How to Beatbox On the Flute

Do you want to learn how to beatbox on the flute and impress all of your friends? Beatboxing and playing the flute at the same time can be a difficult technique. To beatbox on the flute you have to be able to move your fingers and breathe, play one rhythm with your fingers and another rhythm with your articulation. RadioActive was the first flute-beatboxer using a pan flute. Tim Barsky was the first flute-beatboxer on the bohem system flute. The two artists came from the Bay Area hip hop scene where they learned beatboxing. Follow these steps to become the next flute-beatboxing Barsky or RadioActive!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Beatbox by regulating 3 streams of air, one through your mouth, and one through each nostril. Applying different airflows through the mouth, nose, nasal resonators and chest cavity creates instruments: a bass line that is separate from the drum or the high-hat, and vice versa. After you learn the beatboxing skills, the amazing part is incorporating the flute, while maintaining proper embouchure and air pressure for the flute.

2. Blow into your flute and add in a bass line or keyboard line that you hum, using your vocal chords to produce a range of sounds. Add in a range of vocal FX sounds that sound like a turntable, synthesizers and samplers.

3. Play melodies. Beatboxing or humming into your flute creates a column of air inside your body. Make sure the frequency of the noise created is in tune with the different set of resonant frequencies of the fingering of the flute. Practice all 12 keys, with all the possible fingerings, and all the different combinations of mouth and vocal sounds.

4. Practice the beatboxing and flute technique slowly. Move to faster speeds after you have slow flute-beatboxing down. Try to practice with the same tempo throughout.

5. Remember to breathe. The lungs need air and you may pass out if you do not get enough. Find the right places to breathe in your beatboxing beats; incorporate breathing right into the beat. Soon you will gain a large lung capacity.

Tips & Warnings

• Train with beatboxers and flute teachers. Try to find other beatboxers, flute players, and flute-beatboxers to learn from and play with.
• Watch videos and listen to both beatboxers and flute players constantly.
• Playing the beatbox on the flute takes practice. Do not worry if you feel silly at first, keep practicing. Practice beatboxing anywhere all the time: at home, in the car, anywhere that is appropriate. Practice just your flute skills to be crisp there first as well.
• Have water nearby and take a drink every now and then so you do not dry out.
• Your jaw and lips may get sore at first, so take breaks.
• You will have to work up to stronger facial muscles.

Resources

• Beatboxing forum
• Greg Patillo Flute-Beatboxing Hard Knock Life video
• Basic Beatbox video
• Flute forum