The headjoint of your flute is the most important part of your sound production. In this article, we will explore how various headjoint materials affect your flute sound to help you choose the best option for your needs.
Things You Need to Do Before Picking a Flute Headjoint
- Forget the concept of “the best flute” but know what you’re looking for. There’s no such thing as a perfect flute as every musician looks for a specific sound for a certain style. The choice of the headjoint should depend on your desired sound and your budget. Ask yourself: would you like to have a bigger sound or an edgier sound? What issue would you like to resolve with a new headjoint?
- Do a warm-up to work out your muscles before going to the store. To judge various headjoints appropriately, it’s very important to be in good shape and have all your lip muscles working well before trying different headjoints. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to decide if a certain model is perfect for you. So, give yourself time to warm up before making a purchase in your local music store.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Flute Headjoint
- The shape and size of the embouchure hole. Various models have different shapes and sizes and thus they provide a different feel when playing. A square cut results in a louder sound, more strident in the higher register and reedy in the low register. The oval cut results in more tonal color.
- The angle of the strike edge (also called blowing edge). It’s the area where your air is hitting and being split in fractions. It can be large, small, oval, rectangle — each contributes to your sound. Different angles provide different response times as well as make the attack mellow, bright or crisp.
- Tube thickness. The thickness and conical shape of the tube influence the response and tonal richness of your instrument. Thinner tubes result in faster response times, while thicker tubes offer depth of sound.
- Metals. You can find three common types of metal: silver, gold, and platinum. They can be used in various combinations. Many musicians use a mixture — they put the gold headjoint on the silver flute body and get a totally different sound compared to the silver headjoint on the silver body. You can also find silver flutes with 5% gold inside the tubing.
- Price. The more gold your instrument has, the higher it costs.
Tip from KGUmusic: Since your flute features metal parts, it needs a reliable bag with warming and insulating layering to prevent negative impacts caused by temperature changes such as accumulated moisture inside the tubing or unstable pitch. A quality bag will help your flute warm up evenly and stay responsive once you start playing.
Gold Flute Headjoints
As a material, gold is known for its warm and rich sound. Many musicians describe its sound as darker. Modern manufacturers produce their instruments from different types of gold. The karat number indicates the percentage of gold it contains: the higher it is, the more gold your instrument contains.
The 14K Rose Gold is the most commonly used gold in headjoints. However, you can also find flute headjoints made from 14K White Gold like in Sheridan headjoints. Some flute makers use higher purities.
Silver Headjoints
These are the most popular headjoints. Silver is associated with a brilliant and bright sound. Sometimes manufacturers complement their silver instruments with a gold riser or gold lip plate. In most cases, the silver flutes are made of sterling silver, or .925. Silver headjoints vary in wall thicknesses: they can be thin (.014), medium (.016), or heavy (.018).
Silver headjoints go well with silver or silver-plated flutes. However, you can also buy silver headjoints with a gold or platinum riser, or gold lip plate. Apart from flutes with only a silver headjoint, you can find flutes featuring a body produced from solid silver.
Tip from KGUmusic: The owners of silver flutes like to experiment with the riser or lip plate materials to achieve different changes in their tone. However, you can experiment with flute crowns by replacing silver ones with gold and see what they do for sound. By using these decorative parts, which affect fit and weight, you can center the sound while also customizing your instrument.
Platinum Headjoints
The material affects the core sound, making it more resonant and penetrating. Platinum headjoints are valued for their clarity, power, and precision. They are mostly used by professional flutists who strive for a unique sound.
You can find headjoints with a platinum tube and 14k lip and riser. Due to the high cost of this material, such headjoints are comparatively rare.
Note: Material matters, gold may look more expensive and sophisticated, but cut and design matter more. A silver headjoint may work much better for you than a gold one while producing the exact sound you want. You can make your flute exclusive and eye-catching by using flute crowns adorned with natural gemstones.
Final Word
Without exaggeration, the headjoint is the heart of the flute since it impacts its sound qualities and response. You can experiment with silver, gold or platinum headjoints, combining them with flute crowns, risers and lip plates of various materials to achieve a more unique tone.
We hope our quick guide to choosing a flute headjoint and review of various materials has provided you with some valuable insights. Recently we also explored How Flutes Made from Gold, Silver, or Platinum Differ in Sound. You can always check it for more helpful information.
Apart from accessories for brass instruments, we design many flute accessories. Browse our collection to find something for your practice and comfort.
Sources:
How to Choose a New Headjoint For Your Flute - FluteTips 100
https://kgumusic.com/pages/about-us