Have made a flute, but in my stupidity have forgotten that I have short fingers... is there any way to make simple keys for the flute so i'll be able to play it? any suggestions are appreciated.
-mark
this seems a good question for the woodenflute email list. There are several flute makers that are active there. Go to http://www.woodenflute.com to subscribe.
A flute maker of the past called Sicamma started using keys for a similar purpose: so that the E and A holes could be put in their "accoustically correct" position (those 2 notes are problems in the flute, because if you put the holes where they're supposed to be, they're too far for the fingers).
I'm afraid that putting in keys may interfere with the tuning of your flute (because the keys don't vent the hole as much as the fingers). But i'm sure that if you ask in the woodenflute list, you'll get interesting answers.
I've seen people with "Bear-paws" play flutes with normal finger spacing. It seems huge in the begining but you'll get used to it, maybe Longnote or Glauber could post some good finger stretches. BTW it will probably be economically counter-productive to key a flute you've made. Each key is going to run at least $100 USD to mount, your better off getting a flute by an established maker with keys, even then the standard keys are D#, F, G# & Cnat on a four key flute. I've never seen one where they key up the standard notes.
Hi, Brad is right about getting used to the spacing. A year and a half ago I could barely reach the last hole to get a D. But within a month of playing my beast of a flute, my hand got used to the stretch and it was no longer a problem.
I have relatively short fingers. The "trad" flute is harder on the hands than the modern (Boehm, keyed) kind. My hands hurt after playing for an hour or so. Bamboo flutes (cylindrical) are even worse.
The important thing is to keep it easy. If it starts hurting, take a break, don't injure yourself. It gets better with time.
You may want to invest on a shorter flute or a piccolo, to have as an alternative. I like piccolo a lot, but it's harder to get the courage to play it in session, since it has a way of cutting through and making itself heard. Nobody can ever have enough flutes, right?
I used to play guitar before (classical). In classical guitar we do finger stretching exercises. I haven't played guitar seriously for over 10 years now, but my left hand still stretches better than my right, so they do help, but you don't need nearly as much finger stretch for the flute as you do with the guitar. And with the flute, the fingers stay pretty much in the same position all the time, this helps.
As with everything that involves the body's hardware, the key is to go slow and relax. Don't injure yourself.
Making keys for flutes?
Making keys for flutes?
Have made a flute, but in my stupidity have forgotten that I have short fingers... is there any way to make simple keys for the flute so i'll be able to play it? any suggestions are appreciated.
-mark
# Posted on June 20th 2002 by no longer exists
Re: Making keys for flutes?
Mark,
this seems a good question for the woodenflute email list. There are several flute makers that are active there. Go to http://www.woodenflute.com to subscribe.
A flute maker of the past called Sicamma started using keys for a similar purpose: so that the E and A holes could be put in their "accoustically correct" position (those 2 notes are problems in the flute, because if you put the holes where they're supposed to be, they're too far for the fingers).
I'm afraid that putting in keys may interfere with the tuning of your flute (because the keys don't vent the hole as much as the fingers). But i'm sure that if you ask in the woodenflute list, you'll get interesting answers.
Good luck!
glauber
# Posted on June 20th 2002 by glauber
Re: Making keys for flutes?
I've seen people with "Bear-paws" play flutes with normal finger spacing. It seems huge in the begining but you'll get used to it, maybe Longnote or Glauber could post some good finger stretches. BTW it will probably be economically counter-productive to key a flute you've made. Each key is going to run at least $100 USD to mount, your better off getting a flute by an established maker with keys, even then the standard keys are D#, F, G# & Cnat on a four key flute. I've never seen one where they key up the standard notes.
# Posted on June 20th 2002 by Mad Baloney
Re: Making keys for flutes?
Hi, Brad is right about getting used to the spacing. A year and a half ago I could barely reach the last hole to get a D. But within a month of playing my beast of a flute, my hand got used to the stretch and it was no longer a problem.
Joyce
# Posted on June 20th 2002 by JMH
Re: Making keys for flutes?
I have relatively short fingers. The "trad" flute is harder on the hands than the modern (Boehm, keyed) kind. My hands hurt after playing for an hour or so. Bamboo flutes (cylindrical) are even worse.
The important thing is to keep it easy. If it starts hurting, take a break, don't injure yourself. It gets better with time.
You may want to invest on a shorter flute or a piccolo, to have as an alternative. I like piccolo a lot, but it's harder to get the courage to play it in session, since it has a way of cutting through and making itself heard. Nobody can ever have enough flutes, right?
I used to play guitar before (classical). In classical guitar we do finger stretching exercises. I haven't played guitar seriously for over 10 years now, but my left hand still stretches better than my right, so they do help, but you don't need nearly as much finger stretch for the flute as you do with the guitar. And with the flute, the fingers stay pretty much in the same position all the time, this helps.
As with everything that involves the body's hardware, the key is to go slow and relax. Don't injure yourself.
# Posted on June 21st 2002 by glauber