@@MindCode86 Speaking about impulse buy... "Man I really wanna semi-learn a new instrument, let's see what I haven't stumbled upon yet- oh, that looks nice and doesn't cost too much, guess I'm a xiao player now"
@@juicy_oranges5529 I resemble that remark! I've got so many used student grade instruments from doing this, the xiao the most recent member of that ragtag little band.
This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much for putting this together! My partner is named after this flute but had never gotten a noise out of it until this video.
ooh! I love the braille analysis, I am blind and read braille daily so I know exactly what you're talking about. Love your videos. Love the xiao very much.
I want to say thanks for this. I just got my Xiao today and of course was frustrated as just the sound of silence, so onto the web and blessings from on high and I found you and now I can start to make a note. But I have gone over your video at least four times so this is so timely and I am grateful. Really instructive. I need the technical stuff of the lips etc. Great!
Any way we can get another xaio video? This one really helped me to find my sound. I appreciate that greatly. There is not a lot of tutorials on the xiao unfortunately but it's such a beautiful flute. Thanks for the video 😊
I don't know if you'll even see my comment, but in case you do, I just wanted to say thank you for posting a xiao lesson in English. While I can understand spoken Chinese fairly well, having grown up with a Chinese family, I know I will struggle with specialized terminology. By the way, you play beautifully.
Wonderfully helpful, thank you! I bought my xiao in Wudang Mountain two summers ago and have not (in Singapore or, now, China) succeeded in making the time to find a teacher who speaks English so I can learn the basics. Kind of cool that you just gave me that from the other side of the world via RUclips. I've subscribed! :)
Thank you so much for that description of the embouchure ! Based on how it's described in other resources I've found, I was able to get a sound out of my xiao(G) very quickly, but found my results inconsistent, particularly with lower notes. In applying your suggestions, my tone improved immediately and I've found my results a lot more consistent across its range. Best way to describe it is the sweet spot is much larger- specifically aiming for a 'flat blade' of air whose angle you fine tune was the eureka moment for me.
So helpful! I've been trying to learn by myself for months now with very limited success and I've been getting very frustrated, but now I see I've been gripping the lower half of the flute all wrong... no wonder my hand kept cramping up, haha
That is one great explanation. Thank you. I’m going to order one now. Love the tone and I plan on mixing it with my guitar music. I’m really a guitarist, but interested in the xiao
Dude, you're a fkn excellent teacher! Thanks so much! I've had this xiao for eons and was never comfortable with it till watching this video. Now I can finally play. Yay life!
It's the hole marked as F, means you will get F with that marked hole(and all following) opened, showed @0:33. Since always the hole starts of the other hand is marked, this becomes the way to define the key of Xiao, not by the root note. Same to the Chinese bamboo flute. Great vedio!
this helped me so hard.. you are the only one who did tutorial like this on Xiao who is not in asian language xD thanks to have done this tutorial because i asked a question you are a really nice guy :)
Thanks a lot for this intro video on how to play the Xiao... I have a couple of questions: 1) Which key do you recommend for a beginner between the traditional F and G? 2) Can you suggest where to purchase a good quality Xiao for a beginner. Many thanks and kind regards, Max T
Great video! Did you know you're featured on VIPKid this week? They're showing your tutorial to up to 50,000 teachers in the US who tutor kids in China via the web. Loved your video! I love learning more about my students' culture. And your tutorial is wonderful! Makes me feel like I might even be able to try playing this although I'm sure it will sound pretty bad in my hands/lips. :)
not just an up octave....but i guess for a foreigner, it's really good to know the basic scales. the xiao plays nearly 3 octaves. from the lowest sol to the forth octave 3, so that is 56712345671234567123, and some can play the third octave 45, and one hole can actually produces 3 to 4 sounds, like the lowest 5 is actually：5 , then up octave 5, then up octave 2, then third octave 5... and so on...so....you know.....
To clarify the mouth position, make sure the open rectangular part that is pressed against your mouth is airtight, that's why you press it against your lips so it would cover the gap and would leave only the top part open where the air is blown in.
Thank you for your tutorial. I love to listen to Chinese flute, and just bought this type because i love it's sound. Your tutorial will help very much, and i will be using it as a learning tool for sure.
Picked one up and your advice to sort of smile or slightly grimace to get the air flow correct was very helpful. ruclips.net/video/Zo4nH6MFHyg/видео.html
Thank you, I am looong overdue for a new tutorial, which I have been promising forever. I have gone a bit grey since the last video! Will definitely prioritize!
I'm just starting out on the xiao (key of G but one of the long-narrow ones), and I'm finding it difficult to just start playing the lowest note (D), although it's easier to work down to it like you show in this video. If I try to instantly play that low D, I tend to hit the higher octave and struggle to get it back down. Are there some tips to be able to quickly start playing the lowest note on the xiao?
Thanks for Xiao's lesson, the sound is beautiful. Please can you give me some advice to buy good professional Xiao? Does it have to be bamboo or wood? An address of a good online store where to buy a professional Xiao? Thank you very much
I've been looking for a flute to take backpacking with me across Europe and I've decided on the xiao. Will the life of the flute be shortened by rain and moisture? I intend on leaving it strapped to the outside of my pack
Just saw this and we’ll done… I’m looking to add the Xiao to my playing (doing NAF, Quena, and Anasazi so far… ) Any advice on how to find/buy a quality Xiao? I’m in WA state….
Hi! Thanks for this great video! I have started to play the Xiao recently (in F). As I play other types of flutes, I did not have much difficulty with getting the sound out of the flute with the low notes. What I struggle with are the higher notes. How do you do octave jumps? Unlike the recorder, I do not see that you have to half-open the thumb hole, so is it only a question of air pressure? How "tight" the air flow is? Thanks for your help!
Hello, I can only tell you what I know from experience and some research. First off, the shakuhachi I have played are, I believe, 5 hole instruments, with big holes and a very difficult embouchure. The mouthpiece has a very sharp angle to it, as opposed to the xiao, which has a much gentler U shaped mouthpiece. This makes a big difference, as it is much easier to get a sound initially on the xiao. The modern xiao has 8 finger holes, enabling chromatic notes with less half holing, (a real trick to get those just right). Also the xiao is feather light and easy (in my opinion) to finger, making it a great choice for those of us with a tendency towards joint pain. The Shakuhachi I have personally played are much heavier, being made of root end bamboo. The voices of the two instruments are very different to my ears, though they can both achieve a great range of tones and, with some work, be made to sound similar. The xiao in practice is mostly quiet and contemplative, and it has a softer tone which is harder to push into those harsh regions which can be so delightfully expressive. Though I have done it and continually do so, I feel the instrument resists me a bit - it wants to whisper. The shakuhachi on the other hand is great at howling, rasping, whispering, moaning, - it's very expressive! But in the end I'ts a matter of what speaks to you and what you are physically able to play. There are some root end xiao sold on eason music store which seem like a cool kind of meeting of both worlds - i know winson liao makes them too, though his site is in chinese and was difficult for me to navigate. His work seems like it's the best in the world that I know of though. Listen to this - www.talesoftheboatman.com/track/the-wild-man-suite - on this recording I have pushed the xiao as far as I can, I am very satisfied that such a cheap and simple seeming flute could do so much for me. I love this thing! (Xiao is interspersed throughout, I'd be honored if you would give the whole thing a go!) Also, and importantly, a good shakuhachi cost approx. 1 bajillion USD. This xiao I am playing was 45 or so. A really nice one would be 200. Hope this helps, Chris
I was fortunate enough to come across a flute maker named Erik, he makes beautiful, high quality bamboo flutes using the same scale as the shakuhachi (and many others) so you get a very similar sound, but the flutes he makes use the same ''mouth piece'' as a standard Xiao, so its kind of the best of both worlds. Awesome sound and its much easier to play. Check out his channel and website at Eriktheflutemaker. :)
Dude, thanks a lot for this very easy to understand vid. I am a long experienced musician with string intruments and like to start now with xiao after regarding lots of shakuhashi. Where did you buy your instruments ? I dont like to invest not more than about 300. Thank you.
I just bought a xiao... but as I watch the video, I'm realising that I'm used to having my right hand at the top and left at the bottom as it doesn't matter with a tin whistle but xiao has a pinky hole and my pinky is on the other side of the flute. I guess I have about a week or so before my xiao arrives to practice to have my hands the other way around...
Thanks, ive got the F same as you, your explanation of the C really helps. I dont read music i play by ear. What would be a good song i could learn to start with?
Im not sure if I'm doing it right? When I just play the piece that you have to assemble to the xiao I get a tone! But when I assemble it and even have my hands positioned like yours, same angle too! I hardly get a tone. I bought the oriental sanctuary Xiao in the key of G off of Amazon. I notice mine has 3 holes, then 4 holes and then 2 pairs of 3 holes side by side at the bottom? www.amazon.com/dp/B072JB4KS9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_Q6K0519F4GZ4NFEXGX2R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the tutorial, am I supposed to do anything with the group of holes on the lower 3rd portion of the flute? as there are extra holes below all of the holes for the finger positions that are shown in the video.
So i don't have a Xiao but i do have a Dongxiao, But i'm wondering why i mostly feel like i'm going to pass out when i play for even just a bit but when i play my Hulusi i don't feel like i'm going to pass out? (If it is how i breathe then how do i make it better?)
I recently got a xiao (F key), and I love the sound of it, but I'm having an absolute hell of a time with that right pinky finger. I have fairly small hands. Even using piper's grip, I can juuuust cover the hole, but it leaves my wrist bent quite uncomfortably, and the note produced is very temperamental. I've tried shifting the position of my right thumb, which helped a little, but I'm thinking there has to be a better way. I just don't know what it is. I need to figure something out because, as it is, I'm left with a note smack in the middle of my scale that I can't reliably produce (seven fingers down, left thumb lifted SOL/5)
Awesome man! Thank you very much for the tutorial, it was very eye opening! I am kinda in between learning the xiao flute or the guqin, since I'm going to have time enough to learn only one on my exchange program to China... so your video is helping on my decision as well hehe, thanks! By the way, if I can humbly make a suggestion, make this a series of videos, it will help begginers a lot! Teaching them (maybe myself included hehe) how to reach the other octaves and everything else =)
Hi Chris! Thank you for this nice video. I bought a xiao 2 days ago, it's a 6 holes flute in F. On the upper side, the 5 holes are aligned, the last hole is centered. The problem is my right hand is suffering, it is very difficult to get the little finger to the last hole. I can still exchange it and I tried a similar flute in G, so it's shorter, but it doesn't sound as good as the one I have. As a guitarist, I know it can be painful to start practicing an instrument. But it seems so comfortable on your video, even if you have a very long flute. Is it normal to endure some pain in the wrist in the first days/weeks? I looked various videos to be sure I had a good posture, but it's still very difficult. Playing on the G was very easy for my right hand. Thank you in advance!
If you want a higher tone, do we need to change our embochure??, because when i play it sometimes its high and sometimes its low depends on my mouth's shape
Hi Chris! Thank you for this video! May I ask you where you bought this particular Xiao in the video? I am interested in getting one and I like the sound of the one you have there :) Cheers!
Thanks for this video, it's certainly helped me in the right direction. The issue I'm having is that I seem to sometimes get quite a high note and sometimes a deeper richer note. I assume this is me simply not getting my mouth technique quite right? It seems to happen more when I put my fingers on the holes.
Hello. If I understand your question correctly, it would seem that when you get a high note you are overblowing - that is to say you are entering the second octave. If so, this is something you want to control mostly with the shape of your lips. A broad airstream is slower and makes the lower note, the narrow or compressed airstream is faster and will send the flute into the higher register, or second octave. If that is not the case, it may be possible that you are not copletely covering all of your holes, resulting in rogue out of tune jumps to the second octave. I hope this helps, and that I have properly understood your question. I will soon post another video about the second octave. Thanks!
That sounds about right. Thanks for the extensive response. I think I need to keep at it but I've noticed it does seem to happen more than I'm covering all holes. I don't think it's due to failure to cover them currently as I have rather large fingers that hug the holes tightly so will keep trying to adjust the amount of air I'm exerting.
Apologies if I missed it, but do you have any tips for reliably changing between octaves; the only way I can find at the moment is to blow harder, and that ends up sounding screechy at best
That's a tough one! I would say to remember to relax your lips and not strain them, and that, done properly, you should be able to get the second octave without blowing harder. It's all a matter of a very small, very focused airstream coming from your lips. Try by starting with closed lips, and open them as little as humanly possible at first, this will increase the speed at which the air emerges from your mouth and overblow the flute into the second octave without additional effort from the diaphragm. Also, if your fingers don't have a great seal on the holes this can lead to losing the second octave as well. Good luck!
Does the thickness of the Xiao make a noticeable difference? I ask because I get one that is a bit thicker and longer than a standard bamboo Xiao. It has an average 2.5 cm diameter and 79 cm long, mine is a G one. The bamboo is not so dark, but medium brown something grayish. I'm just worried that my xiao sounds a bit wrong, because that size. I have not ordered on eBay or Amazon, so I do not get Xiao that has a crack. But that's exactly what happened to me and the Shop sent me a new one :-) and I can keep the other Xiao. I noticed that because I had placed both Xiaos next to each other.
Hey, great tutorial! This really helped me understand how to play with better embouchure and achieve a better tone overall. Do you happen to know where I can find more music for my F key Xiao? I've looked virtually everywhere and could only find a few. Any help is greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Hi, I'm so happy it helped you. As for music, I think it might be hard to find outside of China. If you want to play Chinese music, my best recommendation would be to develop your aural skills as much as possible, and just play along to whatever music you find. You could probably play a lot of guqin melodies. A lot of people seem to cover Chen Yue songs, so maybe you could find print music by her. Also, check out winson laio, he may have some resources on his site. (I hope I spelled his name right.) Sorry that's all I've got for you!
Tales of the Boatman Thanks for both a quick and a helpful reply! Chen Yue's music sort of inspired me to play so I'll be sure to try out the music myself. Also, I think that transcribing music from different instruments shouldn't be too difficult unless the instrument plays in a different range/register. Should be fun regardless. Thanks again! Also, sorry to pester, but I know you said you got your xiao from carrotmusic, do you remember if it was a professional, performance, or beginner one? Thanks again (again)!
Hi, nice tutorial :) Do you have any fingering chart for G key Xiao flute? And do you have any other guidance? Because i bought my first G key Xiao flute but i dont know from where to start. Thank you!
wks1412.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/dizi-and-xiao-fingering-chart20141.jpg This will give you the notes. I will try to make another video soon with scales etc.
Hi, I'm a new subscriber. Very cool channel! Just got a Xiao (keyG) would love to see that follow up video with scales etc., or perhaps a point in the right direction if you know any good resources for this instrument. :D
Hi. I'm thinking of buying a Xiao. Ideally I would like an F as I really love the deeper tone. Can you tel me if there is much of a difference in the spacing of the holes between a G and an F, as I have relatively smallish hands? Also would you mind giving me the link to the one you bought please? Thank
Hiya I have a xiao in G and I’m struggling with the spacing on the first 3 notes as I don’t think my hands are big enough to properly cover the first three with one hand and am having to use my other do you have any advice?
@@NonOfYourRizznessSir I figured out that if you blow faster in it you can jump one octave higher C= C#=x x-x|xxx D= x x-x|xxc D#= x x-x|xxo E= x x-x|xco F= x x-x|xoo F#= x x-x|ooo G= x x-c|ooo G#= x x-o|ooo A= x o-x|xxx A#=x o-x|ooo H= o x-x|ooo B= o o-o|ooo C=o o-o|ooo (blow a bit stronger) ------------------------ Blow much stronger to jump an octave C#= x x-x|xxx D#=x x-x|xxo F= x x-x|xoo ...
Getting a sound from the xiao is not a problem for me. The problem is that fingering any holes begins to make the sound go away. After a few holes, the sound goes away. It's like a clogged trumpet. I assume I am doing something wrong, since I have tried this scores of times over the past few months. Can anyone help? Thank you : )
hey, thanks for the video! I have one question thoough: My "xiao flute G" only has 2 Front-holes in the upper part and 3 front-holes in the lower part, so 2 less holes than you, why is that?
The traditional Xiao is six holes, only after the improvement has the present eight holes.Most of the players use the eight holes，which is easier to play.
i just impulse bought a xiao flute and this video has helped so much - went from 0 noise to a half decent sound already
Good to hear I just did that I'll save this for when it gets here
Haha same Impulse buy for me :D
@@MindCode86 Speaking about impulse buy...
"Man I really wanna semi-learn a new instrument, let's see what I haven't stumbled upon yet- oh, that looks nice and doesn't cost too much, guess I'm a xiao player now"
@@juicy_oranges5529 I resemble that remark! I've got so many used student grade instruments from doing this, the xiao the most recent member of that ragtag little band.
This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much for putting this together! My partner is named after this flute but had never gotten a noise out of it until this video.
using the "Smile musceles" was really a good help, thank u.
“If you wanna be better in flute go swimming”
I can’t swim 😭
🤣
Learning to swim is probably a better life skill to have than flute playing.
ooh! I love the braille analysis, I am blind and read braille daily so I know exactly what you're talking about. Love your videos. Love the xiao very much.
I want to say thanks for this. I just got my Xiao today and of course was frustrated as just the sound of silence, so onto the web and blessings from on high and I found you and now I can start to make a note. But I have gone over your video at least four times so this is so timely and I am grateful. Really instructive. I need the technical stuff of the lips etc. Great!
You are most welcome. Feel free to ask any questions or suggest what you need help on for the next video!
Any way we can get another xaio video? This one really helped me to find my sound. I appreciate that greatly. There is not a lot of tutorials on the xiao unfortunately but it's such a beautiful flute. Thanks for the video 😊
Search Chinese 箫
Recently got my first Xiao. Thanks for taking me into the good direction with your advices
I don't know if you'll even see my comment, but in case you do, I just wanted to say thank you for posting a xiao lesson in English. While I can understand spoken Chinese fairly well, having grown up with a Chinese family, I know I will struggle with specialized terminology.
By the way, you play beautifully.
That's a pretty nice Xiao build, may I se e what weapon and artifacts you use?
Wonderfully helpful, thank you! I bought my xiao in Wudang Mountain two summers ago and have not (in Singapore or, now, China) succeeded in making the time to find a teacher who speaks English so I can learn the basics. Kind of cool that you just gave me that from the other side of the world via RUclips. I've subscribed! :)
really like the way you teach. Very clear with details. Thank you!
Thank you so much for that description of the embouchure ! Based on how it's described in other resources I've found, I was able to get a sound out of my xiao(G) very quickly, but found my results inconsistent, particularly with lower notes. In applying your suggestions, my tone improved immediately and I've found my results a lot more consistent across its range. Best way to describe it is the sweet spot is much larger- specifically aiming for a 'flat blade' of air whose angle you fine tune was the eureka moment for me.
So helpful! I've been trying to learn by myself for months now with very limited success and I've been getting very frustrated, but now I see I've been gripping the lower half of the flute all wrong... no wonder my hand kept cramping up, haha
That is one great explanation. Thank you. I’m going to order one now. Love the tone and I plan on mixing it with my guitar music. I’m really a guitarist, but interested in the xiao
Thank you for teaching us. Could you post a fingering guide, like what holes do I cover to play G#, etc.
As soon as you said use your smile muscles, I slightly tightened those muscles and I got a loud and clear whistle lol
Dude, you're a fkn excellent teacher! Thanks so much! I've had this xiao for eons and was never comfortable with it till watching this video. Now I can finally play. Yay life!
I ordered a dizi off Amazon in C scale, but received a xiao in G scale, so now I figured I might as well learn how to play the xiao since I have it.
Perhaps it was meant to be! The xiao is very relaxing, and much better for your posture! Hope this video helps.
Random! Hehe. I'm learning to play both dizi and xiao, both are lovely
this was helpful. Thanks for taking the time
It's the hole marked as F, means you will get F with that marked hole(and all following) opened, showed @0:33. Since always the hole starts of the other hand is marked, this becomes the way to define the key of Xiao, not by the root note. Same to the Chinese bamboo flute. Great vedio!
This will be of great help. I just bought a very nice, long Xiao. I'm gonna play, man!
Wow was just looking at one of these. Now that I've seen your video, I may just get it and learn from you hahaha. Thanks for the video.
this helped me so hard.. you are the only one who did tutorial like this on Xiao who is not in asian language xD thanks to have done this tutorial because i asked a question you are a really nice guy :)
Thanks for you kind words, I'm very happy to have helped you.
Thanks a lot for this intro video on how to play the Xiao... I have a couple of questions:
1) Which key do you recommend for a beginner between the traditional F and G?
2) Can you suggest where to purchase a good quality Xiao for a beginner.
Many thanks and kind regards, Max T
I love your background instruments! I have instrument acquisition syndrome. 😂
Great tutorial. What I need is a figuring guide...like how do I play B flat F sharp and the other chromatic notes.
Great video! Did you know you're featured on VIPKid this week? They're showing your tutorial to up to 50,000 teachers in the US who tutor kids in China via the web. Loved your video! I love learning more about my students' culture. And your tutorial is wonderful! Makes me feel like I might even be able to try playing this although I'm sure it will sound pretty bad in my hands/lips. :)
not just an up octave....but i guess for a foreigner, it's really good to know the basic scales. the xiao plays nearly 3 octaves. from the lowest sol to the forth octave 3, so that is 56712345671234567123, and some can play the third octave 45, and one hole can actually produces 3 to 4 sounds, like the lowest 5 is actually：5 , then up octave 5, then up octave 2, then third octave 5... and so on...so....you know.....
and this one you're holding is only one of the formation of xiao... so you know...
The flute is it tuned to C4 (low scale all holes covered)
To clarify the mouth position, make sure the open rectangular part that is pressed against your mouth is airtight, that's why you press it against your lips so it would cover the gap and would leave only the top part open where the air is blown in.
Thank you so much, that instantly fixed the sound i was producing and i am now able to produce a clear note, it really helped!!
Thank you for your tutorial. I love to listen to Chinese flute, and just bought this type because i love it's sound. Your tutorial will help very much, and i will be using it as a learning tool for sure.
Really helpful information, going to get my Xiao out of the closet and practice! Thank you!!!
This is a very good tutorial. 🥰
Thank you for making and posting this.
Looking to get one and your intro to the xiao was excellent.
Picked one up and your advice to sort of smile or slightly grimace to get the air flow correct was very helpful.
ruclips.net/video/Zo4nH6MFHyg/видео.html
Thank you so much for this! I Spent hours trying to make a correct sound out my flute and thanks to your video it suddenly became quite easy 😉
I'm so very pleased
This is really good!
Thank you for your video, it's really helpful!
Great tutorial for the Xiao. I am getting mine in a couple of weeks. this will help me a lot. Do you have any resources for music?
That was so Awesome! Thanks for the demonstration.
excellent video, many thanks
Try Xiao with the key G if you just start, it's easier
Starting my journey today stressful but i will get it right hahaha
Thank you so much; very helpful! Please can you make a video about the upper register!!!!
:)
Thank you, I am looong overdue for a new tutorial, which I have been promising forever. I have gone a bit grey since the last video! Will definitely prioritize!
Thank you! You've helped me out a lot
I'm just starting out on the xiao (key of G but one of the long-narrow ones), and I'm finding it difficult to just start playing the lowest note (D), although it's easier to work down to it like you show in this video. If I try to instantly play that low D, I tend to hit the higher octave and struggle to get it back down.
Are there some tips to be able to quickly start playing the lowest note on the xiao?
Thanks for Xiao's lesson, the sound is beautiful.
Please can you give me some advice to buy good professional Xiao? Does it have to be bamboo or wood? An address of a good online store where to buy a professional Xiao?
Thank you very much
Thank you very much for this tutorial!
Greetings from Russia! =)
Great! That helped a lot. That you!
I am glad the video helped you. Good luck with your playing!
Excellent. Thank you.
Thank you for uploading this! I'm curious, what're the holes on the third section for? I can't find an answer anywhere, it's driving me nuts.
I've been looking for a flute to take backpacking with me across Europe and I've decided on the xiao. Will the life of the flute be shortened by rain and moisture? I intend on leaving it strapped to the outside of my pack
Just saw this and we’ll done… I’m looking to add the Xiao to my playing (doing NAF, Quena, and Anasazi so far… ) Any advice on how to find/buy a quality Xiao? I’m in WA state….
Hi! Thanks for this great video! I have started to play the Xiao recently (in F). As I play other types of flutes, I did not have much difficulty with getting the sound out of the flute with the low notes. What I struggle with are the higher notes. How do you do octave jumps? Unlike the recorder, I do not see that you have to half-open the thumb hole, so is it only a question of air pressure? How "tight" the air flow is? Thanks for your help!
Making sound placement of tongue is important to direct the air .
4:31 hugh? it's like a weapon
Could you tell me more about how to purchase the flute your using? I think it's nice and would like to look into getting one.
Thanks!
Hi, do you have any suggestions where to buy a good quality Xiao? Dealers, companies or makers? I am finding it hard to find a good one.
Xiao vs shakuhachi. Whats the key differences? Im looking to invest in a wind instrument and I'm torn between these two,
Hello, I can only tell you what I know from experience and some research. First off, the shakuhachi I have played are, I believe, 5 hole instruments, with big holes and a very difficult embouchure. The mouthpiece has a very sharp angle to it, as opposed to the xiao, which has a much gentler U shaped mouthpiece. This makes a big difference, as it is much easier to get a sound initially on the xiao.
The modern xiao has 8 finger holes, enabling chromatic notes with less half holing, (a real trick to get those just right). Also the xiao is feather light and easy (in my opinion) to finger, making it a great choice for those of us with a tendency towards joint pain. The Shakuhachi I have personally played are much heavier, being made of root end bamboo.
The voices of the two instruments are very different to my ears, though they can both achieve a great range of tones and, with some work, be made to sound similar. The xiao in practice is mostly quiet and contemplative, and it has a softer tone which is harder to push into those harsh regions which can be so delightfully expressive. Though I have done it and continually do so, I feel the instrument resists me a bit - it wants to whisper. The shakuhachi on the other hand is great at howling, rasping, whispering, moaning, - it's very expressive!
But in the end I'ts a matter of what speaks to you and what you are physically able to play. There are some root end xiao sold on eason music store which seem like a cool kind of meeting of both worlds - i know winson liao makes them too, though his site is in chinese and was difficult for me to navigate. His work seems like it's the best in the world that I know of though.
Listen to this - www.talesoftheboatman.com/track/the-wild-man-suite - on this recording I have pushed the xiao as far as I can, I am very satisfied that such a cheap and simple seeming flute could do so much for me. I love this thing! (Xiao is interspersed throughout, I'd be honored if you would give the whole thing a go!)
Also, and importantly, a good shakuhachi cost approx. 1 bajillion USD. This xiao I am playing was 45 or so. A really nice one would be 200.
Hope this helps,
Chris
Thank you very much for the reply!
I was fortunate enough to come across a flute maker named Erik, he makes beautiful, high quality bamboo flutes using the same scale as the shakuhachi (and many others) so you get a very similar sound, but the flutes he makes use the same ''mouth piece'' as a standard Xiao, so its kind of the best of both worlds. Awesome sound and its much easier to play. Check out his channel and website at Eriktheflutemaker. :)
(Boat)man, I can't believe I found you... Can't send words, they're not enough.
Tales of the Boatman 1 bajillion USD Lol
what are all the holes after the fingersf for? tuning with bands?
nice video. i love xiao too
wow! this really helped me
Dude, thanks a lot for this very easy to understand vid. I am a long experienced musician with string intruments
and like to start now with xiao after regarding lots of shakuhashi. Where did you buy your instruments ?
I dont like to invest not more than about 300. Thank you.
I just bought a xiao... but as I watch the video, I'm realising that I'm used to having my right hand at the top and left at the bottom as it doesn't matter with a tin whistle but xiao has a pinky hole and my pinky is on the other side of the flute. I guess I have about a week or so before my xiao arrives to practice to have my hands the other way around...
Thanks, ive got the F same as you, your explanation of the C really helps. I dont read music i play by ear. What would be a good song i could learn to start with?
Great video!
Thanks!
Searching xiao from genshin then end up watching this lol
Lol same
Same bruh
I have the opposite issue: I try to find videos about the xiao flute but all search results are littered with genshin stuff
same
Yea Xiao is named after a flute. I'm here tho bc I just bought a Xiao flute. The sound is really nice
Im not sure if I'm doing it right? When I just play the piece that you have to assemble to the xiao I get a tone! But when I assemble it and even have my hands positioned like yours, same angle too! I hardly get a tone.
I bought the oriental sanctuary Xiao in the key of G off of Amazon.
I notice mine has 3 holes, then 4 holes and then 2 pairs of 3 holes side by side at the bottom?
www.amazon.com/dp/B072JB4KS9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_Q6K0519F4GZ4NFEXGX2R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the tutorial, am I supposed to do anything with the group of holes on the lower 3rd portion of the flute? as there are extra holes below all of the holes for the finger positions that are shown in the video.
So i don't have a Xiao but i do have a Dongxiao, But i'm wondering why i mostly feel like i'm going to pass out when i play for even just a bit but when i play my Hulusi i don't feel like i'm going to pass out? (If it is how i breathe then how do i make it better?)
I'm literally cover the holes but keep hearing the same note how do I play different notes
I recently got a xiao (F key), and I love the sound of it, but I'm having an absolute hell of a time with that right pinky finger. I have fairly small hands. Even using piper's grip, I can juuuust cover the hole, but it leaves my wrist bent quite uncomfortably, and the note produced is very temperamental. I've tried shifting the position of my right thumb, which helped a little, but I'm thinking there has to be a better way. I just don't know what it is. I need to figure something out because, as it is, I'm left with a note smack in the middle of my scale that I can't reliably produce (seven fingers down, left thumb lifted SOL/5)
Awesome man! Thank you very much for the tutorial, it was very eye opening! I am kinda in between learning the xiao flute or the guqin, since I'm going to have time enough to learn only one on my exchange program to China... so your video is helping on my decision as well hehe, thanks! By the way, if I can humbly make a suggestion, make this a series of videos, it will help begginers a lot! Teaching them (maybe myself included hehe) how to reach the other octaves and everything else =)
I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for the feedback - I will certainly make this into a series!
Any resources for how to play the top/ 3rd octave? Trying to figure out the harmonics on my xiao....
Hi Chris! Thank you for this nice video. I bought a xiao 2 days ago, it's a 6 holes flute in F. On the upper side, the 5 holes are aligned, the last hole is centered. The problem is my right hand is suffering, it is very difficult to get the little finger to the last hole. I can still exchange it and I tried a similar flute in G, so it's shorter, but it doesn't sound as good as the one I have. As a guitarist, I know it can be painful to start practicing an instrument. But it seems so comfortable on your video, even if you have a very long flute. Is it normal to endure some pain in the wrist in the first days/weeks? I looked various videos to be sure I had a good posture, but it's still very difficult. Playing on the G was very easy for my right hand. Thank you in advance!
If you want a higher tone, do we need to change our embochure??, because when i play it sometimes its high and sometimes its low depends on my mouth's shape
Thanks, now I can try a new musical instrument.
Hi Chris! Thank you for this video! May I ask you where you bought this particular Xiao in the video? I am interested in getting one and I like the sound of the one you have there :) Cheers!
Thanks for this video, it's certainly helped me in the right direction. The issue I'm having is that I seem to sometimes get quite a high note and sometimes a deeper richer note. I assume this is me simply not getting my mouth technique quite right? It seems to happen more when I put my fingers on the holes.
Hello. If I understand your question correctly, it would seem that when you get a high note you are overblowing - that is to say you are entering the second octave. If so, this is something you want to control mostly with the shape of your lips. A broad airstream is slower and makes the lower note, the narrow or compressed airstream is faster and will send the flute into the higher register, or second octave.
If that is not the case, it may be possible that you are not copletely covering all of your holes, resulting in rogue out of tune jumps to the second octave. I hope this helps, and that I have properly understood your question. I will soon post another video about the second octave. Thanks!
That sounds about right. Thanks for the extensive response.
I think I need to keep at it but I've noticed it does seem to happen more than I'm covering all holes. I don't think it's due to failure to cover them currently as I have rather large fingers that hug the holes tightly so will keep trying to adjust the amount of air I'm exerting.
Apologies if I missed it, but do you have any tips for reliably changing between octaves; the only way I can find at the moment is to blow harder, and that ends up sounding screechy at best
yeah! i came here to see if he explains so too, but guess we'll have to figure out ourselves,,
That's a tough one! I would say to remember to relax your lips and not strain them, and that, done properly, you should be able to get the second octave without blowing harder. It's all a matter of a very small, very focused airstream coming from your lips. Try by starting with closed lips, and open them as little as humanly possible at first, this will increase the speed at which the air emerges from your mouth and overblow the flute into the second octave without additional effort from the diaphragm. Also, if your fingers don't have a great seal on the holes this can lead to losing the second octave as well. Good luck!
@@TalesoftheBoatman thanks for the comment, wow, im trying now and i really can notice what you said. thanks again!
Is there really a difference whether the Xiao is wrapped with threads or wire?
Can you link your purchase?
This confused me so bad because I realized the only way to get that pinky hole was to play with my hands reversed from a norma flute.
Does the thickness of the Xiao make a noticeable difference?
I ask because I get one that is a bit thicker and longer than a standard bamboo Xiao.
It has an average 2.5 cm diameter and 79 cm long, mine is a G one. The bamboo is not so dark, but medium brown something grayish.
I'm just worried that my xiao sounds a bit wrong, because that size.
I have not ordered on eBay or Amazon, so I do not get Xiao that has a crack.
But that's exactly what happened to me and the Shop sent me a new one :-) and I can keep the other Xiao.
I noticed that because I had placed both Xiaos next to each other.
una duda ¿cuantos hoyos riene esa flauta?
¿y cuanto mide en total se ve muy larga? me gusto comonsuena
Hey, great tutorial! This really helped me understand how to play with better embouchure and achieve a better tone overall. Do you happen to know where I can find more music for my F key Xiao? I've looked virtually everywhere and could only find a few. Any help is greatly appreciated,
Thanks!
Hi, I'm so happy it helped you. As for music, I think it might be hard to find outside of China. If you want to play Chinese music, my best recommendation would be to develop your aural skills as much as possible, and just play along to whatever music you find. You could probably play a lot of guqin melodies.
A lot of people seem to cover Chen Yue songs, so maybe you could find print music by her. Also, check out winson laio, he may have some resources on his site. (I hope I spelled his name right.) Sorry that's all I've got for you!
Tales of the Boatman Thanks for both a quick and a helpful reply! Chen Yue's music sort of inspired me to play so I'll be sure to try out the music myself. Also, I think that transcribing music from different instruments shouldn't be too difficult unless the instrument plays in a different range/register. Should be fun regardless. Thanks again! Also, sorry to pester, but I know you said you got your xiao from carrotmusic, do you remember if it was a professional, performance, or beginner one? Thanks again (again)!
How do you clean that mostly closed, blown end, flute? The open ended ones seem easier in that respect. No?
A stick and a cloth! Yes it's hard to clean!
Hi, nice tutorial :)
Do you have any fingering chart for G key Xiao flute? And do you have any other guidance? Because i bought my first G key Xiao flute but i dont know from where to start.
Thank you!
wks1412.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/dizi-and-xiao-fingering-chart20141.jpg This will give you the notes. I will try to make another video soon with scales etc.
Good idea. Thank you!
nice... I have a G key Xiao as well.
Hi, I'm a new subscriber. Very cool channel! Just got a Xiao (keyG) would love to see that follow up video with scales etc., or perhaps a point in the right direction if you know any good resources for this instrument. :D
What are the notes on this instrument? Trying to find a chart but it's not easy to find for some reason
Hi. I'm thinking of buying a Xiao. Ideally I would like an F as I really love the deeper tone. Can you tel me if there is much of a difference in the spacing of the holes between a G and an F, as I have relatively smallish hands? Also would you mind giving me the link to the one you bought please? Thank
If you have small hands, I think a G key is a better choice.
what would be a good beginner xiao to buy in the U. S.
Hiya I have a xiao in G and I’m struggling with the spacing on the first 3 notes as I don’t think my hands are big enough to properly cover the first three with one hand and am having to use my other do you have any advice?
Please how i can get this instrument?
How can I play notes like A#? I see pics where the 2nd top-hole is open but I dont have a 2nd top-hole since my xiao flute only has 5 holes on top...
Same :(
@@NonOfYourRizznessSir I figured out that if you blow faster in it you can jump one octave higher
C=
C#=x x-x|xxx
D= x x-x|xxc
D#= x x-x|xxo
E= x x-x|xco
F= x x-x|xoo
F#= x x-x|ooo
G= x x-c|ooo
G#= x x-o|ooo
A= x o-x|xxx
A#=x o-x|ooo
H= o x-x|ooo
B= o o-o|ooo
C=o o-o|ooo (blow a bit stronger)
------------------------
Blow much stronger to jump an octave
C#= x x-x|xxx
D#=x x-x|xxo
F= x x-x|xoo
...
Getting a sound from the xiao is not a problem for me. The problem is that fingering any holes begins to make the sound go away. After a few holes, the sound goes away. It's like a clogged trumpet. I assume I am doing something wrong, since I have tried this scores of times over the past few months. Can anyone help? Thank you : )
hey, thanks for the video! I have one question thoough: My "xiao flute G" only has 2 Front-holes in the upper part and 3 front-holes in the lower part, so 2 less holes than you, why is that?
The traditional Xiao is six holes, only after the improvement has the present eight holes.Most of the players use the eight holes，which is easier to play.
Where can I get this Xiao?
簫 尺八 都是同一種樂器，不分幾孔。尺八 指長度，簫 指音色材質的。