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Post by tsetseg on Nov 6, 2012 1:07:18 GMT
Hello, I have decided to start learning the Dizi. I have barely any musical experience, and I'm really going in blind if I may say so... Anyway, I'm set on getting a very good instrument, which is made easy by the relatively low price of dizis. I know this subject may pop up too often, but I'd still rather ask since I see so many knowledgeable people here. From listening and viewing many videos, etc... I have a hard time deciding between : F Key bangdi : eason.com.sg/products/dizi/dxh(f).jspE Key qudi : eason.com.sg/products/dizi/dxh(e).jspD Key qudi : eason.com.sg/products/dizi/dxh(d).jspThe thing I'm unsure about is whether or not one of those makes more sense than the other for an unskilled beginner. I only plan on playing alone for a long while. Apart from personal tastes for the different tones, is there any obvious reason to take one or the other? Also, I don't have big hands at all. Thanks alot!
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 6, 2012 2:28:21 GMT
Hello and Welcome tsetseg.
Eason is a reputable vendor and many consider Dong Xue Hua to make the best dizis. Start with a D ...or C but don't get an E.
However learning the dizi is not as easy as it looks. I fear you may get frustrated without (and even with) a teacher.
I started my musical journey on the hulusi, with only one octave plus 2 and no '4' note. After only a couple of months tuition I learnt enough to teach myself the most popular tunes and so switched my tuition to the dizi.
Getting the embrochure (the way you place your lips) right to get a decent sound on the dizi will take a while.
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 6, 2012 3:56:09 GMT
Welcome to the forum, tsetseg. I agree with Ed that a C or D dizi is probably best to start with. Larger flutes will require more of a finger stretch, and that can lead to strain and bad habits. If you will be playing primarily by yourself, it does not otherwise matter what key of dizi you play. Most Chinese tunes are in G or D, so the D dizi is more useful than the C, at least for Chinese tunes. If you don't have access to a teacher, I suggest checking out Tim Liu's dizi course at www.2measures.com . Ed, I know that it is bad form to correct spelling on forums, but flute players really should know how to spell embouchure. <g>
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 6, 2012 10:34:40 GMT
Thanks David, no worries
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Post by tsetseg on Nov 6, 2012 12:25:45 GMT
Thank you both for your reply. I have to say, you're the two persons I was hoping to hear from. I will be ordering the D Key from Dong Xue Hua. eason.com.sg/products/dizi/dxh(d).jspEventhough the white one from Xie Bing looks cute... :-p eason.com.sg/products/dizi/xbw-d.jspI took about four lessons of hulusi before I left China, that's all I know of music, and I've been hesitating between hulusi and dizi. I still think I'd rather buy a dizi first. I hope I can stick to it and end up owning a hulusi and a erhu too, but that's long term ain't it... :-) I can speak Chinese and obviously I'd love to find a teacher, but I'm now in a smallish French town (La Rochelle), and that may prove difficult to achieve. The 2measures method will certainly be the way I start, since I believe David knows a thing or two about what he says. Thanks again, I'll keep you posted. And congrats to you both for being the obvious soul of this forum.
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 6, 2012 17:07:54 GMT
Glad to help tsetseg. Even if you can't find a dizi teacher, you might find a teacher of some type of flute to help you get started. The mechanics of breathing, blowing, posture, and other aspects of playing are common from one type of flute to another.
I used Tim Liu's course after having played flutes for years. If you are starting from scratch, it might move a little quickly. It will give you a good start with jianpu, and you could supplement your practicing with a Chinese dizi book that provides exercises and tunes that progress more gradually. I think that you could easily apply what you learn from the 2Measures course to other tunes.
Let me know if you spring for Tim Liu's course, and want more suggestions. Tim is also available for advice.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 6, 2012 17:16:57 GMT
When I had my private pilot's licence, La Rochelle was one of the places I would have liked to have visited. Instead, Le Touquet in the north was as far as I dare tempted.
4 lessons on the hulusi. I had 8 over 2 months and that was all that was necessary. I've seen some cheap hulusis on ebay. Get one in C and when you're good enough, a F.
I had been searching for the 'perfect dizi' and I wish I had bought the best from the begining, then I wouldn't have wasted so much money on some medioce ones. After getting a DXH I wouldn't get a Xie Bing, though the best ones are very good. Perhaps at a later date you might wish to experiment with a wooden dizi.
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Post by tsetseg on Nov 7, 2012 9:36:09 GMT
Welcome to the forum, tsetseg. I agree with Ed that a C or D dizi is probably best to start with. Larger flutes will require more of a finger stretch, and that can lead to strain and bad habits. If you will be playing primarily by yourself, it does not otherwise matter what key of dizi you play. Most Chinese tunes are in G or D, so the D dizi is more useful than the C, at least for Chinese tunes. David, I contacted Tim Liu about the 2measures course. He advised that I should get a C dizi. I think I'll follow his advice on that. (eventhough I don't know why...) I'll be taking the 2measures beginner course, and boy am I excited to get started. I'll keep you posted :-p
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 7, 2012 17:11:01 GMT
Hello tsetseg,
The audio part of the 2measures course is on a C dizi, so you do need the same in order to play along. The D dizi is a tad more comfortable for normal hands, but not by much. I have not found use for the C in ensembles, although it has a lovely tone and I do enjoy playing it. My ensembles usually play in D or G, with a few tunes in F if the guzheng didn't show up.
If you can't find others to jam with on Chinese music, your C dizi may be all you need. It is at least a fine place to start. If I played mostly by myself, I would probably choose the C dizi.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 7, 2012 23:31:12 GMT
My initial reason for getting a C dizi was because I could by then already play some hulusi tunes in C and had some backing music for it.
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