Beginner Dizi - Can't play a note/tune(?) from music sheet

[monkeyboy]

Hi everyone, I'm trying to learn to play the song 紅顏舊 on my 6-hole dizi, but I encountered a problem right from the start. The numerical notation music sheet is here. The problem is the 3 on the second line (i think that's the term...): its a 3 with a dot underneath.

In the dizi fingering charts I use as reference (here and here), there are no 3 with a dot underneath.

I searched youtube for videos of people playing this on their dizi, but I can't catch their finger movement, nor am I sure if they are playing on a 6-hole dizi. Their dizi are also quite thick and longer compared to mine (I play on a G-key dizi). Here are the two videos for your reference: first, second

Does anyone have any idea how that sound can be produced, or where the problem lie?

Extra info: There is a possibility that I have misread or misunderstood how the fingering chart, so I included this drawing I made to help myself when attempting the song. It shows the dizi holes that I close and open corresponding to each number on the musical chart above. It's not complete, but I hope it would help in finding out what I have been doing wrong.

A little about myself: I don't have any proper musical background or learning and have only touched dizi when it comes to musical instrument. Until I started looking into this song, I thought the dizi I got (6-hole) only produces 6 sounds. So I have been only been trying in vain to play songs I like in that constraint, listening to the songs and trying to imitate them as closely as possible. It is only a few days ago that I learnt the word "octave" and that a 6-hole dizi can play more than 20 different sounds. I am more familiar with numerical notations and is clueless to the musical symbols and A, B, C, D that most musicians use. And needless to say, I can't change between octaves yet.

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to the forum, monkeyboy. You have chosen a challenge for your first project. The tune itself is not so difficult really, but the key is not typical for a dizi. The key on the score and Youtube link is indicated at Eb, but really it is G minor, the relative minor for Eb major. (They both have the same key signature) How, or if, you can play this tune depends on your goal and the key of your dizi.

What is the key of your dizi? It should be indicated with a letter near the first right hand finger hole. If not, cover the three left hand finger holes, and identify the pitch. If you don't have a tuner or other instrument with which to check the pitch, you could use an online tuning application or keyboard. Virtual Keyboard

If none of this works for you, then measure the distance between the embouchure hole (where you blow) and the last finger hole. There are likely holes near the very end of the dizi, but don't measure the distance to them. I just need the measurement to the lowest hole that you cover with your right hand ring finger.

Do you want to play at the same pitch as in the Youtube video so you can play along? If so, I suspect that you will need a low G dizi. This would be a fairly large dizi for a beginner to play. If you have a higher-pitched G dizi, you might be able to play an octave higher, but it will be quite high.

I could go on, but it would be best if you could clarify things by answering my questions above.

You might consider a traditional tune like Molihua (Jasmine Flower), that could be easily played on your dizi.

Best wishes,

David

[monkeyboy]

Hi David, the dizi I use has a G written on it. The distance between the embouchure hole and the last finger hole is roughly 23cm.

I hope to play on the same pitch as in the Youtube video, but I realise that might not happen for a while yet. For now, I'm satisfied with just being able to play out the whole song.

I have a suspicion that the flute I got has a higher pitch than those used to play this song. I'm guessing the bigger the dizi, the lower the pitch? I may just buy another dizi that's bigger if that will help in the long run, though only once I feel I have made improvements.

Also, I use a scotch tape instead of a dimo. I was hoping that would save me the trouble of 'troubleshooting' the membrane hole as well

[davidmdahl]

A C dizi can be used to play the tune, although it is a bit awkward to read from the notation in Eb/Gm. For example, when playing a C dizi in the key of C, covering the three left hand holes is note "1". When playing a C dizi in the key of Eb/Gm, covering the same left hand holes is note "6". The "1" in Eb on a C dizi needs to be lipped down a bit, but it is manageable.

If this is messing with your mind, you might simply learn the tune by ear, playing along with the recording. Learning a tune by ear is more useful than learning to play an Eb tune on a C flute. I still think you would be wise to pick a different tune that you like that is in a more dizi-friendly key. There are so many tunes in G that you could have a lot of fun with on your G dizi.

Best wishes,

David

[monkeyboy]

Jun 2, 2016 5:25:20 GMT davidmdahl said:

A C dizi can be used to play the tune, although it is a bit awkward to read from the notation in Eb/Gm. For example, when playing a C dizi in the key of C, covering the three left hand holes is note "1". When playing a C dizi in the key of Eb/Gm, covering the same left hand holes is note "6". The "1" in Eb on a C dizi needs to be lipped down a bit, but it is manageable.

I'm confused. Do you mean that my dizi with a G written on it is also known as a C dizi?


Yes, this kind of messed me up a bit  I'll try to learn it by ear for now. But I will also take your advice to play some other tunes that are more manageable, just to avoid getting too frustrated. I have MoLiHua's tune in my head, so I will start with that.

Also, is there a method to spot if something is more friendly to my dizi?

[davidmdahl]

Jun 3, 2016 4:40:02 GMT monkeyboy said:

I'm confused. Do you mean that my dizi with a G written on it is also known as a C dizi?

<snip>

Also, is there a method to spot if something is more friendly to my dizi?

If there is a G by the forth hole from the embouchure end, it is a G dizi. This indicates that the note played by covering the three left-hand finger holes is the note G. This is note "1" on a jianpu score that is in the key of G.

The same size of flute in the West would be called a D flute. In the West, we name flutes by the pitch sounded with all six holes covered. This is the basis for a lot of confusion when talking about Chinese and Western flutes.

A G dizi can play in the keys of G Major, D Major, and the relative minors of both (Eb minor, Bb minor). A C dizi can play in the keys of CM, GM, and the relative minor keys (Am and Ebm).

Usually, it will be easiest to play a tune in a particular key on that particular dizi. So, if you have a G dizi, look for tunes in G.

I have been thinking about my advice to play your tune (Nirvana in Fire?) on a C dizi when you are ready. Ask me again when that happens. It might work better on a Bb dizi, but I don't have one to try out the tune on at the moment. You will make things easier for the both of us by playing G tunes for a while. <g>

Best wishes,

David

[monkeyboy]

Thanks for the guidance and clearing up the confusion!