How do you like your 3rd octave? Does it have the tone quality and resonance of your other octaves?
Often the 3rd octave is not the same as the first two octaves. It doesn’t sound as full and the tone is tight. It’s very hard to make this octave brilliant and to think about their expansive dynamic range. Most often we do the opposite of what is necessary. That is, we get tight and small which then gives only one dynamic range, and a small closed sound.
However, there is hope for your tone and embouchure with this exercise.
To begin, use the stomach to help. When I play the upper register, I hold the upper octave in place with really tight abdominal muscles. There is an exercise to practice this.
I had a teacher that helped me to realize that my upper register was just a little bit too tight. I needed to learn that my high notes could come out without my reliance on being tight. So, she had me play a 3rd octave G. But she said to play those high notes with a barely formed embouchure. Then pretend that someone punched me in the stomach so that the air goes out really fast.
When this happens the tone will come out without any effort from you.
I tried this and it’s true. The sound came out all by itself with minimal effort of my part. It came out because of my “stomach thrust” which pushed the air very fast, sending it through my lips, and thus creating the vibration that is necessary.
Do it a couple of times with short bursts until you hear the tone that is easiest and best. Then hold that tone. You’ll find that you can get the sound out with more resonance and clarity.
If I do 3 or 4 of these in a row. I start feeling like a little fatigued in my stomach muscles. If you don’t feel that fatigue, you’re not thrusting your stomach fast enough. This is a really fantastic way to work on your high register.
Use this technique when you find that your high notes don’t sound the way you want in a solo. When you get the sound you want then your ear will learn that sound. It’s much easier to ping out that high note the right way once your ear knows what it wants to hear.
Try your 3rd octaves using these stomach punches or stomach thrusts. You’ll find that it helps your high register – your 3rd octave in amazing ways. Make sure that you are barely forming that embouchure when you do it. If you’re using an embouchure, you’re probably too tight. Let the air being punched move fast through the lips and create a fantastic sound.
Have fun!
DoctorFlute
Watch me demonstrate this:
FluteTips 60 Playing Your 3rd 8va with a More Relaxed Embouchure
Relax Your Embouchure to Improve Your Tone – FluteTips 154
