modern flute B foot

F#5

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

The flutist uses the same fingering for F#4 and F#5, but changes the speed, length and shape of the jet. The first five minima can be played. All lower minima support harmonics in F#4. In F#5, only the even minima are involved. (Inaudible traces of the lower note are visible in the sound spectrum for F#5 which has tiny bumps at harmonics of F#4.)

Sound

Sound spectrum of a modern flute with a B foot played using conventional fingering for F#5.

Sound Clip

You can hear F#5 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 E-F# trills and in some fast passages. This is acoustically equivalent to a cross fingering (hole closed downstream of an open tone hole). The difference between the two F# fingerings is less than that between the E fingerings because the standard F# fingering is also, to a lesser extent, a cross fingering. The first three minima can be played.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a modern flute with a B foot played using alternative fingering for F#5.

Sound Clip

You can hear F#5 played with alternative fingering by Geoffrey Collins.