Everything your want to know about:

Harmonics

Have fun with extended techniques! Using them also gives you better flute control!

Harmonics in short:

Harmonics are notes produced by overblowing a note. The notes produced by overblowing are based on the harmonic series. Each fingering allows many tones of the harmonic series to be sounded.

Harmonic series on the flute

The harmonic range of a note is always built up with the same intervals. In the example you see the harmonic range on C4. Transpose this range to determine the harmonic range of other notes.

Notation

Harmonics are notated with two notes written over each other. On the high note a little open round is written.

The diamond shaped notes indicate the fingering one should use.

The regular shaped notes indicate which note should sound.

Piccolo - alto flute - bass flute

This technique can be used on all flutes. The harmonic series are the same. Be aware that the alto flute is in G and sounds a 4th lower.

Composer information

It is easy to realize the first, second and third harmonic on a note from the first and second octave. The higher harmonics are more difficult. Also, if you use a higher note as bass note, it is harder to play harmonics.

Flute players

Studying harmonics on the flute is useful for:
– Embouchure controle
– Air control and support
– Aural skills

Example

This Flute Colors arrangement is an example of a piece including harmonics. The harmonics are added in the repeat (0:20).