Though I’ve been playing music since I was 10, I just started playing the flute at 59 years of age. I love watching your vids! They are MOST helpful and provide a much needed humorous side as well - especially being at the beginner stage, when it can sometimes be frustrating. Thank you for posting these! You are also an awesome musician!!😊
I never learned the Bb key as a young student--I discovered it on a fingering chart, tried it out, loved it, and never looked back. Later in life, I had a teacher--a professional flutist--tell me that the Bb key was unusual and wrong and I needed to switch to the long fingering. I switched teachers instead.
I'm really surprised how often I see even the most famous world-class flutists using the long fingering when it would obviously be more comfortable and efficient to use the Bb thumb or lever instead. I remember myself, as a beginner, using my left second finger (second knuckle) to close the Bb key directly. I guess I just couldn't trust the linkage to do it.
Wow! Makes so much more sense. I was taught to play B FLat with the thumb key was the rare exception. I don't remember, not to say I wasn't told, the reason why. I'm going to start practicing using it today! Thank you.
I learned short Bb first, in high school. Not until recently receiving a flute as a gift I've started playing again. (It's been 30 years) I never knew there was an alternative. I've learned more from you than I did 4 years in high school. Thanks for all you do!
Was trying to understand the function of the Bb trill key. Thanks for the help! I’m a multi-instrumentalist just coming to the flute. Oboe is my primary and I’ve hit three of the saxophone and flute this year.
We were just given a piece of paper with regular fingerings. I never knew there were other Bb fingerings because we were taught to just use the one fingering.. I’ve been playing for about 5 years now. This is the first I’ve heard of it.. I really need a new fingering chart. Gonna try to make sure I try this fingering out at some point.
As far as modern instruments being refined over the last century or so, this tutorial illustrated why/how the clarinet was developed to do things differently than the flute. And then the saxophone was developed from the clarinet to address even more needs, like volume, durability, and timbre.
Good video thankyou for making it. I enjoy your videos very much. The 1 and 1 fingering is so clumsy when we have the Bb thumb key for most tasks. I wish flute players would use what you called the Bb trill key for more chromatic runs. It like the thumb Bb is so much more sonically beautiful . The 1 and 1 fingering is stuffy sounding in comparison because of the venting and quite often flat. Thanks again for your instructive videos. 👍😊
Matthew Taylor totally agree!!! I didn’t even get to the slight difference I’m intonation and sound. I have sought of learned to thing of the 1 and 1 fingering as the A sharp fingering. In Debussy Syrinx for example I actually use the Bb trill key instead of the long Bb
The trill key figuring can be also handy in b major. The key can be left pressed down while playing f# and g# so that you are always ready for the a#. 😊
I learned both fingerings straight away, but then was told to just use the long B key. Not sure why. But it's a horrible habit that has taken decades to break.
Thanks again Tatiana. I learned all 3 fingerings fairly early on, but because I'm not experienced enough, I still get bogged down sometimes trying to think of which to use in a particular phrase. Your notation remark is absolutely invaluable, thanks.
Thanks for the details about 3rd octave fingering. When I started, my teacher used the long Bb. Then I took an introductory lesson with another teacher, with good reputation locally. She asked me to do a F scale and immediately moved my thumb to the Bb key. I didn't continue with her, we didn't click and besides she was going on summer vacation. But it was a valuable lesson. When I get something that requires both Bb (A#) and B (Cb), I go for the little key on top.
I learnt both from the start, but always preferred the Bb thumb key because it was so much easier. I've been playing piccolo for 6 months now and the long Bb doesn't work well at all on that so I'm having to get used to using the Bb trill key for chromatic passages (and it's starting to rub off into my flute playing as well, so double bonus).
I never used that Bb thumb key or trill key until recently. I used to either think it was useless or awkward, however recently I use it in music where it is necessary, which is quite often. It's kinda fun to me how there's a nice set of cool Bb fingerings up a flutist's sleeve. I love using all 3 where it is appropriate. Personally though I still use the long Bb as a default and use it for scales and other technical practice. I only use the others if it's necessary for a cool little exercise or on music where it's also necessary. I've also encouraged my flute section to use it more.
Unlike many students I have been doing the opposite. I learned to use the B-flat key since I was learning on my own. Once I started playing in band I was told that the key was very important and that I was doing the right thing. So I have a quite gotten used to using the long be flat fingering.
I was once told that if B flat is approached from a note in the right hand then use the long fingering, from a note in the left hand then use the thumb key. If played chromatically use the ‘trill’ key. Useful? Great lessons that you give! Thank you! Mr. R. 😀🎶
this is why learning flute from a book and fingering chart is not ideal. I had no idea you could press the Bb key and play other notes at all (never even tried). also had no idea about the alternate (long) Bb fingering although it makes sense since the recorder fingering is very similar.
Very good presentation. Now do the two F# fingerings (or three, if you include the first finger directly on the F# key - or four, if you include the brossa F# lever, if you know about it).
If you almost exclusively use the b flat key do you even bother when playing in a key signature which doesn’t require b flat? (Just to keep the habit going) I am not used to it so of course it’s like one more thing to think about like key signature, dynamics, pitch etc. but I can see it would be worth it once it becomes second nature
Thank you so much for this video. I always enjoy your videos. As i‘m teaching myself on the flute they help me a lot! And just today i was thinking about asking you to make a video about this very subject. I learned to use both fingerings but to never slide the thumb from one key to the other. But sometimes i‘m not sure wich key to use. For example Taffanel & Gaubert Number one, lower register without any c‘s or c sharps to move the thumb to the B flat key: (third row). E flat - F - G - A flat - B flat. Of course i would use the B flat key, if i would play just the scale this sequence belongs to. But as the key changed from line to line i play it with the B natural key, which is uncomfortable for me. I hope i described it well enough. What would you recommend? Greetings from Germany
![Choosing the Best Bb Fingering on Flute [Tips & Tricks 02]](/img/n.gif)
Today is the day this 50 year old beginner learned what that Bb key was really for (& not for) - so practical. Off to practice!
I was only taught long B flat. So happy to learn this!
Though I’ve been playing music since I was 10, I just started playing the flute at 59 years of age. I love watching your vids! They are MOST helpful and provide a much needed humorous side as well - especially being at the beginner stage, when it can sometimes be frustrating. Thank you for posting these! You are also an awesome musician!!😊
I never learned the Bb key as a young student--I discovered it on a fingering chart, tried it out, loved it, and never looked back. Later in life, I had a teacher--a professional flutist--tell me that the Bb key was unusual and wrong and I needed to switch to the long fingering. I switched teachers instead.
Amidala 😂😂😂 that is a great story! Hehehehe...it is crazy to me that it is taught as the standard figuring 🤦🏻♀️
I'm really surprised how often I see even the most famous world-class flutists using the long fingering when it would obviously be more comfortable and efficient to use the Bb thumb or lever instead. I remember myself, as a beginner, using my left second finger (second knuckle) to close the Bb key directly. I guess I just couldn't trust the linkage to do it.
Wow! Makes so much more sense. I was taught to play B FLat with the thumb key was the rare exception. I don't remember, not to say I wasn't told, the reason why. I'm going to start practicing using it today! Thank you.
I learned short Bb first, in high school. Not until recently receiving a flute as a gift I've started playing again. (It's been 30 years) I never knew there was an alternative. I've learned more from you than I did 4 years in high school. Thanks for all you do!
Was trying to understand the function of the Bb trill key. Thanks for the help! I’m a multi-instrumentalist just coming to the flute. Oboe is my primary and I’ve hit three of the saxophone and flute this year.
We were just given a piece of paper with regular fingerings. I never knew there were other Bb fingerings because we were taught to just use the one fingering.. I’ve been playing for about 5 years now. This is the first I’ve heard of it.. I really need a new fingering chart. Gonna try to make sure I try this fingering out at some point.
As far as modern instruments being refined over the last century or so, this tutorial illustrated why/how the clarinet was developed to do things differently than the flute. And then the saxophone was developed from the clarinet to address even more needs, like volume, durability, and timbre.
Good video thankyou for making it. I enjoy your videos very much. The 1 and 1 fingering is so clumsy when we have the Bb thumb key for most tasks. I wish flute players would use what you called the Bb trill key for more chromatic runs. It like the thumb Bb is so much more sonically beautiful . The 1 and 1 fingering is stuffy sounding in comparison because of the venting and quite often flat.
Thanks again for your instructive videos. 👍😊
Matthew Taylor totally agree!!! I didn’t even get to the slight difference I’m intonation and sound. I have sought of learned to thing of the 1 and 1 fingering as the A sharp fingering. In Debussy Syrinx for example I actually use the Bb trill key instead of the long Bb
The trill key figuring can be also handy in b major. The key can be left pressed down while playing f# and g# so that you are always ready for the a#. 😊
I learned both fingerings straight away, but then was told to just use the long B key. Not sure why. But it's a horrible habit that has taken decades to break.
Thanks again Tatiana. I learned all 3 fingerings fairly early on, but because I'm not experienced enough, I still get bogged down sometimes trying to think of which to use in a particular phrase. Your notation remark is absolutely invaluable, thanks.
Thanks for the details about 3rd octave fingering. When I started, my teacher used the long Bb. Then I took an introductory lesson with another teacher, with good reputation locally. She asked me to do a F scale and immediately moved my thumb to the Bb key. I didn't continue with her, we didn't click and besides she was going on summer vacation. But it was a valuable lesson.
When I get something that requires both Bb (A#) and B (Cb), I go for the little key on top.
I found someone saying that the long bflat should bethe last resort with Bb trill key is second to the thumb key
I learnt both from the start, but always preferred the Bb thumb key because it was so much easier. I've been playing piccolo for 6 months now and the long Bb doesn't work well at all on that so I'm having to get used to using the Bb trill key for chromatic passages (and it's starting to rub off into my flute playing as well, so double bonus).
I never used that Bb thumb key or trill key until recently. I used to either think it was useless or awkward, however recently I use it in music where it is necessary, which is quite often. It's kinda fun to me how there's a nice set of cool Bb fingerings up a flutist's sleeve. I love using all 3 where it is appropriate. Personally though I still use the long Bb as a default and use it for scales and other technical practice. I only use the others if it's necessary for a cool little exercise or on music where it's also necessary. I've also encouraged my flute section to use it more.
Thank you very very much
Unlike many students I have been doing the opposite. I learned to use the B-flat key since I was learning on my own. Once I started playing in band I was told that the key was very important and that I was doing the right thing. So I have a quite gotten used to using the long be flat fingering.
I was once told that if B flat is approached from a note in the right hand then use the long fingering, from a note in the left hand then use the thumb key. If played chromatically use the ‘trill’ key. Useful? Great lessons that you give! Thank you! Mr. R. 😀🎶
I was taught the short Bb when I started marching band my 8th grade year and I use it almost all the time & now I’m a senior
Omg thank you this is sooooo helpful the Bb flate key fingering is a little challenging all the other fingering is more easy 🙏 thank you
Very nice u are so cool.. I learned with at first with the B flat key then I started switching to the long B flat.. but hopefully am used to both
this is why learning flute from a book and fingering chart is not ideal. I had no idea you could press the Bb key and play other notes at all (never even tried). also had no idea about the alternate (long) Bb fingering although it makes sense since the recorder fingering is very similar.
Ummm what if my peace is F major but in the middle of the peace is having accidental natural B
Very good presentation. Now do the two F# fingerings (or three, if you include the first finger directly on the F# key - or four, if you include the brossa F# lever, if you know about it).
Ugh I wish I knew this I was learning a new song with b natural and it’s so different
10k subscribers..congratulations 👍🏾
I found out I was doing E flat wrong after 6 years of playing it wrong.. It’s so confusing to me 😂
I totally agree!
If you almost exclusively use the b flat key do you even bother when playing in a key signature which doesn’t require b flat? (Just to keep the habit going) I am not used to it so of course it’s like one more thing to think about like key signature, dynamics, pitch etc. but I can see it would be worth it once it becomes second nature
Thank you
Thank you so much for this video. I always enjoy your videos. As i‘m teaching myself on the flute they help me a lot! And just today i was thinking about asking you to make a video about this very subject. I learned to use both fingerings but to never slide the thumb from one key to the other. But sometimes i‘m not sure wich key to use. For example Taffanel & Gaubert Number one, lower register without any c‘s or c sharps to move the thumb to the B flat key: (third row). E flat - F - G - A flat - B flat. Of course i would use the B flat key, if i would play just the scale this sequence belongs to. But as the key changed from line to line i play it with the B natural key, which is uncomfortable for me. I hope i described it well enough. What would you recommend? Greetings from Germany
Fine useful tutorial
I actually got taught the shorter one first.... weird
I'm just going by what the fingering chart says...
Love this
When i started (this year) i was playing it like you do but then my teacher told me not to play it like that XD
My teacher told me the same thing almost 40 years ago. It's a very rough habit to break 😕
Heh. Right on. :)
You also look like my old piano teacher but prettier
I was always taught that anything other the 1 and 1 Bflat fingering was cheating. But it's ok I just cheated when she wasn't looking.
I think the 1 and 1 is very similar to the recorder so maybe that makes sense if transitioning students.
... here's a nice comment!