Tone Hole Direction

[argofoto]

At yesterday's seisun I realized a flute player's tone holes were twisted downwards somewhat as opposed to his fingering holes. Is there any particular reason for this? I forgot to ask him unfortunately. Yes, I am referring to the flute, nothing else....

[Peter Duggan]

Turning the embouchure hole towards the player?

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Getting_the ... k_tone.htm

[MTGuru]

What are tone holes??

[argofoto]

They're those two holes that are not used for notes but give it tone, on the end of the flute (tone foot joint?). I read that some people may cover them to adjust the tone. Other than that I don't know...

[Peter Duggan]

They don't 'give it tone'. They're relics from keyed flutes with 'C' foots still frequently included on keyless flutes to (usefully) balance lined heads or (not so usefully) because some customers demand them for their magic powers!

[MTGuru]

They don't 'give it tone'. They're relics from keyed flutes with 'C' foots still frequently included on keyless flutes to (usefully) balance lined heads or (not so usefully) because some customers demand them for their magic powers!

Right, they're the vestigial C# and C holes (or D and C# vents, if you like). Their orientation will make little difference to the sound, and may be idiosyncratic, or a matter of habit, or random. A player used to turning a keyed foot to put the keys out of the way might turn an unkeyed foot the same. Or simply not worry about lining things up. Or think that turning the foot toward the listeners might give the D slightly more projection.

Or magic!!

[Peter Duggan]

still frequently included on keyless flutes

Or keyed flutes with 'long D' foots.

[MTGuru]

Or keyed flutes with 'long D' foots.

Foots? Foots??

(Seriously ... Is that the common usage? I admit, "feet" does seem odd.)

[Peter Duggan]

IMHO probably yes, being effectively short for 'foot (joint)s'.

You ever heard of 19th century flutes with flat feet?

[MTGuru]

You ever heard of 19th century flutes with flat feet?

No, but I've heard of flutes with swollen heads.

Oh, wait ... No, I'm thinking of flute players.

[Steve Bliven]

Phil Bleazey addresses the isssue on his web site thusly;

"A characteristic of the Irish flute is the foot joint with it's two open holes left by the removal of the C & C# keys. After many years of making these flutes I have yet to find one which is improved by this redundant joint. Consequently my 'Irish flutes' carry my own design of foot joint, which, sadly, means that the Morris dancers have no where to tie their ribbons. I'm sure no one else will mourn the loss."

Works for me....

Best wishes.

Steve

[Peter Duggan]

Have to say I was sceptical (didn't care for them at all!) till Dave Copley persuaded me on balance grounds, and there's no doubt that my (four-keyed, lined-head) flute does handle nicely with the long foot. Also quite glad I didn't get the ('traditional articulated') C and C# keys when, despite finding myself reaching for them when I'd just got the flute, they'd simply not sit right for me with the Eb key set close to the R3 hole where I like it... in which position the two unkeyed vents are in fact rotated (as per the OP?) a fair bit to the far side.

[Gobae]

IMHO probably yes, being effectively short for 'foot (joint)s'.

Ah! There's precedent for that. That same process was how we got a 'pair of pant(aloon)s'.

[MTGuru]

Ah! There's precedent for that. That same process was how we got a 'pair of pant(aloon)s'.

I don't think we want to know how you got your pair of pantaloons. Too much information ...

[an seanduine]

I don't think we want to know how you got your pair of pantaloons. Too much information ...

Or worse,The Ladies' Pantalettes!