Quick Start

Click the buttons in the interactive illustration below to learn how to position the Thumpy flute and how to play the five basic notes.

explanation
  • Step 1: Hold the flute with the printed logo to your right (now click the button 'Next Step' above).
  • Step 2: Next, move the flute slowly up and down to the mouth and try to place it directly on the lower lip, so that you can just feel the blowing hole of the flute with your lower lip. Repeat this several times to feel comfortable with the correct positioning.
  • Step 3: Now, with both endings open, blow the first sound. Click the audio button to check you have the correct sound.
  • Step 4: Close the right side and play the second sound.
  • Step 5: Now also close the left side and play the third sound.
  • Step 6: Open the right side and play the fourth sound.
  • Step 7: Open again the left side and blow the fifth sound. This should be the octave of the first note (you can check this with the audio button). You have now played the five basic sounds.
  • Step 8: Find out other pitches and sounds, e.g. by partly closing and opening the ending holes; by rolling the flute inwards respectively outwards (pitch-bending, portamento); by using harmonics; by using trills; by hitting an ending with the hand palm; etc.…
  • Step 9: You may also check out the Thumpy Book with extensive information and 75 progressive studies and pieces

Thumpy Notation

Thmpy note-head

The Thumpy-notehead has a left and a right part representing the left and right end of the tube (left/right seen from the player). Close an ending with your thumb when instructed so by the notehead: blank = open; black = closed. Here you see the first five basic sounds:

Thmpy basic scale

Below on the top stave you can see most sounds we can play on the Thumpy flute. On the second stave you find the absolute pitch of each sound. The five basic tones are marked in red and are well suited for beginners. The blue notes often have special techniques, like half-covered and turning the flute (see explanation below) and are more for advanced players.

Thumpy scale

On the staves below you find some additional low tones.

Thmpy scale low
close thumpy = You can play various half steps by partly covering one ending of the pipe with the thumb. In this case the corresponding notehead side is partly black.
note1 = Lower the basic note (open-open) by partly covering the right side of the flute.
note2 = Lower the note (open-closed) by partly covering the left side of the flute.
note4 = Higher the note (closed-open) by rolling the flute outwards.
note3 = Lower the note (closed-closed) by rolling the flute inwards.