What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
I hope this isn't off topic, but as pretty much a newbie, one thing that struck me from this fascinating thread is how many play keyed flutes. I was under the impression (again, as a naive) that most Irish music players don't need keys or use them much. I'm gathering that's not an accurate impression (unless lots of folks on this forum play other types of material, which I guess is a strong possibility too). Yikes...I've got alot more work ahead of me than I thought!
Jay(not really an ignoramous, in spite of himself)doc
Jay(not really an ignoramous, in spite of himself)doc
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Copely & Boegli blackwood keyless slideless D.
I shall never bitter be so long as I can laugh at me.
- mkchen
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
M&E R&R 8-key in ebonite
M&E "standard" 5-key polymer (I'll be selling this one off soon, though)
Tipple 3-piece D with wedge, no lip plate
Artley student model Boehm (that I picked up for $25 as a college student and used to teach myself to play flute - it's just collecting dust now)
In response to JayDoc's post above, while the majority of tunes one is likely to come across in a typical session can be played on a keyless, there are still TONS of great tunes that are way more satisfying to play, or can only be played, on a keyed flute or other chromatic instrument.
M&E "standard" 5-key polymer (I'll be selling this one off soon, though)
Tipple 3-piece D with wedge, no lip plate
Artley student model Boehm (that I picked up for $25 as a college student and used to teach myself to play flute - it's just collecting dust now)
In response to JayDoc's post above, while the majority of tunes one is likely to come across in a typical session can be played on a keyless, there are still TONS of great tunes that are way more satisfying to play, or can only be played, on a keyed flute or other chromatic instrument.
Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
A six holed flute can only be played well in a few keys; on a D flute that would be D, G, A and maybe C (I'm talking majors here). (Even A and C can be a challenge if there are two many of the wrong notes). So flutes in different keys are much easier without keys. Even WITH keys large numbers of sharps/flats are a bit difficult. It's easier to play an F# flute than it is to play a D flute with 6 or 8 keys in F#.JayDoc wrote:I hope this isn't off topic, but as pretty much a newbie, one thing that struck me from this fascinating thread is how many play keyed flutes. I was under the impression (again, as a naive) that most Irish music players don't need keys or use them much. I'm gathering that's not an accurate impression (unless lots of folks on this forum play other types of material, which I guess is a strong possibility too). Yikes...I've got alot more work ahead of me than I thought!
Jay(not really an ignoramous, in spite of himself)doc
Most ITM is in D or G so one flute with or without keys works great for the vast majority of that genre. But if you have to play a tune or two in F or Bb it's nice to have an F flute to help out.
Just my highly over priced 2 cents.
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
a Terry McGee six key Pratten
a Terry McGee large holed RR in delrin
Tipple F
all my whistles are by John Sindt
a Terry McGee large holed RR in delrin
Tipple F
all my whistles are by John Sindt
huffin' and puffin'
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Dominic Allan blackwood 8-key D
Dominic Allan blackwood keyless Eb
Thomas Aebi blackwood keyless Bb
Selfmade PVC keyless D and C
Dominic Allan blackwood keyless Eb
Thomas Aebi blackwood keyless Bb
Selfmade PVC keyless D and C
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
There wasn't any choice when some of the antique flutes came along. My Wylde has 8 keys. And Holmes-McNaughton flutes are only available fully keyed.JayDoc wrote:I hope this isn't off topic, but as pretty much a newbie, one thing that struck me from this fascinating thread is how many play keyed flutes. I was under the impression (again, as a naive) that most Irish music players don't need keys or use them much. I'm gathering that's not an accurate impression (unless lots of folks on this forum play other types of material, which I guess is a strong possibility too). Yikes...I've got alot more work ahead of me than I thought!
Jay(not really an ignoramous, in spite of himself)doc
But yeah, a lot of folks play other genres of music and are prepared.
Last edited by kkrell on Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Murray boxwood, 6 keys
I will never need another flute.
I will never need another flute.
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
I wouldn't make a flute with less than 6 keys, preferably 8!. Lots of trad. musicians use the keys, Look at Cathal King (Mac an ri) on youtube. Search; Tara Breen, King they do a wonderful version of The Beeswing in Bb, flute and fiddle. There are loads of other examples too. There is nothing wrong with the tunes in the home keys but you really have not scratched the surface until you've at least attempted to step out. (just a little).
I've been in many sessions in Ireland when the flute players just stop when the fiddles go to C or F! - Not necessary on a keyed flute - just keep going. Why would you want to restrict yourself? (it's good for flute makers as a keyless flute can be made in a day or two, a keyed flute takes a lot longer to make).
H
(p.s. search Holmes flute, on youtbe for further examples)
Music is the real way of speaking, everything else is just filling in. (between gigs)
Alan Plater Misterioso
I've been in many sessions in Ireland when the flute players just stop when the fiddles go to C or F! - Not necessary on a keyed flute - just keep going. Why would you want to restrict yourself? (it's good for flute makers as a keyless flute can be made in a day or two, a keyed flute takes a lot longer to make).
H
(p.s. search Holmes flute, on youtbe for further examples)
Music is the real way of speaking, everything else is just filling in. (between gigs)
Alan Plater Misterioso
Save your hot air for blowing down your flute
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Keys are useful. Tunes with Fnat, G#, and I play at least 3 tunes with D#/Eb are much easier on a keyed flute. Slow aires with keys are much better - trying to do a D# or hold a G#/Bb/Fnat on a keyless flute - well, they usually don't sound as good (although some players do a remarkable job at it).
Plus, classical, ragtime, and other tunes - rather hard to play with a keyless, especially if you're playing with someone else, but on a keyed flute it's a snap.
However, keys will not automatically allow you to play the Catharsis reel perfectly...as far as I can tell, only hours and hours of practice (along with keys) will allow you to play this tune.
Eric
Plus, classical, ragtime, and other tunes - rather hard to play with a keyless, especially if you're playing with someone else, but on a keyed flute it's a snap.
However, keys will not automatically allow you to play the Catharsis reel perfectly...as far as I can tell, only hours and hours of practice (along with keys) will allow you to play this tune.
Eric
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Holmes wrote:I've been in many sessions in Ireland when the flute players just stop when the fiddles go to C or F! - Not necessary on a keyed flute - just keep going. Why would you want to restrict yourself? (it's good for flute makers as a keyless flute can be made in a day or two, a keyed flute takes a lot longer to make).
Music is the real way of speaking, everything else is just filling in. (between gigs)
Alan Plater Misterioso
Well said!!!
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Ward Blackwood Hawkes keyless D
Seery Delrin Pratten keyless D (travel flute)
Sindt d whistle
These are great instruments and I have a long way before I get good enough to justify ownership. Still, as others have said, life is too short to play poor quality instruments (I know, I've taken a stab at playing both a pakistan chair leg and an Empire ebonite monstrosity).
Hopefully I'll get the repairs on my project 6-key, short foot, Metzler done soon and can start to learn what to do with keys.
Also have other whistles, including an old Generation that got lost in a box for ~30 years, a Burke Low D AL Viper (that I'll probably sell sometime now that I'm concentrating on flute), and a classic Clark C, that I now like since developing better breath control from flute playing.
Seery Delrin Pratten keyless D (travel flute)
Sindt d whistle
These are great instruments and I have a long way before I get good enough to justify ownership. Still, as others have said, life is too short to play poor quality instruments (I know, I've taken a stab at playing both a pakistan chair leg and an Empire ebonite monstrosity).
Hopefully I'll get the repairs on my project 6-key, short foot, Metzler done soon and can start to learn what to do with keys.
Also have other whistles, including an old Generation that got lost in a box for ~30 years, a Burke Low D AL Viper (that I'll probably sell sometime now that I'm concentrating on flute), and a classic Clark C, that I now like since developing better breath control from flute playing.
"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it"
Steven Wright
"Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever."
Baron Munchausen
Steven Wright
"Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever."
Baron Munchausen
Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
I use a C nat key a lot, however a thumb hole works as well or better for me and costs just 25 dollars.
Other keys are nice to have, helpful, beautiful but, truth be told, I often play keyless flutes
and don't miss keys when I do. Also by now I can half hole and,
needs be, cross finger well enough to deal with the rare notes in question; keys are better still
but I can play the notes OK and of course these things get better with practice.
You can get a fine keyless flute for a third of the price of a six or eight keyed
flute, and use the money to buy flutes in other keys, which will play in those keys
more easily and will have their own distinctive and beautiful voice.
No question that keys are nice to have and I do have a keyed flute. But I hardly need it.
Maybe if I got better I would need it. I've been impressed by flute greats like Mike R
choosing to play keyless flutes in performance settings. Also the great care and love
with which many flutesmyths make keyless flutes. Maybe one day if I get
really good I'll need keys. Of course I'm mostly playing ITM and American fiddle tunes.
So (my 2 cents) keys are good to have but, for a good while, not something one needs to have.
Perhaps I'm just scratching the surface, but that depends on where one thinks the
deep water lies. For me, seven years in, I've just begun to grasp the depth of
'simple' tunes.
Other keys are nice to have, helpful, beautiful but, truth be told, I often play keyless flutes
and don't miss keys when I do. Also by now I can half hole and,
needs be, cross finger well enough to deal with the rare notes in question; keys are better still
but I can play the notes OK and of course these things get better with practice.
You can get a fine keyless flute for a third of the price of a six or eight keyed
flute, and use the money to buy flutes in other keys, which will play in those keys
more easily and will have their own distinctive and beautiful voice.
No question that keys are nice to have and I do have a keyed flute. But I hardly need it.
Maybe if I got better I would need it. I've been impressed by flute greats like Mike R
choosing to play keyless flutes in performance settings. Also the great care and love
with which many flutesmyths make keyless flutes. Maybe one day if I get
really good I'll need keys. Of course I'm mostly playing ITM and American fiddle tunes.
So (my 2 cents) keys are good to have but, for a good while, not something one needs to have.
Perhaps I'm just scratching the surface, but that depends on where one thinks the
deep water lies. For me, seven years in, I've just begun to grasp the depth of
'simple' tunes.
Last edited by jim stone on Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:43 am, edited 2 times in total.
- FromFlanders
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Lejeune keyless blackwood
Hamilton practice flute for rough terrain
McCrusty 8 key ( currently restoring)
Incidentally there are a couple of Lejeunes for sale in the London shop ALLFLUTESPLUS. One Rudall and one of his own design( like mine) a large holed beauty. I'd have loved to have the Rudall to go with mine but no dough! About five and a half hundred pounds.
FF
Hamilton practice flute for rough terrain
McCrusty 8 key ( currently restoring)
Incidentally there are a couple of Lejeunes for sale in the London shop ALLFLUTESPLUS. One Rudall and one of his own design( like mine) a large holed beauty. I'd have loved to have the Rudall to go with mine but no dough! About five and a half hundred pounds.
FF
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Re: What's your current 'weapon' of choice?
Keys are fine if you can afford it. Yet many (if not most) players rarely use their keys and play the vast majority of the time using the six open holes. Some top players use keyless flutes, Brian Finnegan plays a keyless Doyle flute, for instance.JayDoc wrote:I hope this isn't off topic, but as pretty much a newbie, one thing that struck me from this fascinating thread is how many play keyed flutes. I was under the impression (again, as a naive) that most Irish music players don't need keys or use them much. I'm gathering that's not an accurate impression (unless lots of folks on this forum play other types of material, which I guess is a strong possibility too). Yikes...I've got alot more work ahead of me than I thought!
Jay(not really an ignoramous, in spite of himself)doc
Get a keyless and you'll have many many possibilities and things to work on that will last you a long long time.