I’ve an Eamonn Cotter E flat on the way this very week. He’s made some of the best E flats I’ve played.
I had a great one of his before I made the dubious descision to sell it, then it got smashed up in the US mail… YEZ BASHTARDS!!!
If I think of it I’ll post a message about it when it arrives… how ‘dark’ it sounds, the Gadobe antelope horn(dry season) type brittleness of the timbre, the ergonomics and how it suits my .8""span, how it has improved my depression, social life, alcoholism, halitosis etc. etc…
I’m having fun with the Butler F that I got for my daughter (shhh… Christmas present!) with its newly made endcap and lower ring. The embouchure’s different enough from my D that I’m not making it sound as good as my D, or quite possibly it’s not the flute my D is.
I like the idea of an Eb. My right hand feels more relaxed just thinking about it. But sounds like I’d have to get good enough to become a soloist, as none of my music friends have instruments that can play in that key.
Doesn’t part of the appeal come from increased efficiency and ergonomics for the player?
"Having never played an Eb, what do other people think here? Does the Eb sound nicer to you as a solo instrument? "
Definitely not. I think Eb is a horrible, screechy, and unnecessary key, possibly damaging to the ears, and much I prefer to play, and listen to instruments in D, or failing that Bb . Eb and F is like fife territory to me, completely lacking in soul and balls, and depth.
I recently got a new 6 keyed Murray E flat, which I have to say is one very easy flute to play. I played a few sessions with it and played it for about a month or so after I received it and to tell you the truth it has not been played since. This is not because its a bad flute or its hard to play I dont really know what it is but theres just something that keeps me going to open the D flute case.
My favourite flute key to play in is C I just love it, theres something about the depth in it and I also like B flat but C just does it for me. I dont want to part with the 6 Keyed E flat Murray but if I never played it for long periods of time I would rather see it going to a good home were somebody could play the S..t out of it.
Seriously, that’s the tragedy about an Eb for punters like me. Once Loren (with a little assist by rama) helped resolve my Hammy’s identity crisis (an Eb trapped in a D lifestyle – ! – transgendered flutes? What next?), I said “BONUS! COOL! I’ve got an Eb!” Talk about flutes being like Christmas!
But I think I’ve played it fewer than 15 times since, basically enough to keep it in working order. And it’s sad, because it also happens to be the handsomest flute I own, just a pleasure to look at. And much more rewarding now that I try to play it to maximize its sweet Ebness rather than trying to pound it into a darker D-like mold.
So for me, at least at this point in my puntership, I think if 1) you’re a solo player like Harry, etc., and are good enough to have people accompany YOU; or 2) have friends who have extra fiddles or don’t mind tuning up and down, Ebs are fantastic. But … in reality, 1) ain’t gonna happen in MY life, and 2) doesn’t seem to be very frequent at this point, either.
Alas. So while I’d almost kill for a Cotter or Murray Eb, I can’t justify it. In fact, I really ought to send the Hammy on as well.
Also much of my time is spent playing quite alone.
However I confess I spend that time largely
on D flute, cause that’s what I need to play
with others.
From the general feedback it seems an Eb is in order for the solo player. Since I especially enjoy the Clare/Galway style, I’m thinking Eamonn Cotter. Does Mr. Cotter have an e mail address?
Actually, I only used this method to play along with Peader O’Lochlain on Jack Rowe’s on the Thing Itself. It was hard, but it worked for that.
But, the point I was trying to make is that, if the head is in all the way, which works for some flutes, pulling it out might bring it into D easily enough.
mimcgann wrote:
Try pulling out the head and see if you have a D flute.
When I push the head in all the way on my Paddy Ward flute I have, in efffect, an Eb.
Mike
You’d have to do a lot of lipping to play it in tune that way.
When I went to order the keys for my Ormiston I tried an Eb body for it and it sounded amazing, really bright, punchy sound. George said it was based on a Pratten design. If I’d had the money I would have bought one to use for playing with the pipes and samba band I’m in and for just playing on my own. Maybe next year
I understand what you’re saying, however when you push the head in on your Paddy Ward flute (assuming it’s in good tune as a D flute) what you have is a very out of tune Eb. One might be able compensate by lipping like crazy, but the whole scale will be “off” - the notes will be out of tune with each other, not simply equally sharp or flat.
All I’m trying to do by pointing this out is to let folks know that most people will not be able to play well in-tune this way. By all means I encourage people to give it a try, with a tuner to keep you honest, however beginners would be best served to play their instruments in the key for which they were designed, so as not to develop bad embouchure habits and train their ears to hear an out of tune scale as in-tune.
It’s tempting to ask my flute’s maker for an Eb body for my D flute. Is there any disadvantage to going this way, rather than having an Eb only instrument?
And does anyone have any experience the the M&E polymer Eb?
. Eb and F is like fife territory to me, completely lacking in soul and balls, and depth.
! – transgendered flutes? What next?), I said “BONUS! COOL! I’ve got an Eb!” Talk about flutes being like Christmas!
