Notation
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.
Practise
Studying quartertones and microtones on the flute is useful for:
– Aural skills
– Flexibility
Picc/alto/bass
This technique can be used on all flutes. The fingerings are not the same for piccolo, C-flute, alto flute and bass flute.
Composers
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.
Sound example
Here you can listen to a short example of a microtanalic scale. I’m playing Xi by Stockhausen.