Is is OK to completely block the Bell Port?
("bell port" is my name for the breath exit hole at the foot of the instrument inside the bell.)
I really need a lot more back-pressure that is provided when the bell port is completely open. If I completely block the port with my finger, there does seem to be another exit path for the air ...
There are mentions on this forum of partially blocking the bell port, but no mention of fully covering it up.
I ordered my Sylphyo+Link directly from Aodyo on Monday, December 7, 2020 and it was delivered to our address in Florida (USA) on Tuesday, December 29 – 22 days after ordering. My experience with overseas shipments that partner with the US Postal Service is that this is a typical timeframe.
Details: The shipment arrived at La Poste (France) on Fri Dec 11.
The shipment left France on Mon Dec 14. The La Poste web site noted the Shipment number with their partner service, USPS (U.S. Postal Service).
However, the USPS tracking site never provided tracking for the number listed by La Poste. The site indicated “Status Not Available”, even after the package was delivered.
When the shipper partners with the US Postal Service (USPS as opposed to DHL (as @troy used), FedEx, etc), my experience with overseas shipment to the U.S. is that postal tracking end when the item leaves the country of origin. Paying extra for “international tracking” does not seem to make a difference (i.e. it is worthless). There’s no way to track the shipment until it arrives at my doorstep – typically in 2 to 4 weeks from the date of shipment.
I am handy with a 3D printer (see www.BreathFlute.com) and my newly-ordered Sylphyo is working its way though La Poste France (on it's way to the U.S.) ... Alternate thumb rests might be an easy project.
I've just sent my contact info ... looking forward to working on this.
I have drafted a proposal for a set of fingerings that I think would make a good start. This single-page document is available in PNG and PDF at these addresses:
https://ClintGoss.com/img/FingeringChart_Sylphyo.png
https://ClintGoss.com/pdf/FingeringChart_Sylphyo.pdf
Feedback welcome!
Caveat: Please realize that I don't actually have a Sylphyo in my hands at this point. Ideally, I would love order one with an initial version of these Native American flute fingerings as an option, for testing and development ...
FYI, the finger diagrams are done as a TrueType .TTF font - I would be happy to make this freely available as this effort moves forward. I've done TTF finger diagram fonts for many ethnic flutes - see https://Flutopedia.com/fonts.htm
P.S. I just noticed that the Color Key examples were not changed to Sylphyo finger diagrams ... oops.
We actually used this! Led a music workshop for Native American flute players a few weeks ago - in person and with N95 masks over the are of the flute (upper middle) where most of the air escapes. Notice the masks over that sound hole area:
Thank you for addressing this, Maxence!
Native American flute fingerings are highly variable across the wide range of flute makers. My Flutopedia web site publishes a range of fingerings. Here is a summary chart - the black fingerings are primary:
https://flutopedia.com/fingeringChart_SixPentatonicMinor.htm
I could develop / suggest a set of "Sylphyo standard" fingerings that I think would be ideal Native American flute players ... if that would be helpful.
Please tell me the challenges / difficulty of implementing a new fingering pattern ... I would not want to venture down this road if it is too difficult for all concerned.
I've notice mention of a possible feature - custom fingerings - and this is a key feature for me, so I'm wondering what the possibility or prospects are for this feature.
My main work is with Native American flutes, and I am interested in sampling a range of these instruments, including a wide range of current and historic (back to the 18th century) Plains and Woodlands flutes. The fingerings of these instruments are very different from all of the current Sylphyo choices (their primary scale is minor pentatonic).
Having a set of fingerings for Native American flutes would open up the Sylphyo to a rather substantial (and largely underground) community of players, but several sets of fingerings would be needed, which is why I am thinking about custom fingerings ...
From demos I have seen, I am thinking that the Sylphyo would be the most suitable instrument of the wind synths available for implemented an open-hope instrument.
Any info would be appreciated!
-- Clint Goss
