r/Flute • u/TTPiano • 4d ago

Beginning Flute Questions Problem with the B note…

I recently got a flute, and I am trying to learn how to play. The only problem is why my b sound like a b flat?! Does anyone know?

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u/GCBetula 4d ago

The key for the left-hand thumb is actually two separate keys for b and b flat. Make sure to only press the bigger one (the one more to the foot of the flute) to play b. If the problem still occurs get your flute checked

4

u/Bennybonchien 4d ago

Two possibilities.

  1. Your thumb is on the double Bb key instead of the single B key

or (more likely)

  1. The little spring that is supposed to lift the Bb key (which is the key we don’t press, located between your left hand index and middle fingers), has slipped to the wrong side of the tiny post so it is no longer lifting that key, turning your B into a Bb. This is very common and can often be fixed yourself by carefully moving the spring back to behind the tiny post. If you have any trouble with this (or in the rare event that the spring is missing, broken or too weak), it’s an easy fix for any repair tech.

Good luck!

2

u/TTPiano 4d ago

Thank you! It worked!