Do you?
Yes indeed.
Yep, though on keyed flutes I will still sometimes half-hole a chromatic as an effect.
–James
Yes, mainly short or long F & G#. I can also half-hole them, but they’re weaker.
Kevin Krell
I only recently got a keyed flute, but yes, I do use the keys. Though I will often cross-finger the Cnat for speed and convenience, it sounds better if I use the key.
Yep.
F nat, G sharp and C nat, although as others have said I’m more likely to cross-finger C nat unless I’m doing a sequence that doesn’t go higher than C nat (does that make sense to everyone?)
I have an 8-key but the double-action C and C sharp keys have never really been used in anger! They look nice though. Anyone here use them much?
Graham
…and the occasional Bb. Yes, I use 'em.
Carol
Thanks.
On my 4 key McGee I only use the short F and G# keys. The E-flat key I generally turn away and since I use piper fingering, I can’t get to the B-flat.
Yes I have a 6 key McGee and use all of them, though only in the tunes that need them.
But, even if I didn’t, I think the flute looks much better with keys. And, it doesn’t roll off the table at a session!
Tim
Yes, but mostly for Baroque music, rarely in Irish sessions. But it’s nice to have them, just to see the look in the fiddlers’ face when they start “Crabs in the Skillet” or “Julia Delaney” and think they’re safe from me. 
OK, without the low C keys, can one play effectively
in the key of C?
You can play in C if you practice, sure! It’s all up to what you want to do.
Would you necessarily want to? Depends!
I’ve got one with, one without. On the one with, I use the keys all the time. On the one without, I don’t really miss anything but the low C and C# keys. Heh. Which makes me a real heretic, since I think most people would tell you they’re the least useful of the keys. But hey, I like using them.
Stuart
Stuart:
You’re not missin’ those low C keys anymore with that Grinter beauty…are you?
It really kind of depends on the piece, and if you’re playing solo or with others. In some pieces it’s easy enough to drop, or substitute for a low-C note. In others, forget it.
On my own keyed flute (6-key) I do tend to miss not having the low C and C sharp.
Thanks. I play a lot in C cause I’m playing
with others who do. But I usually pick up
a G flute and use the ‘G’ fingering for
C, which works well. The reason for this
thread is that I’m getting keys retrofitted,
and I’m wondering how far to go.
I also have a C flute, but find that fingering
less useful for playing in C.