classical flute flared foot

C5

Conventional Fingering

Impedance

Acoustic and Fingering Schematic a covered tone hole or key pressed an uncovered tone hole or key not pressed a partly covered hole Details in fingering legend. Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics

This fingering is a cross fingering: the first hole is open (as for C#5) but the two closed holes downstream increase the end effect and lower the pitch to C5. The higher minima are not at harmonics of the fundamental, so the higher harmonics in the sound spectrum are relatively weak. This gives it a dark timbre. Although variations in timbre on adjacent notes is considered undesirable on a modern flute, designed to play in all keys, this variation is often considered desirable in classical or folk instruments, especially when playing in G major.

This fingering is also used for D6, which is the third minimum (the second is unplayable).

Sound

Sound spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot played using conventional fingering for C5.

Sound Clip

You can hear C5 played with conventional fingering by Geoffrey Collins.

Impedance

Acoustic and Fingering Schematic a covered tone hole or key pressed an uncovered tone hole or key not pressed a partly covered hole Details in fingering legend. Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics

This alternative fingering is mainly used for the trill C5-D5.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot played using alternative fingering for C5.

Sound Clip

You can hear C5 played with alternative fingering by Geoffrey Collins.