baroque flute

G#4 and Ab4

G#4 Fingering

Impedance

Acoustic and Fingering Schematic a covered tone hole or key pressed an uncovered tone hole or key not pressed a partly covered hole Details in fingering legend. Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics

This is a severe cross fingering: four holes closed (including the key) below one open. As a result, even the second minimum is very flat (this fingering cannot be used for G#5) and so the second harmonic in the sound spectrum below is weak, hence a rather dark timbre. (The third harmonic is not so weak, because the fourth minimum is so flat that it supports the third harmonic.) For more detail on cross fingering see that section in the introduction to flute acoustics, or download a brief scientific report on cross fingerings.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a baroque flute played using fingering for G#4.

Sound Clip

You can hear G#4 played by Matthew Ridley.

Impedance

Acoustic and Fingering Schematic a covered tone hole or key pressed an uncovered tone hole or key not pressed a partly covered hole Details in fingering legend. Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics

Impedance spectrum of a baroque flute measured at the embouchure hole using fingering for Ab4.

This fingering is like that for G#4, but the opening of the end hole with the key shortens the effective length and thus raises the pitch slightly from G# to Ab. In this context, it is a cross fingering. (The same fingering also plays Bb5, in which context it is considered as having a register hole.)