Fix your Flute high notes: Undertone Harmonics

Are your high notes thin, muffled from rolling in, or super sharp? Let's build some new habits to approach these high notes from a place that's rooted and grounded.

Undertone harmonics are great exercise to help your upper register be warmer, richer, easier to play, and better in tune!

Why do I tighten up?? The body remembers what we teach it. Chances are, at some point you tightened up to muscle your way to those high notes. Maybe a teacher or band director hollered at you, which made you roll in to fix pitch or tense up even more.
It takes a little bit of time to rebuild habits. But it's worth it! Add this calm and relaxed exercise to your daily warm-up, and you'll have great love of high notes in no time.

Find more flute tips, tricks, and tutorials with Dr. Matthew Allison at

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[thomasdietz]

Hadn’t thought of these particular “Harmonics from below” before. Really produces ease and relaxed “clean” upper register. Thanks !

[eastmarvista]

Harmonics has helped me out a lot! Great video.

[FAHSEagle]

I had surgery over the summer with a long recovery. My practice regimen was totally interrupted, and when I was finally able to return to playing, my upper register was sounding so thin, even after breaking out the old "De la Sonorite". These undertone harmonics actually helped immensely!

[patrickleterme]

Interesting as an extended technique also ! ThX

[danicampbell]

Some great things to try. My top octave has been really tense lately. Can’t wait to try this exercise! Thank you

[StephenFarkash]

This is the missing link for my high register woes. Thank you so much!

[band]

Great video, Dr. A!! We needed this at 118…..big time!!!

[yoav]

Thanks Matthew for this excellent video. Using this approach helped me get some nice sounding high notes but how do you then generalise to say an arpeggio or scalar run where you can't slow work up the harmonics. I find ATM it can be a bit hit and miss and I am not consistent. As an aside is there any clever alternative fingering to go quickly from a high Bb to B natural. This is very clunky if you use the conventional fingerings. Thanks again.

[Kndnsssrlgn]

Thank you. I just went and tried these...it was strangely...pleasant? Also, Dr. Matthew, why is the mouthpiece on your headjoint black?

[TangoFlute]

My neighbors are not going to like this! lol

[willistaylor]

This is Not an easy exercise. Still worth it though... ❤

[willistaylor]

Matthew,
What model and make is your Flute(s)?