Of course, the more complicated our music gets, the more we realize that the standard fingerings aren't necessarily hard and fast rules. Several factors need to be taken into consideration on fingerings, especially for the upper range and for trills: intonation, technical passages, and the capabilites of our instruments. There are several resources, both written and on the Internet, that can help us with the alternatives.
Probably the major resource to which players are referred to most often is James Pellerite's A Modern Guide to Fingerings for the Flute. This book not only includes basic fingerings, but fingerings for trills, harmonics, uses for the French model, tremelos, alternate fingerings, quarter tones, and special effects.
Wayne Hedrick, the principal flutist of the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, has a chart of practical alternate fingerings on the Larry Krantz site. Most of the fingerings are good alternates for the upper range, although he does include fingerings for some notes in the middle and lower ranges to improve intonation and harmonics. The site also includes instructions on ordering his fingering chart.
Larry's site also includes a section on fingerings above C4 and piccolo fingerings by John Krell.
The Woodwind Fingering Guide site by Tim Reichard contains not only flute fingerings, but fingerings for all woodwinds, including trills and alternates. He's always looking for new creations, too, so if you have found something that works, let him know!
Another good flute fingering resource is at the Gemeinhardt Flutes site, which breaks the flute down into range sections.
If you're interested in learning something a little different, try these:
If you practice in the same room you keep your computer, and you're stumped on a fingering, you should be safe now!
Next week, my article will be based on Woman's Equality Day, covering women flautists and some of the history of woman and flute. The article will be a two-parter.
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