Adding keys to a keyless flute, and key configurations

[fyffer]

I have a keyless Healy D, and am considering adding keys. The question I’m opening up for discussion is with respect to which keys to add, and where.

Obviously, I will have to have the E-flat for R4, and the G# for L4 (and I will have those added in that order). The next question is about the F-nat. I know there has been much discussion about the long vs. short F keys, and I’m leaning towards the short F. The only drawback I’ve heard mention is the D to F-nat when playing in D minor-ish keys. I don’t think I’ll have much of a problem with this, seeing as I’m accustomed to the “rolling” of the finger that would be required to do this, having played the Saxophone as my first wind instrument.

With this in mind, the next key I would have would be the B-flat (though my cross-fingered B-flat isn’t bad at all in the second octave). What is the traditional placement for a B-flat key? I’m very new to the whole wooden flute thing, so I’m not even sure where Healy would normally put one, but as a sax player, I’d like to have it above RH1. On a sax, for those who don’t know, B-flat can be played by fingering an A and pressing a key (one of three) with the side of the left index finger. I think a similar key config would work nice for me. What is the “normal” placement for this key, and is that config unheard of?

TIA!

[Denny]

Bb is much like Fnat… You sharp the note below. I don’t know if Skip offers a long Bb key but that is what you are describing.

…however you are talking yourself into a short Fnat!

There’s enough Bb fingerings on Sax that one of them will always work.

Denny

[fluti31415]

@fyffer

I have a keyless Healy D, and am considering adding keys. The question I’m opening up for discussion is with respect to which keys to add, and where.
With this in mind, the next key I would have would be the B-flat (though my cross-fingered B-flat isn’t bad at all in the second octave). What is the traditional placement for a B-flat key? I’m very new to the whole wooden flute thing, so I’m not even sure where Healy would normally put one, but as a sax player, I’d like to have it above RH1.

I have yet to hear back from Skip regarding pricing and placement of keys (either he’s busy or lazy - not sure which, this time of year), so I figured I’d poll you folks, since people seem to chime in on these issues fairly readily.

TIA!

In my understanding, the “traditional” place to put the Bb is the left thumb. I think that’s the hardest key to hit, but it may be my own inexperience with holding a keyed flute. I have an old Kohlert that I got for $50 at an auction (I could have gotten it for $30, but that’s another story), and it has a RH1 Bb key. That flute is worth $30, but the RH Bb is the one thing about it that I like.

I know that Skip will do a RH Bb key, because I asked him once. And he also has pictures of Andra Bohnet’s flute, which uses this setup along with a thumb hole for C instead of a RH1 C key.
http://skiphealy.com/frames/fr_instruments.htm

I bet he will do a LH Bb also. Let us know when you find out.


(PS – I have not abandoned GEB; I am just slow).

[fyffer]

@fluti31415

In my understanding, the “traditional” place to put the Bb is the left thumb. I think that’s the hardest key to hit, but it may be my own inexperience with holding a keyed flute. I have an old Kohlert that I got for $50 at an auction (I could have gotten it for $30, but that’s another story), and it has a RH1 Bb key. I know for a fact that Skip will put the Bb at R1, if you want it, because I asked him once. Then you’d either have two keys for R1 (the Bb and the C nat) or you could also ask Skip to add a thumb hole to play C nat like a Boehm flute. I have not seen one of these, but they really seem like a good idea to me.

Probably funny, but for now, I have absolutely no interest in a Cnat key. I’m perfectly comfortable with cross-fingering the Cnat in both octaves, and especially in the low octave, I like the fact that I can get slightly different shades of C-nat depending on whether I finger it with 1, 2 or 3 fingers:
OXO OOO
OXX OOO
OXX XOO
(cross-thread posting regarding equal vs. just intonation)
I especially like the 3rd one above when playing slow airs in G, since it’s the most in tune for the key of G.

I don’t like the idea of the thumb hole for Cnat, though others, especially Healy 10-hole fifers, fancy it. I tend to shift my thumb on occasion for comfort, and having it locked in place already has me thinking “cramp!”.

It’s good to hear Skip will do a “long B-flat”, but apparently he’ll do anything based on his “custom work” page on his site. Now, if he’ll only get back to me …

P.S. Let’s just read GEB informally, and ping each other when something strikes us. This summer is turning out to be pretty busy for me, and leisure time (for reading) does not appear to be on the horizon.

[Jayhawk]

I’m with you on Cnat through cross fingering, but doesn’t OXO XXX also work for you (I’ve yet to meet a flute it didn’t work on, but this could be the first) in the first octave - lovely sound to that one.

I’d definitely get a RH Bb if you can - I had an old german flute that had that touch and it’s much easier than my LH Bb touch I currently have.

I also like short F better than long F - I’m also an old sax player, but I never made the connection that that might be why I like the short F over the long F!

Eric

[Jonathan]

The long F can be used in virtually all situations. The short F is not easily used in some situations (like the D to F you described). That’s my experience anyway. I have both F keys, but I only use the long one.

[fyffer]

I wanted to post a clarification and apology to Mr. Healy for a statement (which has since been edited) in my original post. I used a poor choice of words, probably borne out of my own impatience and bad disposition brought on by the nasty heat we’re getting here in the Northeast. If you read my original post, and got some negative impression, please disregard. I have great respect for Skip’s work, and any harm done to his reputation as a maker at my bidding would be undeserved.