Why is my flute turning black?

2021-12-19

Why is my flute turning black?

Flutes turn brown due to tarnish. The tarnish is the result of a chemical reaction between the silver of a flute and the various compounds it comes into contact with. Tarnish on a flute is not an immediate problem, and will not significantly affect the sound of a flute.

Do flutes sound high or low?

The player blows air across the small hole in the mouthpiece to produce a sound. This instrument has a high, bright sound. The instrument is found in cultures throughout the world. It is one of the oldest and most popular instruments in the history of music.

How long should a flute last?

four to thirteen years

How much does a flute overhaul cost?

Overhaul

Overhaul Type/Level Overhaul Fee
Piccolo – Felt from $1,095
Piccolo – Straubinger from $1,195
Flute – Felt from $1,395
Flute – Straubinger from $1,595 (add $100 for conversion from felt pads)

How much does a flute cleaning cost?

Typically the cost to professional clean a flute will cost around $50 every few months depending on the frequency of usage. The cost can vary based on location, the state of the flute, and the musical instrument technician but generally will cost around $50.

How do you clean a flute with toothpaste?

Take a tooth brush and tooth paste and scrub your flute down with it. Make sure you use lukewarm water before and after to rinse it off. I tarnished my flute by accidentally soaking it in 3% hydrogen peroxide for too long so it got all tarnished but the toothpaste helped it a lot. To disinfect it I use mouthwash.

What is the sound of flute in words?

Airy, light, poetic, mellow, bright, wafting, ethereal, rich, soft, graceful, penetrating, brilliant, clear, shrill, silvery, wind-like, whistling, whispering, humming, filigree, sighing, aspirate.

How do you maintain a flute?

To keep your flute as clean as possible, wipe it down after each use. Use a soft cloth to wipe the inside and outside of the flute, and wrap the cloth around the cleaning rod found in your case so that none of the rod is exposed.

Why does my flute sound fuzzy?

The most common cause of a fuzzy flute sound is that the student simply isn’t using enough air. Since a lot of the air does not go directly into the instrument, you have to use a significant amount of air if you want to fill the instrument enough to create a full sound.

Is learning the flute hard?

The flute is one of the most popular instruments in the band. Flute isn’t hard to learn — like all the instruments, it just takes some practice. Many girls choose the flute, but boys can also play flute.

How often should you clean a flute?

At the very least, you should clean your flute once a day. Minimum. If you play your flute a lot (like in music school), then you should swab it out multiple times a day. Some flute repair techs might say you should swab as often as every 20 minutes.

How does the flute sound?

Sound is produced on the flute by blowing: the flutist blows through the mouth hole (embouchure hole) and the stream of air that makes contact with the edge is cyclically directed outward and inward. The flutist uses tone holes and keys to shorten the vibrating air column, thus producing an increase in pitch.

How do you disinfect a flute at home?

Using a cotton swab saturated with denatured, isopropyl alcohol, carefully clean around the embouchure hole. Alcohol wipes can be used on the flute’s lip plate to kill germs if the flute shared by several players. Using a soft, lint-free silk cloth inserted into the cleaning rod, clean the inside of the headjoint.

Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean a flute?

To clean your flute use “saliva” or rubbing alcohol on your cloth. To keep pads clean, don’t eat candy or chew gum before playing and never while playing. Do not let anyone else play your instrument. The flute is a delicate instrument, which must be handled carefully.

What do flutes symbolize?

The instrument is often shown as being played by gods or symbolizes a god’s voice: the Ancient Egyptians, for example, believed the voice of Isis, the gods’ mother, was audible in the long, drawn-out notes of the flute. A further aspect of the flute’s symbolism is its portrayal of nature and rural life.

How much is a flute?

Beginner flutes usually range in cost from $500 to $1000. Intermediate, or step-up flutes usually cost $1,400 to $2,500 and entry level pro flutes (still largely played by advanced students) around $2500 and up.

Why is my flute so flat?

You are trying to check your tuning with a cold flute in a cold room. It takes a few moments for a flute to come up to pitch if it is cold. If you are trying to tune a cold flute, it will always sound flat. So, before tuning, close all the keys and breathe slowly through the closed tube to warm it up.

How often should a flute be serviced?

Your flute should be serviced every 6–12 months.

Why does my flute have black spots?

It’s crucial that a flute be played every day to prevent discoloration. This discoloration on the flute is silver sulfide, a product of the silver on the surface of the flute combining with sulfur components in the air.

How do you oil a flute?

To oil the flute. Firstly, pull the flute to pieces. It is not necessary to oil the inside of the head joint. Use a piece of kitchen towel wrapped around a thin dowel or a flute cleaner, dip it in the oil and thoroughly coat the bore with the oily towel.

Can I wash my flute with water?

In general, it’s safer to wash in cold water or hand wash and to line dry. Hot water and drying machines can cause them to shrink and not fit over your hard case. If you have a very contagious cold or serious illness, you may need to take your flute to a flute technician who can give your flute a super deep clean.

Can you put Vaseline on a flute?

Don’t ever use petroleum jelly or slide oil on the tenons of flutes or piccolos. It just makes a gummy mess. The petroleum jelly attracts dirt and gets thick and gummy.

Can flute players circular breathe?

Anyone can learn circular breathing; all it requires is patience, persistence and time. While it varies from instrument to instrument, Robert Dick (who literally wrote the book on circular breathing for flute players) describes the process as a two year commitment. 2. You can’t do it when you have a blocked nose.

What makes the flute unique?

Every flute has a unique sound. Whether a flute is made of wood or metal will drastically change its sound. The sound of a flute is made by a steady stream of air vibrating through it. The air stream across the hole excites the air inside the resonant cavity of the flute, causing it to vibrate and make a sound.

Can a flute get moldy?

you can try to clean the flute but the bulk of your problem is the pads and tuning cork , if those are mouldy , no amount of cleaning will get rid of the smell. If that is the case a complete overhauls is needed. It needs to be done by a specialist and will cost a pretty penny.

How do you make your flute shiny?

To polish a flute, begin by disassembling the instrument and then clean each piece with a special polishing cloth. Polishing your flute will keep your instrument looking bright and shiny. It will also prevent the metal from becoming tarnished or eroded, thus preserving the life of the flute as long as possible.

What happens when you don’t clean your flute?

If they don’t clean out their instruments on a regular basis, black mold can build up inside and cause a condition called “Saxophone Lung.” At the conference, researchers described a case of a clarinetist who neglected to clean his instrument for some 30 years and suffered the consequences.

How do you know if your flute is broken?

To inspect for small leaks on your flute, perform a test consisting of a series of long tones. The low octave is especially helpful in identifying problems. Using a very light touch, press each key down slowly. If the pads are level and sealing well, the tone will fully respond just as the pad contacts the tonehole.