How to Play a Bass Flute
A bass flute has a similar embrasure to an alto flute. The difference in playing a bass flute is that the embrasure is more relaxed than an alto flute. The flute group of woodwinds are hollow tubes that are closed at one end. Concert flutes, or alto flutes, are pitched one octave above the bass flute.
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Instructions
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Put your lips together as though you are making an "M" sound. Make a small opening in the center of your lips and blow through the tiny hole. Make a dot with a pen on the center of your wrist. Place your wrist three inches from your mouth and practice blowing air directly on the dot. This is a good method for learning flute embrasure, or the way you will position your mouth to play the bass flute.
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2
Pick up the head joint of the bass flute. You will notice a small hole on the top, also called the embrasure hole. Place the embrasure hole against your bottom lip, with the head joint parallel to the floor. As you practiced on your wrist, blow through your lips across the embrasure hole, and not down into it. If you are blowing correctly, you will hear a clear note and your breathe will make a condensation pattern across the lip plate that looks like an upside-down triangle.
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Put the rest of the pieces of the flute together. Connect the head joint to the receiver of the body joint by gently twisting it into place. Line up the embrasure hole with the keys. Connect the end joint with the two end keys to the other end of the body joint. Line up the key post with the middle of the body keys.
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Learn finger placement and where the notes are on the flute. This will aid you in learning to read sheet music. Blow through the embrasure hole and press different keys to play different notes.
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Tips & Warnings
Always clean your flute before putting it into the case after use.
Do not eat or drink anything but water when you are playing.
References
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