Microtones & quartertones

Quartertones and microtones are mostely indicated by an accidental or beam without notehead. Mostely the alternative fingerings are written below or over the note. Sometimes a composer writes the fingering in the apendix of a piece. Accidentals These accidentals can be used in scores. Composers sometimes mean different things with a symbol. Always check the foreword of a piece.

	1/4 higher than a regular sharp
	1/4 higher than a regular sharp
	regular sharp
	1/4 lower than a regular sharp
	1/4 lower than a regular sharp
	1/4 higher than a regular flat
	1/4 higher than a regular flat
	normal flat
	1/4 lower than a regular flat
	double flat
	1/4 higher than a regular natural
	1/4 lower than a regular natural

 

Studying quartertones and microtones on the flute is useful for:

– Aural skills
– Flexibility

This technique can be used on all flutes. The fingerings are not the same for piccolo, C-flute, alto flute and bass flute.

Level:

General:		Becomes more difficult:
This technique is easy to realize as a seperate technique.		In very fast passages.

Notes:

The fingerings that are to be used for playing quartertones and microtones are not very common for most flutists. Therefor please notate the fingering above the note in the score.

Here you can listen to a short example of a microtanalic scale. I’m playing Xi by Stockhausen.