Dear Folks: Could you all please help me? Are there 6-hole flutes that I could play as a left-handed person? Would the embrouchure hole work correctly pointing the flute the other way? I've read some discussions that folks play the flute left-handed but I can't help but think that some flutes would work better at this than others.
I live in the middle of nowhere, west virginia, usa.
I accidently taught myself to play the pennywhistle left-handed and would like to learn the irish flute. I've only seen one other person play a pennywhistle. He was the person who inspired me to learn how to play. I can't imagine I'll run across anyone around town any time soon that plays the irish whistle.
Which flutes that are left-handed friendly would you folks recommend? Since I've never seen or played an irish flute, I'd like to avoid the expensive options. I've seen the crystal flutes and would like to know if they can be played left-handed. I play other instuments with a group of people, so I'd like a flute that was in tune to start with or tunable.
thanks for your advice and all the help you've already provided to me through these discussions.
mutepointe
Hello
I think that you'll find that a lot of flutes (most?) can be played just fine left-handed unless of course the fingerholes are offset for a right-hand player. But they're usually in a straight line. You might also want to make sure that the embouchure hole isn't optimized for right-handed playing only. You may find it surprising that one of the top flute makers lives in West Virginia. I think he lives in Elkins. His name his John Gallagher. You can find his contact info at: www.firescribble.net/flute/makers.html
However, his flutes are pro-grade instruments and are priced accordingly. I don't know about crystal flutes, but if you're looking for a good inexpensive flute for Irish music, you should look at the flutes by M&E (Michael Cronnolly) and also Desi Seery. You can find both of these at www.irishflutestore.com Or you could order direct from the makers.
I've built lots of them. The first one will take an hour or so, and soon you can knock them off in 20 minutes.
I don't see why you couldn't just flip a wooden flute over. The important point is the embouchure hole. You must blow against a sharp wedge to deflect part of the air inside and part of the air outside.
I agree with Janek that a good way forwards if you want to play keyed flutes is to learn to play right handed - left handed keyed flutes are very rare and you may need to get one custom made. You may feel that changing sides is more trouble than it is worth - Michael McGoldrick plays left handed so you can take that as an inspiration! I've got a M&E which is fine for playing sessions - I was using a Tony Dixon which I found was a very easy flute to start on but doesn't have the tone of the M&E. Both are polymer so easy to look after, and both would play fine left handed. You will find lots of discussions about M&E and Seery flutes - take your time and read up before buying, you'll save money in the long run. I got my M&E direct from Michael Cronnolly on Ebay. Good luck!
Hi! The points listed above are accurate, and especially when applied to the modern , mostly seen as a claasical metal flute.
These CAN be purchased as specific LEFT handed flutes , but d cost more.
When I've had pupils come for lessons, especially young ones, I've explained that playing the tin whistle the RIGHT handed way opens up the option of all the woodwind family later on.
HOWEVER it must be regonised that in Irish Music there have been so many LH flute players, and for that matter LH fiddle players!
With the simple system flute it is very easy to play LH and not have to pay out for a more expensive instrument.
Myself, I'm left handed, but play flute RH and likewise some stringed instruments.
Think about it. You do have to use both hands equally well, fiddle , flute, pipes. YOU DO NEED BOTH HANDS!
Sorry, should have mentioned the likes of Patsy Hanley, Cathal McConnell, Mick Moriarty, Tansey and so many more. Brilliant examples of LH simple system flute players!
The only problem with playing most simple flutes LH is that the keywork (if any) gets in the way. You aren't using them anyway for trad Irish style, so if you find that any keys are annoying you, take them off (put them away safely for if you sell the beast) and block off the holes.
The other main problem is that you have to learn the tunes backwards, the Lefts of Man, The Girl I Right Behind Me and so on.
hey folks: thanks for your input. greg the piano tuner had the best advice. i stopped by a hardward store today. the clerk gave me a lesson on pvc pipe and as i was standing near the check-out, i saw in the discount bin a 10 piece needle file set for $3.88. the clerks got a good laugh that that pvc flutes sell over the internet go for $50. i'm going away the next couple of days so this project will have to wait til the weekend. i'll let you know how it turned out. thanks again.
mutepointe
well, this making a flute is harder than it sounds, at least for me. drilling them there holes in pvc with a hand drill isn't as easy as it sounds. i'm working on my drilling technique on scrap pipe before i go to the bother of measuring where the holes go. i'm also on the lookout for a metric yardstick or tape measure in west virginia. that's not easy either. and yes, i know a "metric yardstick" is something of an oxymoron. what do you all call those things?
playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
Dear Folks: Could you all please help me? Are there 6-hole flutes that I could play as a left-handed person? Would the embrouchure hole work correctly pointing the flute the other way? I've read some discussions that folks play the flute left-handed but I can't help but think that some flutes would work better at this than others.
I live in the middle of nowhere, west virginia, usa.
I accidently taught myself to play the pennywhistle left-handed and would like to learn the irish flute. I've only seen one other person play a pennywhistle. He was the person who inspired me to learn how to play. I can't imagine I'll run across anyone around town any time soon that plays the irish whistle.
Which flutes that are left-handed friendly would you folks recommend? Since I've never seen or played an irish flute, I'd like to avoid the expensive options. I've seen the crystal flutes and would like to know if they can be played left-handed. I play other instuments with a group of people, so I'd like a flute that was in tune to start with or tunable.
thanks for your advice and all the help you've already provided to me through these discussions.
mutepointe
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by mutepointe
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
Hello
I think that you'll find that a lot of flutes (most?) can be played just fine left-handed unless of course the fingerholes are offset for a right-hand player. But they're usually in a straight line. You might also want to make sure that the embouchure hole isn't optimized for right-handed playing only. You may find it surprising that one of the top flute makers lives in West Virginia. I think he lives in Elkins. His name his John Gallagher. You can find his contact info at: www.firescribble.net/flute/makers.html
However, his flutes are pro-grade instruments and are priced accordingly. I don't know about crystal flutes, but if you're looking for a good inexpensive flute for Irish music, you should look at the flutes by M&E (Michael Cronnolly) and also Desi Seery. You can find both of these at www.irishflutestore.com Or you could order direct from the makers.
Good luck,
Jonathan
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by jzmilton
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
Mutepointe,
Do what I did- make your own. Just follow Doug Tipple's instructions at this site
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Elife2all/dougswebspace/id6.html
I've built lots of them. The first one will take an hour or so, and soon you can knock them off in 20 minutes.
I don't see why you couldn't just flip a wooden flute over. The important point is the embouchure hole. You must blow against a sharp wedge to deflect part of the air inside and part of the air outside.
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
Hello Mutepointe,
We had a discussion not long ago about this,
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/7878/
My advice is: learn right handed. No difference in playing, real difference in access to instruments.
Best o' luck in yer learnin'
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by EastPole
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
I agree with Janek that a good way forwards if you want to play keyed flutes is to learn to play right handed - left handed keyed flutes are very rare and you may need to get one custom made. You may feel that changing sides is more trouble than it is worth - Michael McGoldrick plays left handed so you can take that as an inspiration! I've got a M&E which is fine for playing sessions - I was using a Tony Dixon which I found was a very easy flute to start on but doesn't have the tone of the M&E. Both are polymer so easy to look after, and both would play fine left handed. You will find lots of discussions about M&E and Seery flutes - take your time and read up before buying, you'll save money in the long run. I got my M&E direct from Michael Cronnolly on Ebay. Good luck!
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by izzymac
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
Hi! The points listed above are accurate, and especially when applied to the modern , mostly seen as a claasical metal flute.
These CAN be purchased as specific LEFT handed flutes , but d cost more.
When I've had pupils come for lessons, especially young ones, I've explained that playing the tin whistle the RIGHT handed way opens up the option of all the woodwind family later on.
HOWEVER it must be regonised that in Irish Music there have been so many LH flute players, and for that matter LH fiddle players!
With the simple system flute it is very easy to play LH and not have to pay out for a more expensive instrument.
Myself, I'm left handed, but play flute RH and likewise some stringed instruments.
Think about it. You do have to use both hands equally well, fiddle , flute, pipes. YOU DO NEED BOTH HANDS!
Brianx
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by briantheflute
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
Sorry, should have mentioned the likes of Patsy Hanley, Cathal McConnell, Mick Moriarty, Tansey and so many more. Brilliant examples of LH simple system flute players!
Brianx
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by briantheflute
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
The only problem with playing most simple flutes LH is that the keywork (if any) gets in the way. You aren't using them anyway for trad Irish style, so if you find that any keys are annoying you, take them off (put them away safely for if you sell the beast) and block off the holes.
The other main problem is that you have to learn the tunes backwards, the Lefts of Man, The Girl I Right Behind Me and so on.
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by LastToFinish
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
wormdiet plays left handed...hopefully he'll show up here
# Posted on October 25th 2005 by Sunnybear
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
hey folks: thanks for your input. greg the piano tuner had the best advice. i stopped by a hardward store today. the clerk gave me a lesson on pvc pipe and as i was standing near the check-out, i saw in the discount bin a 10 piece needle file set for $3.88. the clerks got a good laugh that that pvc flutes sell over the internet go for $50. i'm going away the next couple of days so this project will have to wait til the weekend. i'll let you know how it turned out. thanks again.
mutepointe
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by mutepointe
Re: playing the 6-hole flute left-handed
well, this making a flute is harder than it sounds, at least for me. drilling them there holes in pvc with a hand drill isn't as easy as it sounds. i'm working on my drilling technique on scrap pipe before i go to the bother of measuring where the holes go. i'm also on the lookout for a metric yardstick or tape measure in west virginia. that's not easy either. and yes, i know a "metric yardstick" is something of an oxymoron. what do you all call those things?
# Posted on November 2nd 2005 by mutepointe