I have been playing a simple wooden flute for a number of years, and have gotten an urge to move to a keyed flute. I wondered how difficult is that transition? I searched former discussions, and they talk about the why's & why not's, but no one talks about the level of difficulty associated with this kind of change.
For those of you who have made the switch did you have to relearn tunes to accomodate the keys? Or did you just learn new tunes to be played solely on the keyed flute while playing the ones you had always played on the simple flute? Thanks.
Lowhistle
I've made the switch and there's really nothing to get used to at all. You can play the same way you have on the keyless, even using the same fingering for accidentals. Over time you'll get used to using keys for some of the accidentals when you want to use them, and you won't have to 'lip them up.' It's nice to have the option! Now you just need to decide if you want block mounted or post-mounted! Both are great. Good luck.
If you are happy with the flute you have got, you don't need to change. If you would really like a key or two to enable you to play something that at the moment you can't play, or find difficult to cross finger, then consider getting a flute with just those keys. But my advice is only get keys for the notes you are currently struggling to play; otherwise you'll end up with keys you never use. If you just want to have one, by all means get a fully keyed flute. You'll soon get the hang of it.
Celtic and gam, thanks for the input. Right now I am having difficulty with half-holing the G# in A with my ITM music. However, I do play a little with some singers, and at church, and both require some notes that I can't get with my simple flute. Celtic, you have a website for a flute maker that I never heard of. Has anyone responded ot your question? Thanks, again.
Lowhistle
Same point as the others - almost everything you know now, you play in exactly the same way. If you wanted to you could even half-hole for G# - but you won't want to once you have a key for it.
Basically the keys on a simple system flute just open up more options - like a clean Fnat in Cook in the Kitchen.
Perhaps you'd heard stories of changing to a modern Boehm-type flute - now that *is* something you'd have to get used to.
Gam-
No, no one ever did. I asked the same question on Chiff and Fipple and didn't get responses. One of the owners responded and seemed like a nice guy. Sorry I don't know much about their flutes, but they sure sound nice on their website! Decent price for a keyed flute as well.
As a matter of semantics, LoWhistle, your heading, "keyed vs simple flute" is incorrect.
"Simple system" refers to the algorithm and design of the conical-bore, open-hole flute that pre-dates the modern orchestra standard "Boehm system" flute.
In other words, whether the flute has keys or not, it will still be "simple system".
Your thread heading should be "keyed vs keyless flute".
Apart from that pedagogical digression, I, too, am in the process of getting a keyed simple-system flute, so I am taking great interest in this thread, because the transition from keyless simple-system will be in my eventual future, as well.
Browndog, thanks for the clarification. I am torn as to what flute with keys I will get, but I am pretty much mentally commited to getting one. What type of keyless do you play now? I play a Casey Burns small fingered and love it. Great sound, lots of power with the only weak linkg being the player. Have you looked into which flute you will eventually play?
Lowhistle
Lowhistle. I am also thinking about keyed flutes but am exploring half-holing and cross-fingering on a Burns first.. So far as the G# on the Burns is concerned try crossfingering rather than half-holing - that A whole is a bit small. I find XXOXOX for second octave is very good. The same or XXOXXX for first octave is rather veiled though.
This isn't good advice: "... only get keys for the notes you are currently struggling to play; otherwise you'll end up with keys you never use."
When you have all six keys you will find that in time you will use them and be glad that you have them. It doesn't hurt the flute to have them and not use them. If you buy a flute with fewer than five keys you will be hurting the eventual resale value of your flute. You may not want a long F (a la Seamus Egan and June Ni Chormaic) but I find that I also use that key on occasion and I'm glad I have it.
The jury is still out on the bottom C# and C keys (on an eight keyed flute). I've never found them to be responsive enough that I'd use them. But some people really like them.
Keyed flutes are great, but make sure that you use them.....get your self to a workshop or something that will ensure you have to play in F, B flat etc. It certainly worked for me.
When I DO buy my keyed flute, it will be from Terry McGee. Check out his website (www.mcgee-flutes.com). His prices are in line and his workmanship is outstanding. I play a keyless GLP presently, but will probably eventually get the 6-key version from Terry. Don't let the distance (i.e. Australia!) throw you off - he's readily available on email and the telephone and loves to chat!
plunk wrote:
> When I DO buy my keyed flute, it will
> be from Terry McGee....
> His prices are in line
Particularly for those of you in Euroland! At the moment you get just *over* AUD 2 per EUR - until recent months it was 1.6 or 1.7
My keyless flute is made by Bryan Byrne, Vermont, USA. My keyed flute will also be from Bryan.
There are many many many world-class flute makers out there, among whom Bryan's is one. His flutes are second to none -- unfortunately with a price tag and wait time commensurate with that quality.
I ordered it quite a while ago, as a rank beginner on keyless flute, in hopes that by the time the flute is finished, I will deserve such an instrument. (jury is still out on whether or not that goal will come to fruition... )
keyed vs simple flute
keyed vs simple flute
I have been playing a simple wooden flute for a number of years, and have gotten an urge to move to a keyed flute. I wondered how difficult is that transition? I searched former discussions, and they talk about the why's & why not's, but no one talks about the level of difficulty associated with this kind of change.
For those of you who have made the switch did you have to relearn tunes to accomodate the keys? Or did you just learn new tunes to be played solely on the keyed flute while playing the ones you had always played on the simple flute? Thanks.
Lowhistle
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by LoWhistle
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Hi LoWhistle-
I've made the switch and there's really nothing to get used to at all. You can play the same way you have on the keyless, even using the same fingering for accidentals. Over time you'll get used to using keys for some of the accidentals when you want to use them, and you won't have to 'lip them up.' It's nice to have the option! Now you just need to decide if you want block mounted or post-mounted! Both are great. Good luck.
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by celtic marine
Re: keyed vs simple flute
If you are happy with the flute you have got, you don't need to change. If you would really like a key or two to enable you to play something that at the moment you can't play, or find difficult to cross finger, then consider getting a flute with just those keys. But my advice is only get keys for the notes you are currently struggling to play; otherwise you'll end up with keys you never use. If you just want to have one, by all means get a fully keyed flute. You'll soon get the hang of it.
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by gam
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Celtic and gam, thanks for the input. Right now I am having difficulty with half-holing the G# in A with my ITM music. However, I do play a little with some singers, and at church, and both require some notes that I can't get with my simple flute. Celtic, you have a website for a flute maker that I never heard of. Has anyone responded ot your question? Thanks, again.
Lowhistle
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by LoWhistle
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Same point as the others - almost everything you know now, you play in exactly the same way. If you wanted to you could even half-hole for G# - but you won't want to once you have a key for it.
Basically the keys on a simple system flute just open up more options - like a clean Fnat in Cook in the Kitchen.
Perhaps you'd heard stories of changing to a modern Boehm-type flute - now that *is* something you'd have to get used to.
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by Alex Wilding
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Gam-
No, no one ever did. I asked the same question on Chiff and Fipple and didn't get responses. One of the owners responded and seemed like a nice guy. Sorry I don't know much about their flutes, but they sure sound nice on their website! Decent price for a keyed flute as well.
http://www.traditionalirishflutes.com/index.htm
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by celtic marine
Re: keyed vs simple flute
As a matter of semantics, LoWhistle, your heading, "keyed vs simple flute" is incorrect.
"Simple system" refers to the algorithm and design of the conical-bore, open-hole flute that pre-dates the modern orchestra standard "Boehm system" flute.
In other words, whether the flute has keys or not, it will still be "simple system".
Your thread heading should be "keyed vs keyless flute".
Apart from that pedagogical digression, I, too, am in the process of getting a keyed simple-system flute, so I am taking great interest in this thread, because the transition from keyless simple-system will be in my eventual future, as well.
Thanks for posting!
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by browndog
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Browndog, thanks for the clarification. I am torn as to what flute with keys I will get, but I am pretty much mentally commited to getting one. What type of keyless do you play now? I play a Casey Burns small fingered and love it. Great sound, lots of power with the only weak linkg being the player. Have you looked into which flute you will eventually play?
Lowhistle
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by LoWhistle
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Lowhistle. I am also thinking about keyed flutes but am exploring half-holing and cross-fingering on a Burns first.. So far as the G# on the Burns is concerned try crossfingering rather than half-holing - that A whole is a bit small. I find XXOXOX for second octave is very good. The same or XXOXXX for first octave is rather veiled though.
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by David50
Bad advice abounds...
This isn't good advice: "... only get keys for the notes you are currently struggling to play; otherwise you'll end up with keys you never use."
When you have all six keys you will find that in time you will use them and be glad that you have them. It doesn't hurt the flute to have them and not use them. If you buy a flute with fewer than five keys you will be hurting the eventual resale value of your flute. You may not want a long F (a la Seamus Egan and June Ni Chormaic) but I find that I also use that key on occasion and I'm glad I have it.
The jury is still out on the bottom C# and C keys (on an eight keyed flute). I've never found them to be responsive enough that I'd use them. But some people really like them.
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by David Levine
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Keyed flutes are great, but make sure that you use them.....get your self to a workshop or something that will ensure you have to play in F, B flat etc. It certainly worked for me.
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by minijackpot
Re: keyed vs simple flute
When I DO buy my keyed flute, it will be from Terry McGee. Check out his website (www.mcgee-flutes.com). His prices are in line and his workmanship is outstanding. I play a keyless GLP presently, but will probably eventually get the 6-key version from Terry. Don't let the distance (i.e. Australia!) throw you off - he's readily available on email and the telephone and loves to chat!
Good luck in your quest!
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by plunk111
Re: keyed vs simple flute
plunk wrote:
> When I DO buy my keyed flute, it will
> be from Terry McGee....
> His prices are in line
Particularly for those of you in Euroland! At the moment you get just *over* AUD 2 per EUR - until recent months it was 1.6 or 1.7
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by Alex Wilding
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Hello LoWhistle,
(jury is still out on whether or not that goal will come to fruition... 
)
My keyless flute is made by Bryan Byrne, Vermont, USA. My keyed flute will also be from Bryan.
There are many many many world-class flute makers out there, among whom Bryan's is one. His flutes are second to none -- unfortunately with a price tag and wait time commensurate with that quality.
I ordered it quite a while ago, as a rank beginner on keyless flute, in hopes that by the time the flute is finished, I will deserve such an instrument.
Cheers!
# Posted on December 30th 2008 by browndog
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Browndog-
do you have contact info for the flutemaker you mention above- Bryan Byrne??
# Posted on December 31st 2008 by fiddlinfarmer
Re: keyed vs simple flute
Sent info via e-mail, fiddlinfarmer.
# Posted on December 31st 2008 by browndog