Flute whistle tone

The flute whistle tone is produced by blowing very gently across the embouchure hole. These sounds are also called whisper tones. Any standard fingering can be used, but the low octave fingerings enable you to produce the harmonic series throughout the flute range.

Start with a low C fingering, then over blow or direct the air stream upward and push the bottom jaw forward very slightly to get the next C (third space). Over blow again to get the next partial, a G, then C, E, G, and finally B-flat.

You can start with the low B if you have a B-foot joint and practice B, C, and C-sharp.

A fun exercise is to play bugle-style pieces, such as Taps, and other pieces played on a bugle that can only play harmonics.

Whistle tones are great practice for developing control over the embouchure. While just as much breath support is needed for whistle tones, you need to focus the air stream with a relaxed embouchure and low air pressure to even produce the sound at all.

Whistle tones are an interesting effect as well, and contemporary composers like to employ these so-called "extended techniques" in their pieces.

Obviously, you need a very quiet environment to hear them or the flute needs to be miked.

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