Hello all. I’ve been having a blast lately playing. Everything really feels like it’s coming together with the tunes I’m playing, yet, I yearn for chromatics one day. Eventually, I’d like to get an 8-key flute, however, thinking about the possible problems that will occur with my grip–especially the pinkie problem.
See, I anchor the flute when I’m playing the G, A, and C with my pinkie (actually, I anchor it all the time with my pinkie, it’s just for the notes on the top hand that I REALLY anchor) and I realized that this get’s in the way with the bottom C keys on a keyed flute. I had a used 8-key for a bit, and I eventually just turned the foot around so I didn’t keep hitting them and throwing the tune off. How do you anchor the flute when you are completly open holed? Do you use your right hand middle finger?
Any help here would be great.
Matt
plant pinkie on Eb key… except for D!
I agree! 
That’s the correct position on the Boehm flute: the Eb key is open all the time except for D.
But if you do so on a simple system, the E will usually be a little sharp. Nicholson said you must have the finger on the Eb key, without depressing it. I know a baroque flute teacher who plays the irish flute who depresses the key for every note except D and E (and some notes in the third octave).
What I do personnaly is turn the footjoint so that it does not annoy me, but with the Eb key still reachable. In this position, the low C and C# are very hard to use, but I don’t use them anyway.
i leave the pinky on the Eb key block,and move it every time i
want to play Eb C and C#.kevin ryan does the same,and he use low keys
all the time with great effect.
i’ve seen other flute players putting the pinky almost under the Eb
key,but it doesn’t work for me.
Hi Michel,
That’s exactly what I did on my previous flute: an Aebi Pratten. Do you play an Aebi? Switzerland is close to Italy 
That’s what I do now, whith my antique flutes. The Eb block is too far for me (and I have long fingers).
Like you, I used to clamp my RH pinky down to balance the flute - sometimes that’s because of the balance of the flute you play.
What I now find better is to “balance” the RH pinky on my Eflat key - not clamp it down, and only vent the eflat when I want to. I made myself work on this by not turning the foot around, so that everytime I was clamped when playing D it came out as Eflat - a good reminder.
But I think it’s just practice, and mind over pinky…
So, this begs the question–six-key or eight-key? How often do you find yourself using those bottom two keys? Is it worth the extra money? I’m looking in the future at an Aebi flute, but the price jump from 6 to 8 key is like 1000 CHF.
What are you thoughts?
Tom does not make Pratten flutes anymore, I think. On mine, the C and C# keys worked fine. I don’t know how they are on his recent instruments. Probably even better now.
You have good and bad points about those low keys, I’d say:
Bad:
- they make a clicking noise I find disturbing
- pewter plugs in my experience never seal perfectly
- when it does not seal, you can’t repad it yourself
- I don’t know a lot of tunes that really require those notes, except sometimes for ornamentation
Good:
- they look cool
- they are closer to the antique flutes (some had padded keys, though)
- Sylvain Barou uses them, and what he does is great
- if you play other traditionnal music than irish, or classical, they can become really helpful
So if you’re reasonable, 6 keys. If you want to look cool, 8. If you want to play classical or really need them, try to avoid pewters, some makers (maybe Tom, I don’t know) can make padded footjoint keys: Noy, McGee, etc…
Good luck with your next flute! 
So, this begs the question–six-key or eight-key? How often do you find yourself using those bottom two keys? Is it worth the extra money? I’m looking in the future at an Aebi flute, but the price jump from 6 to 8 key is like 1000 CHF.
What are you thoughts?
I think it really depends on the kind of music you play, and who you play with. A lot of Scottish music, particularly the older stuff, uses the low Cnat and Csharps. If you play with fiddle players, you’ll want to be able to go as low as possible.
That said, the two bottom keys are tricky, can be clacky… and you can always get around them by going up an octave.
However, some people believe that you get a better quality of sound with a long foot - which is another consideration.
so??? conclusions
good luck.
Tom has told me that he indeed has started making prattenish flutes again, but he does not stick to the historical models as much as he used to.
I wouldn’t like to do without my C/C# foot. Think of “The Graf Spee” in C or “Music In The Glen” in A. Of course you could jump into the upper octave, but it’s much nicer to really hit those low notes I think.
About that percussive pewter-clicking: it’s not a bug, it’s a feature 
Claus
So Onkel, how do you hold it? Also, can you explain the difference between you Pratten and Rudall style flute from Tom? I’m trying to decide on a model to go with.
Thanks,
Matt
I rest my pinky loosely on the block just on top of the Eb key joint. I also use it for stablisation purposes, but I can do without.
The difference between Aebi’s Pratten and Rudall model? I guess you want to know about playability and tone, rather than design. I don’t know much about the latter anyway, apart from the most obvious (bore and tonehole diameters).
I’ve pretty much given up trying to describe sound characteristics of flutes. I guess there are as many opinions as board members about what terms like “reedy”, “focused”, “defined”, etc. really mean. One thing I can surely say is that the Rudall’s intonation is steadier, which facilitates playing in unsusual keys. The Pratten can be out of tune quite easily. On the other hand it’s nice to be able slur notes very subtly (using your airstream), which is a feature of any Pratten, I think.
Most people who tried out my flutes found the Pratten easier to fill, particularly the low D. I prefer the Rudall, though, for its tone, I find it… crisper…whatever that means…
I hope this is of any help to you.
Good luck choosing
Claus
Michel wrote:
i leave the pinky on the Eb key block,and move it every time i want to play Eb C and C#.Matt Paris wrote:
That’s exactly what I did on my previous flute: an Aebi Pratten. Do you play an Aebi? Switzerland is close to Italy
yep i play an Aebi,as well as a new Grinter i just received with interchangeable bodies in d and c and a bflat.all great flutes
concerning the debate about 6 or 8 keys, i’d go for 8 keys as far as the extra price is not a big issue (which i understand it can be!)
Both Tom and Mike (and my ears too) reckon that low keys improve a lot tone balance.
i like very much pewters too.i must be one of those few lucky people who never had problems with them,i think they work great..
apart plying irish music i play in band
together with accordion (italian type,in C) player Filippo Gambetta,on that
band we play plenty of low c’s,so i had to learn to play them also in fast music..
but eventually after awhile i bought a C flute so i don’t have to play the whole gig in odd keys!
anyway it’s great to use them,not just only on tunes that really need those notes,but also as a fancy variation.
Oh yes I remember that set… Wonderful! 
How long did you wait?