How to Play the Vertical Flute

The vertical flute is a wooden wind instrument that gained popularity in the early 14th century. It produces a soft, flute-like sound. Compared to other instruments, the vertical flute is quite easy to play, making it the ideal choice for beginners, including children or those just starting to learn music. These instruments come in various colors and sizes, so you can choose one that suits you best.

Purchase a vertical flute. If you're a complete beginner, start with an affordable plastic flute. Plastic flutes are commonly used in schools because they require minimal maintenance.

• Once you master the basics and still wish to continue playing, consider upgrading to a more expensive wooden flute. Wooden flutes typically produce a richer sound than plastic ones but require more care to maintain.
• You can find both wooden and plastic flutes at quality music stores or online.

Assemble the flute. The vertical flute typically consists of three parts: the mouthpiece at the top, the middle section with finger holes, and the bell-shaped tail. Gently twist these sections together to connect them properly.

• The tail should be rotated slightly so that the hole faces toward the right when you are playing.
• Some vertical flutes commonly used in schools are made as a single piece.

Learn how to hold the vertical flute. Pick up the flute and place the mouthpiece against your lips. Gently balance it between your lips and use your fingers to hold it steady. Remember to place your left hand at the top of the flute.

• The back of the flute, with a hole, should face you. The front should face outward.
• Avoid biting the mouthpiece or letting it touch your teeth.

Practice blowing into the flute. Blow into the flute to familiarize yourself with the sound it produces. You should blow gently, imagining you're blowing a bubble. A soft, even breath is one of the most challenging but important techniques when learning to play the vertical flute.

• If you blow too forcefully, the flute will make a harsh, unpleasant squeal. Blow gently for a smoother, more melodic sound.
• Breathing from your diaphragm and ensuring your breath is steady will help maintain an even tone.

Learn the proper tonguing technique. When playing a note on the vertical flute, you need to start and stop the sound with your tongue. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth. The sound should begin and end there.

• To practice, try saying “doot” or “dud” while playing a note. This technique is called tonguing and helps create a clear beginning and end to each note.
• Be careful not to actually say “doot” or “dud” out loud while playing. These words are only for practicing the tonguing technique.

Play your first note. The first note most beginners learn is B. To play this note, cover the hole at the back of the flute with your thumb. Next, use your left index finger to cover the first hole at the top, below the mouthpiece. Use your right thumb to steady the flute. Now, gently blow into the mouthpiece and remember to say 'doot' or 'dud'. Well done! The sound you just created is the B note.

• If the note doesn't make a sound or if the flute squeals, make sure your fingers are flat and completely covering the holes.
• A squealing flute might be a result of blowing too hard.
• Keep practicing the B note until you can play it with ease.

Understand the fingering chart. A basic fingering chart is used to represent the notes on the flute. The chart consists of numbers from 0 to 7, with 0 representing the left thumb, 1 representing the left index finger, 2 representing the left middle finger, and so on.

• For example, the B note you just played is represented on the fingering chart as follows:
  • 0 1 - - - - - -
• The numbers represent covered holes, while the dashes indicate uncovered holes. In this example, the number 0 indicates that your thumb is covering the back hole of the flute, while number 1 indicates that your left index finger should cover the first hole.

Learn the left-hand notes. The first notes you'll learn to play with your left hand are B (which you just played), A, and G. The next notes you'll play with your left hand are C' and D'. The comma placed above and to the right of these notes indicates that they are higher-pitched notes.

• How to play the A note: Use the same finger placement as for B, but this time place your left middle finger over the second hole from the top. The fingering chart for A is: 0 12 - - - - -
• How to play the G note: Use the same finger placement as for A, but this time place your left ring finger over the third hole from the top. The fingering chart for G is: 0 123 - - - -
• How to play the C' note: Cover the back hole with your left thumb, then place your left middle finger on the second hole from the top. The fingering chart for C' is: 0 - 2 - - - - -
• How to play the D' note: Don't cover the back hole and place your left middle finger on the second hole from the top. The fingering chart for D' is: - - 2 - - - - -

Learn the right-hand notes. The first notes you'll learn to play with your right hand are E, D, and F#. The next two notes you’ll practice with your right hand are F and C. These notes might be tricky for beginners because you need to cover several holes at once when playing.

• How to play the E note: Cover the back hole with your left thumb, cover the first three holes with your left index, middle, and ring fingers, then place your right index finger on the fourth hole from the top and your right middle finger on the fifth hole. The fingering chart for E is: 0 123 45 - -
• How to play the D note: Use the same finger placement as for E, but this time place your right ring finger on the sixth hole from the top. The fingering chart for D is: 0 123 456 –
• How to play the F# note: Use the same finger placement as for D, but remove your right index finger from the fourth hole and keep the rest of your fingers in place. The fingering chart for F# is: 0 123 - 56 –
• How to play the F note: Place your left thumb on the back hole, cover the first three holes with your left index, middle, and ring fingers, place your right thumb on the fourth hole, your right ring finger on the sixth hole, and your right pinky on the seventh hole. The fingering chart for F is: 0 123 4 – 67
• How to play the C note: For the C note, cover all seven holes. Your left thumb covers the back hole, your left index, middle, and ring fingers cover the first three holes, and your right index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers cover the last four holes. The fingering chart for C is: 0 123 4567

Practice simple songs. Once you've mastered all these notes, you can start combining them to play some simple songs:

• Mary Had a Little Lamb:
  • B A G A B B B
  • A A A
  • B D' D'
  • B A G A B B B
  • A A B A G
• Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star:
  • D D A A B B A
  • G G F# F# E E D
• Auld Lang Syne:
  • C F F F A G F G A F F A C' D'

Practice Playing Higher Notes. These notes might be a bit challenging. To play a note higher than D’, you will need to use a technique called 'tightening the thumb hole'. Use the tip of your thumb to cover about 2/3 to 3/4 of the thumb hole. Pucker your lips slightly and blow a bit harder than usual to achieve the sound.

Learn Half Steps. A half step is a sound that falls between one note and the next, much like the black keys on a piano. You’ve already learned one of the most common half steps – the F# note. The next half steps you need to learn are Bb and C#’.

• The fingering chart for Bb is: 0 1 - 3 4 - - -
• The fingering chart for C#’ is: - 12 - - - - -
• You can practice these half-step notes by playing a short song called Baa Baa Black Sheep:
  • D D A A B C#' D' B A, G G F# F# E E D

Practice Vibrato Technique. Once you’ve mastered those notes, you can begin practicing your vibrato technique. A vibrato adds resonance to long notes, creating a dynamic and interesting effect. There are several ways to achieve this technique:

• Use your diaphragm to create the vibrato. Control the airflow into the flute by tightening and contracting your diaphragm. Try saying 'heh heh heh' without losing your breath completely.
• Use your tongue to create the vibrato. Say 'yer yer yer yer yer yer' and use your tongue to control the airflow.
• Use finger tapping for vibrato. This technique, often referred to as 'trill', isn’t ideal for long sustained vibrato but can still be effective. Alternate between covering the note and the next higher note. Avoid tonguing each note and try playing a quick sequence of notes: A B A B A B A.

Use the Breath Sweep Technique. This technique involves quickly sweeping your fingers across the flute to produce a sweeping sound effect.

Clean your flute after every use. Keeping your flute clean is essential and helps it stay in optimal condition.

• You can wash plastic flutes in the dishwasher or with warm soapy water in a sink. Be sure to disassemble the parts before washing and rinse thoroughly to remove all soap.
• You can clean the flute mouthpiece with an old toothbrush or a special cleaning tool.
• Allow your flute to dry completely before using it again.
• For wooden flutes, carefully disassemble and use a soft cloth to wipe any moisture from the inside.

Store your flute in a protective case. Always keep your flute in its case when not in use to prevent it from being damaged or having the whistle hole on top broken, as damage there can render the flute useless.

Protect your flute from extreme temperatures. Keep your instrument away from sudden temperature changes and out of direct sunlight, and never leave it in a hot car or near a heat source. This is especially important for wooden flutes, but should apply to any instrument.

Learn how to handle blockages. Moisture buildup in the flute tube can cause blockages. You can minimize these blockages in both plastic and wooden flutes by warming the joint at the headpiece with the heat from your hand, underarm, or in your pocket before playing.

• If moisture has accumulated inside the flute, cover the end of the flute with one hand and blow forcefully through the mouthpiece. This will help blow out the excess moisture.
• If the flute is still blocked, you can clean the flute tube by mixing one tablespoon of dishwasher detergent with three tablespoons of water. Pour this cleaning solution into the flute through the mouthpiece or from the bottom, and let it sit before rinsing thoroughly. Make sure your flute is completely dry before playing again.