Intonation refers to the accuracy or correctness of the pitch you are playing on your instrument. While you may be playing with exceptional tone, a good sound that is out of tune will not match and blend well with other players. This page will briefly go over some of the natural intonation tendencies on the flute as well as small adjustments that you the player can make to correct these and other pitch inaccuracies.
Flute Pitch Tendencies
The natural tendencies of the flute make the notes shown below naturally out of tune. Keep in mind that just because the other notes on the instrument don't have natural pitch tendencies like these do that they will automatically come out in tune! Some careful work with a tuner will help train your mind and ear to anticipate and correct these and other pitch tendencies on the flute.
Adjusting for Intonation
Care in using proper fingerings will have a strong effect on the pitch of the flute. The E-flat key (played by the little finger of the right hand) is particularly important as it is used on every note except low C and C-sharp, low and middle D, and the highest C, it aids in balance when holding the flute, and it greatly improves the pitch of the notes played with the right hand (E through F-sharp).
Adjustments to the pitch can also be made with the direction of the air and the position of the embouchure plate and lower lip. To lower the pitch of sharp notes, you can direct your air more down into the flute and/or roll the flute slightly inward causing your lower lip to cover more of the embouchure hole. To raise the pitch of flat notes, you can do the opposite by directing your air more across the embouchure hole and/or rolling the flute slightly outward causing your lower lip to cover less of the embouchure hole.
Adjustments to the pitch can also be made with the direction of the air and the position of the embouchure plate and lower lip. To lower the pitch of sharp notes, you can direct your air more down into the flute and/or roll the flute slightly inward causing your lower lip to cover more of the embouchure hole. To raise the pitch of flat notes, you can do the opposite by directing your air more across the embouchure hole and/or rolling the flute slightly outward causing your lower lip to cover less of the embouchure hole.
Flying Along! ...
Now that you are armed with information on intonation and how to make adjustments on the flute, it is time to play some fun Exercises with ExTon!