First Dizi for a beginner and some questions

[blankheart]

Hi everyone. 
Recently when I heard songs like "endless love", "a trail of angels" and "tranquile departure", I fell in love with the dizi and chinese compositions. My goal is to succeed to play one of these songs.
So for my birthday I want to buy a dizi, but I don't know which I should purchase... and in which key (I think to buy a D key Dizi 'cause I see that many in youtube use it, but I don' know...)
And since I'm a beginner I don't want to spend too much for my first dizi (my budget is around 20-25 € and I live in Italy).

I see various dizi in Amazon but I don't know if they are good since they are so cheap...

www.amazon.it/gp/product/B06WRTVTT5/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06WRTVTT5&pd_rd_r=4c317431-c4ba-11e7-a00 71ec069f688d&pd_rd_w=sFaUJ&pd_rd_wg=m6hnC&pf_rd_m=A11IL2PNWYJU7H&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=Z7KQPH2KK4YE6AWRWPX7&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=65dab04e-e167-43b2-8a87-d61d89060235&pf_rd_i=desktop

www.amazon.com/Kolight-Chinese-Traditional-Handmade-Instrument/dp/B0104M7AI8/ref=sr_1_10?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1510170943&sr=1-10&keywords=dizi+flute+d+key

If they aren't good, could you say me where I can buy the dizi with a no expensive shipping cost.

Some question:
1 How much is difficult to learn the Dizi? I know every instrument is difficult, but I  have some experience with the recorder and the guitar so I don't think I will have problems with the fingering (I don't know is the right term for hand positions...), I'm trying to learn now the flute that my aunt lend to me, with few results. It's very hard to blow in the flute's hole and make a note... So what make the Dizi difficult? I've heard that there are various style and tecniques...
2 How are difficult songs like "endless love" and what easy song I should learn first ?
3 Can I play sheets which are supposed to be play in piano or in recorder with the Dizi? (If you haven't noticed, I'm very ignorant with music theory ahahah.)

Thanks for any reply ^_^
PS: sorry if I have made mistakes in English or are written wrong.

[dizifun]

Hi blankheart,

It may take a while to be able to play high notes softly. “Relax” is the key word !
I think your aunt can teach you how to make sounds.

Since I could not find a Dizi practice book, I used a recorder practice book “The sweet pipes recorder book, A method for adults and older beginners by Gerald Burakoff & William E. Hettrick”
I think Dizi is also good for some western songs.
Londonderry (Danny Boy) by Shinobue and SAX. Shinobue is similar to Dizi.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=No-kQm27jRU&list=RDNo-kQm27jRU

[blankheart]

Thank you for the reply ^_^
Yes Dizi for some western song is very suitable! Like Scarborough Fair. My aunt is also a beginner, so I dont know how much she can teach me about the flute ahahah, and I think I'll have difficulties to blow in the hole and the breathing.
If I can demand, what type of dizi do you have and can you recommend me a good site where I can purchase it?

[dizifun]

Hi blankheart,
I am a novice. I hope more experinced members will help or make suggestions about Dizi.

I had Shinobue, and wanted to see how Dizi is. I ordered a cheap beginner Dizi similar to one you showed. I liked Dizi of the beautiful sounds with the demo. However, I am not using it anymore. I did step up, and the beginner Dizi was useful. I am not unhappy since it was clearly mentioned that the Dizi was for beginner.

[blankheart]

My fear to buy these cheap Dizi is which they are just for decoration and don't make a single note. I read some reviews and they say that, so I don't knows if they don't put the membrance (or correctly) or what they say is true...

[dizifun]

Hi blankheart,

I don’t think cheap dizis don’t make a single note unless they are cracked. Most probably those reviewers do not understand what they are doing, and just give irresponsible opinion. It may be their problem, not the Dizi.

The following videos may be helpful.

Choosing Your First Dizi (Chinese Flute)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG-EDMdHMVg

Dizi (Chinese Flute) - Difference of Cheap Dizi and Professional Dizi, Review and Comparison
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJO-kTzdFCQ&t=329s

[davidmdahl]

I have Chinese and Vietnamese flutes that range in cost from $1 to $300. I can get a reasonable sound out of all of them, but a few are the most fun to play. A cheap flute is likely to be challenging to play in tune, especially in the second and third octaves. Some are hard or impossible to play much above 1.5 octaves. A carefully made dizi sounds great and is easily played in tune throughout the useful range, even on the top notes. The care taken in the cutting of the embouchure makes a big difference in my ability to get a good focused tone with body and life. A flute player of more skill than myself can probably accommodate deficiencies in the flute more easily.

It is not necessary for a beginner to get the best possible dizi in order to have some fun and get started. However, it is going to be frustrating to struggle with a dizi that is not capable of playing in tune, or that does not have a high range at all. It is reasonable though to get what you can afford, and then get something better later once you know what you want.

Best wishes,

David

[blankheart]

Thanks all for the replies ^_^
I think I will buy one of these Dizi. I don't know if I can reach a decent level with this instrument, but I hope it will be funny to play and to learn

[dawei]

Nov 11, 2017 18:14:13 GMT davidmdahl said:

.....

It is not necessary for a beginner to get the best possible dizi in order to have some fun and get started. However, it is going to be frustrating to struggle with a dizi that is not capable of playing in tune, or that does not have a high range at all. It is reasonable though to get what you can afford, and then get something better later once you know what you want.

Best wishes,

David

A beginner is not able to test those inexpensive flutes and pick the good ones in the batch - it's a better deal to get a modest-priced but workable dizi and use that to learn.

As you say, then later, with more ability on the dizi, one can be in better position to pick an instrument.

[meoweth]

For a beginner playing dizi, I would recommend taping over the membrane hole with something like normal tape instead of the membrane paper. The membrane makes improper technique sound absolutely horrible and will make you stop practicing right away.

[dawei]

Nov 18, 2017 11:41:14 GMT meoweth said:

For a beginner playing dizi, I would recommend taping over the membrane hole with something like normal tape instead of the membrane paper. The membrane makes improper technique sound absolutely horrible and will make you stop practicing right away.

Not to mention it takes practice to set the dimo correctly too.  But I suggest using the dimo as soon as possible.

[blankheart]

Thanks all for the replies ^_^
I bought a D key dizi and it arrived just yesterday. I tried to play it and I don't know if I'm playing it correctly. 
I don't know if I applied the membrance paper on the membrance hole correctly... so I've took a photo and registered a record while I'm playing the dizi. So If you want, could you tell me if I'm playing and put the membrance paper correctly?
Ah, I don't know the hands positions of the notes... I've tried to search on internet and I find this:




2017_11_23_20_25_01.mp3 (454.28 KB)

Thanks anyone who will reply ^_^

[davidmdahl]

Congratulations on your dizi, Blankheart. Your recording doesn't sound too bad. You could get some useful tips for installing the dimo by searching on Youtube. Just search on dimo dizi and see what you find.

If you find playing with the dimo too much of a struggle, you might replace it with tape until you get more of a handle on playing the dizi. The dimo is needed to sound like a dizi, but it can make it more challenging to play.

The fingering chart you found is not too bad. The orientation of the chart to the dizi holes is with the embouchure hole (where you blow) at the bottom. The chart indicates the three left-hand holes at the bottom, and the three right hand holes at the top of the chart. If you have specific questions about the chart, please post them.

The recording you attached started with the note A, with all holes covered. The Chinese jianpu (numeric) scores will indicate 1 as D, with just the three left-hand holes covered.

Best wishes,

David

[mel]

Hi Blankheart! Hope you have fun playing your new flute ^_^ If you're looking for free instructional videos in English, this is the longest series I'm aware of: www.easonmusicschool.com/sign-up-free-dizi-lessons/ It has a bunch of songs to practice.

From the songs you mentioned, I only know Trail of the Angels, which I've played on a D flute. Here's a note sheet if you don't have it yet: img5.zhaogepu.com/img/124072/jianpu/20091104224410633.gif (I think the first four bars should be an octave lower though!)

And yes, you can play any Western song on a dizi, but if it has half-notes, it will be harder. For example, Mario theme song is super easy on guitar but not so easy on dizi...

[dizifun]

Nov 23, 2017 19:59:19 GMT blankheart said:

Thanks all for the replies ^_^
I bought a D key dizi and it arrived just yesterday. I tried to play it and I don't know if I'm playing it correctly. 
I don't know if I applied the membrance paper on the membrance hole correctly... so I've took a photo and registered a record while I'm playing the dizi. So If you want, could you tell me if I'm playing and put the membrance paper correctly?
Ah, I don't know the hands positions of the notes... I've tried to search on internet and I find this:

Thanks anyone who will reply ^_^

Paste Membrane on a Chinese Bamboo Flute (Ditzu, Dizi)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h7RFZveJ-8



Demonstration:

(1) loose Membrane, (2) good tension (3) tight (4) tape

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCXiHKFRUf4

[alejandro123]

Nov 23, 2017 19:59:19 GMT blankheart said:

Thanks all for the replies ^_^
I bought a D key dizi and it arrived just yesterday. I tried to play it and I don't know if I'm playing it correctly. 
I don't know if I applied the membrance paper on the membrance hole correctly... so I've took a photo and registered a record while I'm playing the dizi. So If you want, could you tell me if I'm playing and put the membrance paper correctly?
Ah, I don't know the hands positions of the notes... I've tried to search on internet and I find this:






Thanks anyone who will reply ^_^

Hi !!

Please, tell me, in the end, wich Dizi did you buy? I have the same questioning about the quality of the cheapest Dizis that can be found in Amazon. Did you try one of those ones or did you try the ones in "eosonmusicstore.com"? 

I have seen that in the later one you can find flutes for 22 dollars... That's cheap, but I am not sure If I want a non-vertical flute... (I am afraid it may be less comfortable than the vertical ones). I love these flutes though. I'll keep researching. 

ALejandro

[huihui]

Nov 25, 2017 8:01:29 GMT mel said:

Hi Blankheart! Hope you have fun playing your new flute ^_^ If you're looking for free instructional videos in English, this is the longest series I'm aware of: www.easonmusicschool.com/sign-up-free-dizi-lessons/ It has a bunch of songs to practice.

From the songs you mentioned, I only know Trail of the Angels, which I've played on a D flute. Here's a note sheet if you don't have it yet: img5.zhaogepu.com/img/124072/jianpu/20091104224410633.gif (I think the first four bars should be an octave lower though!)

And yes, you can play any Western song on a dizi, but if it has half-notes, it will be harder. For example, Mario theme song is super easy on guitar but not so easy on dizi...

Does anyone have Trail of the Angels note sheet? Much appreciated 🙏!

[dizixiao]

trail of angels sheet in western note

sites.google.com/site/lualaliet/trail-of-angels?tmpl=%2Fsystem%2Fapp%2Ftemplates%2Fprint%2F&showPrintDialog=1