Next chapter:
New technique of tone
development

1. Whistle tones
2. Trumpet sound
3. Strong air stream without tone

 

1. Key percussion
Closing a key with force, without air stream, will produce a note, as well as a mechanical noise. The effect is called "keyclick".

There are two kind of keyclicks - with open mouthpiece position, and with closed. You may combine keyclicks with normally produced tones, and even use the "closed" keys on the flute (g#, d#).

a. Keyclick with open mouthpiece, written:

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen



It is not necessary to hit the key of the desired pitch. In fact the keyclick will sound louder if you hit a key "above" the normal hole.

For instance, the fingering

 

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen




will create a louder keyclick than

 

 


b. Keyclick with closed mouthpiece. By closing the mouthpiece with the tongue, it will be possible to play keyclicks which will sound below the lowest notes of the instrument. With a closed mouthpiece the keyclicks sound a major seventh down.
A closed mouthpiece with tongue is notated (not to be mixed up with , indicating a mouthpiece blocked by the lips or the mouth).

Keyclick with closed mouthpiece is most often notated with fingering and sounding pitch, as well as the tone which is fingered:

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen


or

 

  c. Keyclick and normally produced note, written

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen


or

 

 

2. Slap tongue
Slap tongue is a flute technique which sounds very close to the pizzicato of string instruments. It is produced by puffing short tones with the tongue, without any air pressure from the lungs.

a. normal slap tongue, written

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen


b. combined with keycklick:


 


3. Tongue ram

Tongue ram is created by closing the mouthpiece with the whole mouth, and then making a big and very rapid movement with the tongue, against the teeth. The easiest way is to say "HOT!" or "HT!". The tone which is produced will sound a major seventh
below the fingered one.

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen


or

 

 

4. Flatterzunge
With the tongue flitting like a flag in the oral cavity, an intermittent stream of air is created, sounding like the tremolo of a bowed instrument. It is important that the tongue is very loose during the fluttertonguing.

Written:

     

If you cannot see a Flash player,
click here to listen

or
or