Left hand in bass A dizi

[maxtorsi]

Hi there,
My name is Max, I write from Italy and I received a beautiful dizi as a present. I guess it's a bass A, I put the dimo already but I'm still in big trouble because of the left hand fingering.
The problem is that my flute hasn't the classical configuration I already saw here and there in the web, I've go tot close 2 holes in the upper part and another one in a lower position with the thumb. It's terribly stretching! Someone can suggest me how to behave with this instrument? Why are there these two different kind of configurations?
Could you suggest me a good website to learn more about?
Thank you in advance to everybody.
Max

[Blue]

I find it slightly odd that you would have to cover the lower position with the thumb if it is a dizi (but you did mention that you have to put a dimo on). Here are certain questions that might help us to understand the situation better: What are the total number of finger holes, and what's the orientation of each finger hole? Are certain finger holes not aligned? Also, is it really labeled with "A"?

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to the forum, Max. Please post photos of your dizi if possible. That will help us to understand your dilemma.

Best wishes,

David

[maxtorsi]

Hi Davidmdahl,
and thank you so much for the quick answer.
As you may easy see from the photo (if you take a look to the upper piece in the picture) the left hand has 3 holes, a couple in line and a third one a lot lower where, I believe, I should put my left thumb.
Please, let me know if the photo is clear enough, in case I'll try to post a better one.
Bye,
Max

[maxtorsi]

Sorry Allentchang,
I forgot to answer your questions...
I suppose it's a Bass A Dizi: I can see a Capital A near the mouth piece. There is also a strange D near the right hand... Mah!
I believe the total number of finger holes is 6 (six), 3 each hand. 5 of them are in the upper part of the flute, the last one, is a lot lower, not that far from the position where - in a normal metal transverse flute - I've got the left thumb. But here the hole is big and in a very unconfortable position! So 5 aligned, the last one out of alignement.
I'm so sad: the sound is beautiful (full and deep) but if I raise any finger of the left hand I can't cover the hole anymore!
Thank you in advance,
Max

[Blue]

For some reason I cannot see the picture that you said you posted.

I suspect that you have a bass D dizi.
D dizi produce "D" when the 3 topmost holes are covered and "A" when all the holes are covered.
The fingering becomes even more stranger when you do with a bass dizi.

Here's one example of how distorted the fingering can be in one type of bass D dizi:

[Blue]

Ignoring the headjoint, does the fingering of your flute look like this:



This is another form of really low bass flutes where the head joint is twisted for convenience.

[davidmdahl]

I don't see an image in your post. Anyway, I gather that you have a large dizi with uncomfortable finger stretches. When playing a large flute, unless you have large hands, you may not be able to cover the holes with your finger tips. It is standard technique with large flutes to cover the holes with the fleshy parts of the fingers, even down on the knuckle if thats where the hole lies. Try to allow your hands and fingers to relax. If you have to press hard on the holes to make a seal, you are working too hard.

Another way to wind up playing large flutes is to start with smaller ones, and then work your way on to successively larger flutes. I know how frustrating it is to try to play a flute that is simply too large. It is risky to force your hands into too much of a stretch. The flute is already a rather unergonomic instrument, and there is a narrow range of holding it beyond which you can injure yourself.

If your dizi sounds an A when the three left-hand holes are covered, you have an A dizi, in Chinese terminology. All six holes covered should sound E. If this dizi is too much for you right now, you might try to find a dizi in Bb or C. The C dizi is a good starting key, and the lowest I would recommend for a beginner. Some people will do okay on a Bb, but the increased finger stretch can be a deal breaker. It only takes a little too much of a stretch to be uncomfortable.

Best wishes,

David

[maxtorsi]

Sorry,
I never joined a forum, so I didn't manage to send the photo. I'll try now, please let me know if it works!
Max

Aaaah, now I see what's happened: the preview scratched the attachment! Now It has to work.
M

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[Blue]

Hi Max,

It's definitely absolutely a low-pitched flute. That's the reason the fingering is killing you.

[Flolei]

Hello,
Oh, what a beautiful dizi! It's a low A, but I really don't understand how are the holes... Could you, please, post more angles of the holes part. It's really interesting... and really beautiful.
Have a nice day,
Flolei

[ziman]

Wow, a lovely flute, but I have never seen the finger holes positioned this way. My best guess from just looking is maybe you're supposed to hold it in this manner:

Assuming you hold the flute with the finger holes off to your right,

Left hand-- let the flute body sit in the crook of your thumb, so that the flute sits in your hand as if you were grasping it (except don't actually grasp it, just let it sit gently between your left thumb and index finger). Cover the first hole with your thumb, cover the second hole with your index finger, and cover the third hole with either your middle finger, ring finger, or pinky (choose the finger that most comfortably covers the hole).

Right hand-- hand over the top of the flute, index and middle fingers covering the fourth and fifth holes respectively. The last hole, cover with your pinky.

I'm not sure if such a fingering position would be comfortable on your flute, since I obviously can't hold the flute in my hands to try for myself. But let us know if this works

By the way, do you know who the maker of your dizi is? I'm just curious, because I've never seen a dizi quite like this.

[maxtorsi]

Hi everybody!
I'll try now to post some other photos of my dizi.
It was a present from a friend who lives in Beijing, no idea of the maker (my friend is very busy, I'll try to ask him...).
I tried to arrange my left hand and it seems to work better but with a little bit of pain...
I'm a flute player (I play almost only early flutes) but I never felt that bad simply trying to cover finger holes!
Anyway: thank you very much for your support, it's nice to see all that people out there taking care of my problems!
Max

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[maxtorsi]

Trademark of my dizi.
Max

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[maxtorsi]

And this is dedicated to Flolei: another angle of the holes.
Max

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[ziman]

Hmm. The thumb hole is closer to the second hole than I thought.

How about this: from the hand position you showed in the photo, relax and lengthen your index finger. You will find that you end up covering hole #2 with the second or maybe the third joint of your index finger rather than the finger tip/finger pad. That's ok. If necessary, do this for your ring finger as well. Relax your middle finger and let it rest gently on the flute.

Also, make sure that you are not supporting the weight of the dizi with your fingers alone; let it rest comfortably in the V between your thumb and index finger. If you need to arch your thumb as shown in the picture to cover the thumb hole properly, then rotate the section of the flute with the finger holes until you can cover the thumb hole easily with the pad of your thumb. And don't curl your pinky under the flute, let it rest on top of the flute surface.

Does that help?

By the way, the label on your flute says it was made by the Tianjin Jing Hai Xing Hua Musical Instruments Factory.

[maxtorsi]

Hei Ziman, thank you a lot for your suggestions!
Indeed this can be the only way to cover the holes, I already had some problem with a big indian Bansuri but India classic flute school tells to cover the holes with the second joint of fingers...
I left the pink under the flute just to show in the picture the finger I put on the holes, normally my left pink rest on the upper surface of the pipe. The problem, anyway, is that my hands are too small, if I lift up the index from the hole I can't manage to cover it again, so I can play only few notes!
And thank you a lot for the translation... Do you know the factory of the label?
Bye!
Max