modern flute B foot

E4

Conventional Fingering

Impedance

Fingering a key depressed a key not depressed a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched Details in fingering legend. Acoustic schematic a closed tone hole an open tone hole Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics

From E4 to C#5 and E5 to C#6, each standard fingering serves for two notes. The flutist uses the same fingering for E4 and E5, but changes the speed, length and shape of the jet. The first five minima (E4, E5, B5, E6, G#6) can be played. All lower minima support harmonics in E4. In E5, only the odd minima are involved. (Inaudible traces of the lower note are visible in the spectrum for E5 which has tiny bumps at harmonics of E4.) To see the effect of Boehm's acoustical redesigning of the flute, compare with E4 on the classical flute.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a modern flute with a B foot played using conventional fingering for E4 and E5.

Sound Clip

You can hear E4 played with conventional fingering by Geoffrey Collins.

Impedance

Fingering a key depressed a key not depressed a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched Details in fingering legend. Acoustic schematic a closed tone hole an open tone hole Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics

This fingering is used in D-E trills and in some fast passages. Because the D# hole is closed, this is acoustically equivalent to a cross fingering (hole closed downstream of an open tone hole). Notice the slight flattening of the 4th and the marked flattening of higher minima. This explains the relatively weak 4th and 5th harmonics in the E4 sound spectrum. The first four minima can be played, but the 4th (~E6) is flat.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a modern flute with a B foot played using alternative fingering for E4.

Sound Clip

You can hear E4 played with alternative fingering by Geoffrey Collins.