introducing THE
QX-1 ELECTRIC FLUTE
ABOUT
THE QX-1 ELECTRIC FLUTE MODERNIZES AN
ANCIENT INSTRUMENT BY MAKING IT MORE
DURABLE, PORTABLE, VERSATILE; ITS INTEGRATED
PICKUP PORT MEANS IT’S READY FOR THE STAGE,
STUDIO, OR PROCESSING WITH EFFECTS
THE QX-1 EFFECTIVELY PLAYS CHROMATICALLY
ACROSS 2.5 OCTAVES AND HAS A POWERFUL, RICH
ACOUSTIC TONE SURPASSING FLUTES MADE OF
TRADITIONAL MATERIALS LIKE WOOD OR BABMBOO.
THE QX-1 IS MADE WITH ENGINEERING GRADE
RESIN AND EACH FLUTE IS CAREFULLY
CONSTRUCTED, INSPECTED, AND FINISHED BY
HAND
AT ITS CORE THE QX-1 IS A BLEND OF TWO FLUTES: IT
TAKES THE VERSATILE CHINESE XIAO FINGERING
SYSTEM AND PAIRS IT WITH THE POWERFUL
MOUTHPIECE OF THE ANDEAN QUENACHO.
THE QX-1 IS INSPIRED BY THE QUIMERA flute
BY GEOFFERY ELLIS
PICKUPS AND ELECTRONICS
THE QX-1 HAS UNIVERSAL COMPARABILITY WITH A
NUMBER OF PICKUPS DESIGNED FOR WOODWIND
AND BRASS INSTRUMENTS. RECOMMENDED
PICKUPS INCLUDE:
ALL PIEZOBARREL MODELS
RECCOMENDED MODELS ARE PIEZOBARREL WOOD,
CYN
RECOMENDED MODELS ARE CYN SPECIAL,
CYN SPECIAL PLUS. OTHER MODELS COMPATIBLE
Rumberger
Nalbotov
THESE PICKUPS ALL FIT INTO THE M6 X 6MM JOINT
ON THE NECK OF THE FLUTE
USING A PREAMP IS OPTIONAL, YOU WILL RECEIVE A
SIGNAL POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DRIVE MIXERS,
AMPS, INTERFACES AND EFFECTS. A PREAMP OR EQ IS
USEFUL FOR TONE SHAPING AND HANDLING
PROBLEMATIC FREQUENCIES WHEN PLAYING LIVE
OUR OWN PICKUP DESIGN IS CURRENTLY IN
DEVELOPMENT
HOW TO PLAY
VIDEOS
HERE IS A COLLECTION OF A VIDEOS TO GET
STARTED PLAYING
- THE QX-1’S MOUTH TECHNIQUE IS FROM THE
QUENA
- THE QX-1’S FINGERING TECHNIQUE IS FROM
THE XIAO AND WHISTLE
A VIDEO LESSON SERIES FOR THE QX-1 WILL
BE AVAILABLE SOON
EMBOUCHURE / MOUTH TECHNIQUE
THE QX-1 IS EASY TO PLAY, IT TAKES JUST A FEW
MOMENTS PRACTICE TO PRODUCE YOUR FIRST
NOTE.
- IT IS EASIEST TO START WITH ALL FINGERHOLES
OPEN
- BRING THE FLUTE TO REST ON YOUR CHIN
AND CREATE A SMALL TIGHT OPENING WITH YOUR
LIPS
- BLOW GENTLY, DIRECTLY ONTO THE SHARP
EDGE OF THE MOUTHPIECE
- HUNT FOR THE RIGHT POSITION BY MOVING
THE FLUTE AROUND, THE EDGE SHOULD BE
bETWEEN YOUR BOTTOM LIP AND THE OPENING OF
YOUR MOUTH
- YOU CAN ADJUST THE DIRECTION OF YOUR AIR
STREAM BY BRINGING YOUR JAW SLIGHTLY IN AND
OUT
-WHEN YOU GET A STEADY TONE YOU CAN
START CLOSING FINGERHOLES FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM
PEOPLE OFTEN MAKE THE COMPARISON TO
BLOWING OVER THE EDGE OF A BOTTLE
NEW PLAYERS USUALLY USE TOO MUCH AIR WHEN
THEY FIRST TRY TO PLAY THE FLUTE. IT IS MORE
EFFECTIVE TO EXHALE, BREATHE, EMIT RATHER THAN
BLOW.
FINGERING
LEFT HAND ON TOP, RIGHT HAND ON BOTTOM,
REGARDLESS OF YOUR DOMINANT HAND
USE WHATEVER GRIP AND FINGERING TECHNIQUE
SUITS YOUR BEST. IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP WRIST
POSITION IN MIND TO PREVENT INJURY
THE QX-1 IS DESIGNED TO PLAY WITH A “HALF-
PIPERS” OR “MODIFIED-PIPERS’ GRIP
THE LEFT HAND COVERS THE HOLES WITH THE
FINGERTIPS AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT
THE RIGHT HAND COVERS THE HOLES WITH THE
MIDDLE PARTS OF YOUR FINGERS
THE HALF-PIPERS GRIP MAY FEEL UNNATURAL AT FIRST
SINCE THE MIDDLE OF YOUR FINGERS ARE LESS
SENSITIVE THAN THE FINGER TIPS.
TUNING
ITS FUNDAMENTAL TONE IS A C AT ~261HZ
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR LIPS AND THE
CUTTING EDGE OF THE FLUTE INFLUENCES THE
PITCH. THE MORE DISTANCE, THE HIGHER THE PITCH
A FLUTE’S TUNING IS ALSO INFLUENCED BY ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. TEMPERATURE AND
HUMIDITY WILL ALTER THE PITCH OF THE
INSTRUMENT. ADJUST WITH EMBOUCHURE
TECHNIQUE
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
TAKE CARE TO PROTECT THE BLOWING EDGE OF
YOUR FLUTE. ALWAYS STORE THE FLUTE WITH ITS
PROTECTIVE CAP
KEEP THE FLUTE OUT OF HEAT, COLD, AND DIRECT
SUNLIGHT. NEVER STORE THE FLUTE IN A HOT CAR
OR CONTAINER
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE PICKUP OR THE PICKUP
SCREW
DO NOT BEND THE FLUTE OR SWING AR
OUND LIKE
A SWORD
REMOVE MOISTURE AND CLEAN THE BORE OF THE
FLUTE WITH OUR CLEANING CLOTH, ESSENTIALLY A
WOODWIND OR SHAKUHACHI STYLE CLEANING
CLOTH.
AVOID CLEANING WITH HARSH CHEMICALS. DISH
SOAP WORKS BEST
FOR QUESTIONS, SERVICE, PARTS, AND INFO
CONTACT EAK@YOUGOTTAS.COM