Eb key? Anyone use it?

[Jim_B1]

I'm thinking about sending my Burns Boxwood Rudall back to have it fitted with a tuning slide and rings.
While I was on his site checking out the options available, I read his section on keys.

I'm not sure I would get a lot of use out of a full complement of keys but I think an argument could be made of a Eb key to be added. I'm just not sure how much use I would get out of it.

How many of you have one and what do you use it for? I haven't seen much that would require it but mostly I play stuff in D, G or C so unless it's an accidental, I probably wouldn't.

Just wondering if the one key would open up a lot of doors for me musically or if it would just be something that would be only of rare usage so not of too much interest.

Added a poll so it's easier to get a consensus on it

Any ideas?
Thanks

[Rob Sharer]

The search function is your friend!



In fact, look down the current page of topics and you'll find a while thread devoted to this topic. Better to check for existing threads first before starting a new topic.



Rob


p.s. I don't touch my Eb unless I want to play an Eb.

[jemtheflute]

p.s. I don't touch my Eb unless I want to play an Eb.

Aye, Rob's a corker.

[Denny]

ah, you can get pretty close to D# with it too!

sure ya gotta lip it a bit



you shouldn't mention Rob's cork until the 2nd page

[Jim_B1]

The search function is your friend!
In fact, look down the current page of topics and you'll find a while thread devoted to this topic. Better to check for existing threads first before starting a new topic.

Saw that one but it's not quite the same question. He's already got the key and wants to know how other folks use it. I'm asking if it's worthwhile to have it added or if in general it's only used rarely. Similar but not quite the same question. I guess I could make it a poll...

Also, if you search for Eb it ignores it and if you look for Eb Key you get every post with the word key in it so it was less then useful in this case to use the search...

[Julia Delaney]

I use it. It's fun. Adds a bit of unlikely color to a tune. I'd say get it.

[Cathy Wilde]

I've had one for years and hardly ever use it. If I really want to I'll just shade an E to D# (Eb) by half holing; I think it's easier.
IMO, your money's better spent on a short F or G# key. I've found those much more useful over the years; the F natural key in particular as it makes tunes in D minor or C major or what have you much easier.

[Nanohedron]

I'm sort of like, if there's no key, I wouldn't be using one, would I, but if the key is there, it's there. Putting aside the tediously mediocre argument that I paid for it after all, I'm going to try to use what's there sooner or later. Sometimes even not by accident.

I'm a bit of a gearhead; I like keys. It doesn't matter to me how often I use them; they will be used and I like having them at my beck and call.

[MTGuru]

Here's an observation from a workshop last weekend with Brian Finnegan. And keeping in mind that I'm not a fluter myself.

One of the figures taught involved various shadings on and around D-Eb-E. And one fluter present who played a fully-keyed stick had trouble handling this, because they were so used to venting Eb that their finger habits weren't up to the coordination of not venting it.

So my take-away was more or less: With an Eb key, don't let it become a crutch for your finger habits instead of a resource. Especially if you expect to move between keyed and unkeyed flutes at will.

As for the note ... On whistle I find myself reaching for Eb often enough (half-holed, of course) for coloration - as an alternate leading tone in E Dorian tunes, etc. So I'd probably use the key if I had it.

[AbraXas]

I rarely use mine. Sometimes when I play Muneires, but never in ITM (so far).

[I.D.10-t]

This might interest you.

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/keys.html

[Jayhawk]

I play several ITM tunes that use the Eb key. Also...if you ever want to play in the third octave, it's a very helpful key to have. I also find that unless your flute has a nice sized RH3 hole it's nearly impossible to half hole Eb effectively if it's a slower tune.

Plus, as some wise person on this board once said, it keeps the flute from rolling off a table.

Eric

[Nanohedron]

Plus, as some wise person on this board once said, it keeps the flute from rolling off a table.

THANK you. I was nigh unto lopping my tongue off, biting it so hard.

[jemtheflute]

Plus, as some wise person on this board once said, it keeps the flute from rolling off a table.

THANK you. I was nigh unto lopping my tongue off, biting it so hard.

NOW THEN! DON'T let's start on tonguing too, not in the same thread.....

Vexatious or what?

[I.D.10-t]

It is strange one of the first tunes I learned was "The Moreen" in G min with an E♭ in the third line. With no keys I just half hole in the first two registers and cross finger for the third, but half holing does really shade the note.