mirror can help you
get a good embroucher (mouth position) in the beginning.
DO NOT cover any of the finger holes at first. Now place your lips
together and blow a thin stream of air across the blow hole as if you
are trying to split the stream in half on the edge of the blow hole.
Half of the stream will end up going into the blow hole and half will go
across it.
Holding The Flute Properly
Your hands should be positioned so that your left hand faces toward you
and the index, middle and third fingers covers the first three holes.
These are the ones closest to the blow hole. Remember that the flute
extends to the right. Your right hand faces away from you and the
index and middle fingers cover the next two holes. You can cover the
last hole with either the third finger or the little finger of your right hand.
Here is a fingering chart from Juha Rikka of Finland and he has purchased some flutes from me. I will add an email link soon so players can email him with questions. He has a wealth of knowledge about bamboo flute playing. Thanks for this chart Juha, my friend!
Use this chart for the Kill Bill Flute Replica's and for the Oriental Minor Flutes.
ORIENTAL MINOR FLUTE by Thomas Richardson. Chart by Juha.
For my 5 tone hole flutes with the thumb hole like the Shakuhachi.
| Fingerings | C# minor | F# minor | |
| TXXXX | (C#) | 1 | 5 |
| TXXXh | (Eb) | 2 | 6 |
| TXXXO | (E) | b3 | b7 |
| TXXOX | (F) | 3 | 7 |
| TXXOO | (F#) | 4 | 1 |
| TXOXX | (G) | b5 | b2 |
| TXOOO | (Ab) | 5 | 2 |
| TOXXX | (A) | b6 | b3 |
| TOXOO | (Bb) | 6 | 3 |
| TOOOO | (H) | b7 | 4 |
| OXOOO | (C) | 7 | b5 |
| OOOOO | (C#) | 1' | 5' |
(Same fingerings also in second octave.)
T = Thumb
X = Hole closed.
O = Hole open.
h = Hole "half" or partially open.
More fingering charts and info regarding my flutes to follow in 2010.
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Crafty Syntax
2/28/09 testimonial on my new Shakuhachi and new Anazasi flutes.
Thomas - the Shakuhachi has a really cheerful, happy tone, with a rich, soothing quality -- Well Done!!!. I also really like Nicole's art work. It has a real "dynamic life" quality to it, yet a nice balance of simplicity, activity and space. It will be perfect for the work we discussed. You and Nicole are right on target with this one!
I haven't worked much with the Anasazi yet - but as always the tone on that is quite nice as well. I'll write some more about this one tomorrow.
Thanks so much for these great flutes. It's going to be a lot of fun working with them!!!
Steve
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