Figuring out the key/pitch of an old flute

The Chiff & Fipple Irish Flute on-line community. Sideblown for your protection.
Post Reply
mucksavage
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2018 8:22 am
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: I used to play alot of Irish trad flute when I was younger.
Getting back into it now :-)
Enjoying it a lot.

Figuring out the key/pitch of an old flute

Post by mucksavage »

Hi all

I've been looking around for a cheap old "fixer-upper" flute.
There are often plenty of them on ebay, auctions, gumtree etc (although they are usually not cheap :-) ).

I know that these cheaper flutes are probably poor quality instruments, but they would probably be good to start experimenting on.

However, it would need to be a A440 pitch, just in case I manage to get it playing. :-)

Is there a list of pitch/key vs lengths, sounding lengths, etc for the more common older flutes? E.g. Nach-Meyer-like German flutes, Thibouville-like French flutes, etc.
Or am I being optimistic?

Terry McGee has a great page at http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/flutelengths.htm, but it seems to be just for 19c English flutes.

Thanks
John
Post Reply