What's the difference between a 4 keyed and 6 keyed flute?

[Elfforce1]

I'm confused on the differences between a 4 keyed and a 6 keyed flute. According to http://www.woodenflute.com/playing/fingerchart they all play chromatically, except the 8 keyed flute can play the low c and c# while the other 2 can't. Does one have better tuning than the other or something? Thanks for the help.

[hans]

A four key flute usually has these keys: Bb, G#, short Fnat and Eb.
A six key flute usually has in addition to the four key a Cnat and a long Fnat key.
An eight key flute has in addition the two foot keys for C# and C.

[libraryman]

The difference is pretty big if, like me, you hold the flute with your fingers very flat and low. (Usually called a piper's grip). In this case, those long keys can get in the way. I've played six-keyed flutes, but much prefer four. I don't think this is the norm by any means, but I'm sure some others feel the same. So for me, four is more--plus four-keyed flutes are quite a bit cheaper with keys costing as much as $400 or more each. OTOH, I've heard people say they use those long keys quite a lot for quick passages. I wouldn't know.

[Casey Burns]

about $900.

[tsackett]

A four key flute usually has these keys: Bb, G#, short Fnat and Eb.
A six key flute usually has in addition to the four key a Cnat and a long Fnat key.

Elforce1-
In case you're still wondering how the four key flute can be fully chromatic, C natural can be played on any simple-system flute without using keys. The five- or six-key flute adds a Cnat key to allow one to play the note with a stronger sound. The Cnat key can also provide a way to improve the intonation of C#. The long Fnat key provides an alternative way to play Fnat; the transitions between Fnat and some other notes, like D, and be very difficult to do smoothly with the short Fnat key. On my five-key flute (which has the Cnat key, but only the short Fnat key), I often have to tongue Fnat notes to create a small break in the sound while I shift my finger over to the Fnat key. This is a problem when I play baroque music, though it might not matter in Irish music.
-Top

[Gordon]

This is a problem when I play baroque music, though it might not matter in Irish music.
-Top

In Irish music, none of the keys matter.

[LorenzoFlute]

This is a problem when I play baroque music, though it might not matter in Irish music.
-Top

In Irish music, none of the keys matter.

This is so untrue...

[Elfforce1]

Thanks for the replies guys, really appreciate it.

[Gordon]

[quote="Othannen
In Irish music, none of the keys matter. [/quote]
This is so untrue...[/quote]

I was (mostly) joking, hence the poke emoticon, 'cause I know there are folks like you who feel otherwise, and need the occasional poke. Many threads of late imply the necessity for keys. Ten or so years ago, when I joined this forum, the opposite seemed to be the consensus, regarding ITM. Apparently, the tradition has evolved enormously in the past decade.

Now, I have nothing against keys, mind you, other than not being able to afford them, so I stay keyless, save for my cumbersome and iffy-tuning German flute, which has 11 keys I rarely if ever use. Sadly, on my keyless, I can only play about 98% of ITM.

I feel horrible...

[I.D.10-t]

This may be of interest on Terry McGee's site.

Irish Flutes - Of Holes and Keys

Scroll down to "Common Groupings of Keys"

[Nanohedron]

Ten or so years ago, when I joined this forum, the opposite seemed to be the consensus, regarding ITM. Apparently, the tradition has evolved enormously in the past decade.

Now, I have nothing against keys, mind you, other than not being able to afford them, so I stay keyless, save for my cumbersome and iffy-tuning German flute, which has 11 keys I rarely if ever use. Sadly, on my keyless, I can only play about 98% of ITM.

I feel horrible...

The debate still goes on, but it doesn't exactly rage. Now, I like my keys, but then I'm also a bit of a gadget-head, simple as that. I always give a nod to the keyless camp by asserting that in ITM the primary usefulness of keys is in how they keep your flute from rolling off of the table.

[crookedtune]

It's a 'horses for courses' kind of thing.

I too, can play about 98% of the ITM repertoire on my keyless. On my keyed German flute, (which I sold yesterday), I could play pretty much anything. The landing place for me, hopefully, will be a fully keyed flute by a superior modern maker.

He knows who he is.

[LorenzoFlute]

Sure, you can play most of the tunes, but not being able to play a particular tune that you like because it has an F nat or G# is really irritating at least for me. Also given that I tend to particularly like this kind of tunes, so in my repertoire they are more than a mere 2%...

[jemtheflute]

Sure, you can play most of the tunes, but not being able to play a particular tune that you like because it has an F nat or G# is really irritating at least for me. Also given that I tend to particularly like this kind of tunes, so in my repertoire they are more than a mere 2%...

And we won't even mention the desirability of key-venting certain notes to get them in tune/improve their strength and timbre............ which you cain't do if you hain't got the keys. I have yet to meet a keyless "Irish flute" which would not have been improved by addition and proper use of an Eb key. If I had my way, I'd ban totally keyless flutes..... rant, rant, rant.

[MTGuru]

What's the difference between a 4 keyed and 6 keyed flute?

2 keys.

C'mon, I'm so disappointed in you guys ...