Jen Cluff- Flute Scale information

Canadian Flutist and Teacher





Flute Scale Information

Quote from Angelita Floyd from pg.123 of 'The Gilbert Legacy'

According to Gilbert's teaching there is a definite distinction between facility (ease of playing) and "technique"; facility being the ability to move just the fingers quickly, wheras technique includes quick fingers in combination with proper sound and musical expression. Consequently, when practicing for scales and arpeggio facility, flutists should concentrate on the technique of sound and musicality as well. In Flutetalk articles, Gilbert explained:

"Almost every student aspires to be a virtuoso but they don't have virtuostic technique. Too often students try and learn the flute by just playing pieces. If they would spend more time acquiring technique by playing articulated scales in all possible forms and arpeggios BEFORE they come to a piece, it would save them hours of time. Then ranther than wasting extra time learning a difficult passage, they could spend more time on improving tone and intonation."

Or: Question:'Help, I've never really understood or practiced my flute scales. What do I need to know about majors and minors, and where can I find them for flute, online?

Flute Scale Kit:

Fingering charts:

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How to practice flute, article by Hahn:

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How to practice scales for intermediate flutists:

How to practice scales for novice flute students

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Free downloads of flute scales available online

All two octave major and melodic minor scales for all flute students in PDF
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Teaching Flute Scales for beginners or novices:

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Flute scale books worth purchasing

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Free flute scales from H. Lindholm. One octave and two octave [PDF files from his flute basics manual] 

Free flute technique book by H. Lindholm


More Scale Links:


Flute scales that are written out for intermediate flutists. Free download:

Free Flute 2-octave scales (descending form recommended by Galway) for intermediate flutists. Scoll down to red scale buttons at bottom of page

All two octave major and melodic minor scales for all flute students

Harmonic Minor scales:

Melodic Minor Scales:

Free flute scales from H. Lindolm. One octave and two octave


Flute scale books worth purchasing

[easiest books listed first]

Intermediate Flutist's Scale Books:

Mel Bay: Indispensible Scales, Exercises and Etudes by Mizzy McCaskill

Omibus Edition: Trevor Wye ~ Practice Books for the Flute. Volumes 1~5

Progress Press: The Flutist's Vade Mecum Walfrid Kujala

Cundy-Bettoney: Brooke's Complete Flute Method: Alfred Brooke

Alphonse Leduc: Exercises Journaliers; Marcel Moyse

Alphonse Leduc: 17 Daily Exercises; Taffanel-Gaubert

International: Flute Workout; Robert Stallman

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To learn more about HOW to practice technique see: Angelita Floyd's book: The Gilbert Legacy

All the above books can be found at www.fluteworld.com or ordered through your local music store.


For Novice to Intermediate/Advanced flute players; Herbert Lindholm's complete manual for free:

Herbert Lindholm's full bookof exercises, warmups, fingerings, scales, trills and technical practice ideas are in his FLUTE BASICS manual. This is the rectangle second from the bottom when you scroll down on his "free flute sheetmusic" webpage.

Go to:
http://www.kuopionkonservatorio.fi/henkilokunta/hlindhol/

Lindholms manual is in four parts. The first has one octave and two octave scales, Blues scale, chromatic scale etc. Part two has patterns to use as daily scale exercises (uses your brain and trains your fingers!) lip flexibility exercises, and Parts three has tone exercises, octave and third patterns, tonguing, multiple tonguing and vibrato. Part four has both trill and basic fingering charts. All four parts print out as 41 pages that can be hole punched and put in a binder. Help yourself: Lindholm is a smart flute teacher and very generous. :>)

Part One ~ Part Two ~ Part Three ~ Part Four


More Scale Links:

for those who are bored with playing scales alone :>)

FABULOUS SCALE PLAYALONGS (free!)

Easy pace flute scale backing tracks for fun practise

Intermediate flute scales with harp accompaniment


The "Scale Game"  sheetmusic and playalong backing tracks:

More scale stuff:
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101 Uses for flute scales:
What can be done while learning flute scales?
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Music books of flute scales/technique/etudes/daily exercises to buy:

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Books of more advanced flute technique including scales/technique/daily exercises etc.:
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Music Theory articles with musical samples:
What are the major and minor and specialty scales and how are they constructed?

Beginner lesson in creating minor scales



Articles for beginner flutists or re-beginner flutists with techniques to learn prior to learning scales (tone, breathing...)


NOTE: Remember that musicality and phrasing are all part of beautiful scales, and you can't learn that without hearing it live from an expert flute performer. So....

How to find a flute teacher who will teach you all about scales because honestly, you *do* have to hear them performed by a scale expert and find out how to use them in music:

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Why do you need a flute teacher? Why would lessons help me play better, faster?

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Copyright © 2007 Jennifer Cluff