Notation
Quarter tones and microtones are usually indicated by a accidental or beam without notehead. Usually the alternate fingerings are written under or over the note. Some composers add the fingerings to the appendix of a piece.
Accidentals
These accidentals can be used in scores. Composers sometimes mean different things by a symbol. Always check the foreword of a piece.
1/4 higher than a regular sharp
1/4 higer than a regular sharp
regular sharp
1/4 lower than a regular sharp
1/4 lowe 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
Piccolo - alto flute - bass flute
This technique can be used on all flutes. The fingerings are not always the same for piccolo, C-flute, alto flute and bass flute.
Composer information
This technique can easily be realized as a separate technique. In fast passages it becomes more difficult. The possibilities depend on the flute player’s flute. Always check whether your flute player is playing a flute with open holes or closed holes.
The fingerings to use for playing quarter tones and microtones are not very common to most flute players. Therefore, write down the fingering below or above the note in the score.
In this video you can see the fingerings and hear what they sound like:
Flute players
To download the microtone fingering chart, go to ‘Composer Information’ on this page.
Studying quartertones and microtones on the flute is useful for:
– Aural skills
– Flexibility
Examples
Here you can listen to a short example of a microtonalic scale. I’m playing Xi by Stockhausen.
Another example of a piece including quarter tones: Together by Alex Ford
