Hello all,
I’m currently trying to learn the Irish flute on a pvc model made with detailed instructions from an experienced maker. That being said…I’m tired of that flute, I’ve gotten to the point where I play better than it does… So…my question is, do I stay with a six-hole flute when I buy a new one (I am looking at wooden models) or do I go with an eight-hole flute for a little more cash? I have to admit I have no idea how to play an eight-hole flute, especially one that doesn’t come with keys mounted, but I want to make sure that if I’m buying a real wooden flute it is one worth having. Also, with an eight-holer can you play like a trad. six-holer if you just ignore the bottom two holes until you are ready for them or will that totally screw up the sound? Again…I apologize for my lack of knowledge in this, but I can’t seem to find anything helpful.
There are lots of choice when you decide to step up, but the number of holes does not affect your playing. You can’t reach them unless they have keys, at which point they give you the low C and C# below your regular D. On keyless flutes they are just vents, a vestige of the time when trad musicians were buying old flutes and stripping off the leaky low keys.
There are a lot of nice flutes out there depending on what you want to spend, in both wood and synthetic materials. Casey Burns and Ralph Sweet (Sweetheart) make good starter flutes, and if you feel like spending more and waiting whle your flute is made, there are lots of wonderful choices that I’ll let others, more experienced, recommend to you.
How do you know? What other flutes have you tried that play better than it?
Get a Tipple, see if you are correct, without spending a lot of money.
Yeah, what Denny said. 
Doug’s plans may well be the ones kourtjestr used originally…
Plans is one thing…Quality is another…
Doug has a few decades experience…
Please feel free to read that into my original post. 
EXacatically…! 
Yeah…Tipple’s plans are the ones I used..I know that I play better than it does because it won’t consistently hit notes I know it should be hitting. Basically, as was mentioned, I don’t have the experience Tipple has, and I know that a PVC flute would play just fine, just not MY pvc flute. That being said, I was kind of planning on putting the money into a wood one over a PVC flute because I find them more attractive, etc. and would like to buy one to last a long time that I am happy with the looks of. Thanks for the advice to this point, and thanks to Kate for the explanation of 6 vs 8 holes.
For a keyless flute, six vs. eight holes isn’t something to base a decision on. Decide on a price range, research makers who offer flutes in that range, decide what kind of wait you’re willing to endure, then order a flute.
You’ll find lots of info on various makers by searching this forum.
Here’s another good resource, with a list of makers and their websites: www.firescribble.net/flute
You are describing a user error.
Oops, geek speak.
If the flute sometimes plays the notes well it is the player not the flute.
That’s a tough call as soon as you say wood…esp. the keep for a long time part…
Many keep a delrin or PVC because they can take a beating and then go through any number of wooden flutes over time …just read the posts.
I guess I’d say put together your budget first then ask what are the recomendations …in that price range…and then…try before you buy!
Especially important at the low end of the price range…although most makers recommended on this list will have a certain degree of consistancy.
AND don’t jump at a cheap unknown…far to much firewood out there (I’ve got my share)
…there has been much discussion on the 6 or 8 hole topic.
Although it varies a bit by maker, mainly the 8 hole just allows you to poke the cat from farther away. Not necessarily a bad thing.
That’s hilarious… I’ll definitely remember that for a long time.. On the plus side, you guys and some other sources have fairly turned me off to the Pakistani flutes… I have to say, I was concerned from the get-go about a $25 handmade wooden flute…
now i’m trying to convince my wife i deserve this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Cocus-Wood-Irish-Flute-Flutes-New_W0QQitemZ7360019089QQcategoryZ624QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Well played, gentlemen.
PEBFAC
(Problem Exists Between Flute and Chair)
Stop trying. That is a Pakistani flute.
ok..enough said..won’t touch it…
Good grief…buy just the book and read it FIRST !
There is a huge difference between a flute-like object you make by drilling holes in a tube so that it makes noises which vary in pitch and a musical instrument created by an experienced and reputable flute maker.
I can’t see EBay from here, but from the looks of the link, it appears the site is selling mass-produced flutes . . . probably from Pakistan. If your wife doesn’t like the idea of it, she probably has very good shopping instincts. You should listen to her. 
You get what you pay for. If your goal is to spend as little as possible, then you’ll get as little as possible of a flute. If, on the other hand, your goal is to purchase a good musical instrument which will be a joy, you’ll need to research the issue and decide which of the known good flute-makers’ instruments you want, and you’ll have to resign yourself to possibly paying slightly more for that instrument.
There are several very reasonable choices, including Doug Tipple’s flute, which is a legitimate musical instrument . . . it is not just a tube with holes in it.