Chiff and Fipple Forums

I don't do regular practicing, just play when I feel like it.

Nice little collection, but it will probably increase in size, welcome aboard.

Store them separately.

They need to expand to create a tight non leaking joint.

If you keep them together, it will eventually compress & be less air tight, & may/will need replacing.

(Of course, they may also stick together.)

Easy players in low D (for me) are the Dixon ABS & the Howard, good tone from both.

Otherwise, I'd suggest seriously looking at a low F, (I have an MK Kelpie & a Shearwater).

I bought that model when he first introduced it, mine with offset holes, it has a great tone.

Personally, I'd just learn to half hole.

Maybe you would want a natural C & F(?) - it would really depend on the tunes you aim to play, (you might want a Bb & Eb).

I doubt you'll get many respondents on these forums, but you might get more, & better, info here - https://recorderforum.com/forum/

I'll add a Howard to the Dixon, if you want to spend more, mine is quite an easy player.

Welcome aboard.

I too, like keyless flute (& piccolo), they have a great sound/tone, but I don't practice enough.....

It looks like it is smaller bore & closer holes than my old Yamaha, which used to be almost the same size as the Aulos tenor of the time, when I bought mine; other than that, I honestly can't say.

The Yamaha has two keys for the lower hole(s), C/C#, I used to have one, but found them awkward to use, but it might be worth a look, it certainly had good tone.

Some interesting thoughts there.... I believe the distinctive sound comes from the air column being split, reed instruments & brass use all the air we blow. Hole placement appears to be very limited in positioning possibilities, we have some with offset holes, (what you are thinking), but the sp...

If you can write notation, it may be easier to write your tunes as ABC notation, & quicker once you understand it.

Learning to play an electronic wind instrument can be difficult, a whole new experience, I've read, not much like whistle/recorder.

I also have a Howard low D, I find the second octave just a little bit harder than the Dixon, but not by much, (mine is a few years old now, so they may be different).

Shearwater, I have one of their low F whistles, are easy players too, fairly quiet, second octave quite easy.

I'll second that recommendation, I have the one piece Dixon low D, it's an easy player with a good tone, & not very expensive.