Keyed flute - pipers held

[hans]

But Hans,
how will I play Laura's without keys? ;/ I wish cross finger would work perfectly.

This tune is great on an eight key flute (with low C# and C keys). A six keyed flute won't be enough. In any case you don't get a low C# with cross fingering.

I checked out my Dominic Allan flute: it has post mounted keys, and one can use piper's grip as it is, no blocks getting in the way. Of course one cannot use the Bb key with piper's grip, as it is built for left hand thumb use. So that would need to be changed to a right hand use Bb key.

See some detailed pics here: http://www.softflute.co.uk/go/Instruments/AllanFlute

Cheers,
~Hans

[Trip-]

Today I just play regular C# instead of the low one, same as I would do on the whistles.
But on the flute it is possible to install C# and C keys, in fact, all the keys that work for the right hand are good for both grips.

I should really find the time to explore a real keyed flute.

[jemtheflute]

But Hans,
how will I play Laura's without keys? ;/ I wish cross finger would work perfectly.

Trip, there are ONLY two notes in Laura's Reel as Hans posted it that require cross fingering, one a 1st 8ve G# (xxo xxx)and the other a 2nd 8ve G# (xxo xox or xxo xxo), both in the B music. The low one is easy to half-hole in context, if the cross-fingering doesn't suit you or is too sharp/weak on your flute, and the high one could also be half-holed, though I'd reckon one of the cross-fingerings (whichever is best on your flute) would be better as the half-hole to F# shift is more awkward (to me) than either of the cross-fingered alternative sequences. Of course a G# key solves all.........(! !) As you say, if you don't have the low C# you just have to substitute the higher one, or a harmonising note - F# would be the obvious choice for all the Low C#s and actually works quite well melodically in this tune, I think.... As tunes in A go, this one's pretty accessible really.

[Guinness]

If I were a flutemaker, I'd be very reluctant to make and sell a customized keyed flute to anyone who hasn't tried one (say for a month) with standard key positions and especially to anyone who is just starting out on the flute. And if I were convinced to make an exception, I would still ask that the buyer pay a 100% deposit up front and offer no refund. But then I'm no flutemaker.

Many years ago when I had called Patrick Olwell, I think one of his first questions was, What are you playing now?

[Trip-]

Guinness... Completely agree that you should know your instrument, before asking for a customization from the maker.

jemtheflute,
on my current flute, the low G# as would be expected is done this way xx0xxx - though it's not a perfect G# it works. The high G# though, I can execute by doing xx0x0x and it is hardly a G#, or by halfholing - but the halfhole doesn't have to be xx/000 , it can also be xx0x/0 - for some reason it works too, you could call it a mixture of halfholing and crossfingering.

I wonder how xx0x0x works on other flutes for the high G#.

[Aanvil]

Pipers grip is traditional?

Really?




What would Rockstro say about that, I wonder?


Of course what do I know.

I'm one of those inline emb. hole cretins. yur mother warned you about.

[Trip-]

Aanvil,
let me have the pleasure of believing so

[Denny]

piper's grip flute for sale
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=65492

[Aanvil]

Aanvil,
let me have the pleasure of believing so

Its a deal.




Copley makes a pretty good flute (I have played them) and at that price its nearly a steal.

[Trip-]

It does look like a great price for such a flute! Too bad I'm short on cash ;/
I'm already waiting for my new keyless Casey Burns for a few months now (Including that Alba F which should arrive soon too), can't afford another flute.

But then having 3 differnt flutes would be and overkill.

[Denny]

But then having 3 differnt flutes would be and overkill.

oh, dear....

[Aanvil]

But then having 3 differnt flutes would be and overkill.

Bah!

One can never be too rich, too thin or have too many flutes.

You could sell the Burns when you get it.

The Copley will more than make up for it.






Hey... aren't you up past your bedtime? Its 2am over there man!

[Aanvil]

But then having 3 differnt flutes would be and overkill.

oh, dear....

I know... that must make me a serial killer of a sorts then.

[Trip-]

And what if the Burns turns out to be great? I hope there's no question of what's best.
I cannot part with good flutes

[Denny]

it's not a question of best
it's which one most suits yer mood
at any given point