Producing a Sound on the Flute

Updated July 3, 2023

The first step in learning to play the flute is to make a sound using the head joint alone.

Prepare your embouchure

1. Relax your facial muscles, from your forehead down to your chin.
2. With your front teeth slightly apart and your jaw relaxed, close your lips as if to say “mmm,” and bring your upper lip slightly lower to be over your top teeth.

Hold the flute

1. Take the flute head joint in your hands, with the part that attaches to the flute to your right. Cover the open end with the palm of your right hand.
2. Place your lips on the embouchure plate of the head joint with the bottom of your lip touching the bottom of the embouchure hole.

Produce a tone

1. Draw the corners of your mouth back, while keeping the front part of your lips relaxed. Do not turn the corners of your mouth up as in a smile.
2. Place the tip of your tongue against the inside of your closed lips, then pull the tongue back and release air into the flute with a “puh” sound.
3. Experiment with rolling the flute in and out slightly until you get the clearest sound.

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Contents

Frank’s Flute Notes Home Page

• Fundamentals
  • Musician’s Mission Statement
  • Benefits of Musical Study
  • Four Dimensions of Music
  • Getting Started with the Flute
  • Producing a Sound on the Flute
  • Protect Your Hearing
• Practice
  • Importance of Daily Practice
  • Daily Practice Routine
  • Metronome Practice
• Theory
  • Natural Note Interval Chart