Bb Flute

Irish Flute
1

I’m thinking I might want one, but I’m a bit concerned about playability. Anyone have one that could share their playing experience? I have medium sized man-hands and have no problems with a Pratten in D. Just how big is a Bb? Are the holes miles apart? Do you have to use a piper’s grip like you do on a low D whistle?

Anyone have a Bb they might part with?

Thanks!

Kelly

2

Casey Burns Bb’s are quite manageable. I love mine. Sorry, I won’t part with it!

The main thing is not the holes being miles apart, it’s the top hand being miles away from your head. That can be a bit of a strain if you don’t orient your body right.

3

I also have a Burns in Bb. I have smallish (man) hands and find the hole distances quite manageable. Don’t want to part with it, though.

4

My Burns Bb flute is for sale. The fingerspacing on it is very much like on a D flute. See my Burns flute along with my Aebi Rudall D:

Here’s a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxbpNl9p3g8

5

I believe you own an Aebi Bb aswell ? Is there much difference compared with your Burns ?

6

I believe you own an Aebi Bb aswell ? Is there much difference compared with your Burns ?

There is. The holes on the Burns are much closer together resulting in a very comfortable playing position. The downside is you have to lip the notes in tune a bit (like on most flutes). Holes are offset for playing comfort (for right-handed players). The flute is very easy to blow with a loose embouchure and responds quickly. The Aebi is a bit harder to blow but can be pushed further I think. The Burns has a very rich second octave, louder than the Aebi. The Aebi is better in the first octave IMO.

But this is just me and my embouchure. Other players might come to different conclusions…

7

Many thanks for your review :slight_smile: i know what to look for if things don’t work out with the Aebi Bb i’ve got on order…

8

I played onkel’s Bb Burns recently and it’s certainly a good flute. Very easy to play and even barks with a quite relaxed embouchure as opposed to many D flutes which need a far more focused air stream. I don’t find the tuning too difficult, just the A (as if it were a D flute) needs a bit of work, but it’s not that hard. The rest works more or less automatically, at least for me and my crappy ears. :laughing:

9

if you have medium man’s hands, it should not be a problem.
I have medium woman’s hands and I play the aebi Bb too.
it took me some time to adjust but it is fine now.
the tone holes are not much further apart indeed, it is more that you need to adjust your posture and grip slightly.
then learn to relax while playing it (heavier than a D flute) and you will be fine if you have got the patience for it.

they are real cool flutes and worth working for :slight_smile:

lixnaw, great to see you also have one on order, don’t worry about the playability, I know you have fibromyalgia (me too).

I won’t part with this one for anything in the world …
(YES I know if you read this YOU are smiling LOL)

10

You will have to use a pipers’ grip if the tube is cylindrical bored.
All the postive comments previous to this post related to tapered bore instruments and thats the way you should go IMO.