How do I play low notes on the flute?
Updated: Sep 8
To play rich, beautiful low notes on the flute, there are a few things you need to consider.
Air Direction
To play low notes we need to make sure that we are blowing down. Imagine that there are four points that you need to hit. To get low notes we want to blow down (photo 1). Moderate low = photo 2, moderate high = photo 3, high = photo 4. A tool to help visualise this is called a pneumo pro, a yellow headjoint with four fans (google it!).
Okay, so we have the note but it doesn't sound as good as you want, so what next?
Air Speed and Temperature
When playing low notes, we want slow, hot air. If you blow air on your hand, you will notice that it's quite cold. The faster you push that air out, the colder it feels. Now make a 'haaa' exhale on your hand - warmer? This is because it's using a different type of air.
When playing low notes we need to make sure that we are using slow air, not fast. So relax, loosen the lips and make the embouchure a little larger.
Mouth
Still not sounding the way you want it? Well there is one more part to the puzzle. The inside of your mouth. If you want a rich, full sound then you need to make sure that
there is a lot of space in your mouth for the sound to originate from. Try imagining that
you have a ball or gobstopper in your mouth, lift your soft pallet (that bit in your mouth that goes up when you yawn) and take notice of where that tongue is, you may need to move it back and down. Try tonguing further back in your mouth rather than right behind your front teeth. You may be surprised at the difference these little adjustments make to your sound!
To really work on this, you need an exercise where you can focus on what your body and mouth are doing rather than worrying about the music.
Long notes are perfect for this. Start with a lowish note that you’re comfortable playing - F, for example. Hold it for four beats, then move chromatically down to E. Hold E for four beats, then move down to E♭, then D, and continue downwards.
The important part is not to rush. Take your time and experiment with different things: your air speed, air temperature, the space inside your mouth, and the position of your tongue. Listen carefully to how each change affects the sound.
Once you find something that produces the sound you want, take note of what you did and try to recreate it a few times. With enough repetition, these adjustments will eventually become second nature, and you'll start to carry that knowledge and control into your playing.
Want some exercises specifically designed to help you develop your low notes? I've put together a downloadable collection of low note exercises that you can use as part of your regular practice. They're designed to help you build control, consistency and confidence in the lower register — without having to come up with exercises yourself.
Questions?
Leave a comment or get in contact with me today! I love to hear from you and know how you are going. And did you know, that although I'm in Queensland, Australia, I also do online lessons! This means I can teach you or give you some handy tips no matter where in the world you are!
Happy practicing!
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