Complete beginner

Irish Flute
1

Hi all, I’m an italian who want learn to play irish flute, but I don’t know what kind and which maker… I play guitar (since 1986) and whistle (november 2004).

But my really passion is flute: I bought a bohem, and I found hard but funny to play it.

Can someone help me to find my way? :slight_smile:


(please, sorry for my bad english)

2

Hi Gandred and welcome. :slight_smile:

How much money do you want to spend?

3

Gandred you might look at this one. It’s on ebay and is being sold by one of our fellow board members that lives in Italy.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47102&item=7307305176&rd=1

Doc

4

I think I can spend about 1600-1700 usd (1500 euro), but in some months. I will order in summer. I prefer a full cromatic instrument, so there will be four keys on the flute at least, if I understand.

I don’t know the difference between rudall, pratten etc… and the mount of the key on the flute (before or after making the body)… and the woods… and the maker.

Thank you for the answer and the link :slight_smile:

5

Have a look here http://www.firescribble.net/flute/makers.html directory of flute makers with links. In your price range there is a wide variety of great flutes available. Another thing to consider is the waitlist, good makers might have a wait time of several years…

6

Gandred,

Terry’s web site has lot’s of good info, that should answer some of your questions.

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/

Bill

7

Thanks all for the answer, I follow your advices!

:slight_smile:

8

Hi Gandred

Two makers that come to mind that could get you a four-key flute in a fairly short time are:


Dave Copley

http://www.celticlands.com/page3.html

and

Casey Burns

http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/cat_d.php

Both make great instruments and would be close to your price range. :slight_smile:


Doc

9

I visit the Copley pages. Do you think buy a keyless flute “with block mounts for addition of up to six keys” is a good idea?

I prefer a flute with small holes (few air, is right?) like Terry McGee Grey Larsen Preferred or Copley (I saw a post).

:slight_smile:

10

Copley flutes have medium finger holes and a (large-ish) Pratten-esque bore. As far as the number of keys go, 4 keys will make the flute chromatic, but the C-natural key is very useful, especially for playing C-nat and C-sharp in-tune in the second octave. The long F really beats the short F for some passages, such as D to F or Eb to F slurs (and vice-versa). I’d recommend 6 keys. Getting a flute with 6 block-mounts and adding the keys later is a good way to split the cost into two more digestible chunks.
Very roughly, a Rudall-style flute will have a narrower bore, small or medium finger holes, and a complex and colorful sound. Pratten-style flutes generally have medium to large finger holes and a larger, unperturbed bore. They sometimes require a fair amount of push to sound their best, and I find the tone less complex than Rudall-style flutes. This is in the most general terms and should not be taken as gospel.