A flute has two challenges at first: getting the first sound out and memorizing the fingerings. Dedilhado Vivo shows the whole flute with every key and every finger in color, lights up the note on the sheet music and listens through the microphone to check that the sound came out right, even if it came out an octave higher.
How to get your first sound on the flute
- Just the flute headjoint. Start without the body: it's lighter and you focus only on your air.
- Rest it on your chin. The edge of the lip plate sits in the crease between your lower lip and chin. Your lower lip covers about 1/4 of the hole.
- Lips shaped like saying "pu". Relaxed lips, as if softly saying "pu", with a small oval opening. No smiling and no puffed cheeks.
- Aim at the edge. The air goes across the hole and hits the edge on the other side. If you only get air, roll the flute in or out just a little.
- Start with your tongue. Each note starts with a soft "tu".
- Practice with a bottle. Blowing across an empty bottle until it whistles is exactly the same motion.
First notes and fingerings
| Note | Left hand | Right hand |
|---|---|---|
| B | thumb + index | only the pinky on the E♭ key |
| A | thumb + index + middle | pinky on the E♭ key |
| G | thumb + index + middle + ring | pinky on the E♭ key |
| C | index finger only | pinky on the E♭ key |
| F | all three + thumb | index + pinky |
In the app you can see every fingering from low C to high C (three octaves), including the high notes of the 3rd octave, which have their own fingerings.
Common air problems
| What happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| Only air comes out, no sound | Cover the hole a bit more with your lip or roll the flute slightly inward. |
| Comes out an octave higher | Slower air and looser lips. The app's microphone lets you know when this happens. |
| Dizziness | That's normal at first. Stop, breathe normally and keep going later. |
Air exercises with the microphone
Besides the songs, the app has a path of air and technique: guided breathing, long tones (the app measures how long you hold and whether the note stays steady), staccato with "tu", double tonguing and loud/soft without going out of tune.
Ready to play your first song?
Open the app, turn on the microphone and play along. It shows where each finger goes and tells you when the note is right.
Start flute for freeFrequently asked questions
What's the first note to learn on the flute?
B. It uses only the left thumb and index finger plus the right pinky on the E♭ key, and it comes out with relaxed air.
Why does only air come out of my flute?
The air isn't hitting the edge of the lip plate. Cover a bit more of the hole with your lower lip, make the opening between your lips smaller and slowly roll the flute until the sound appears.
How long does it take to get a sound out of the flute?
It ranges from a few minutes to a few days. Practicing with just the headjoint and with a bottle speeds it up a lot.
Does the app show flute fingerings?
Yes. All of them, from C4 to C7, on the Boehm system, with a drawing of the flute, the hands and tips for each note.
Does it work with a recorder?
Dedilhado Vivo is made for the flute. The recorder has different fingerings.
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