People often have trouble covering the finger holes on large cylindrical-bore flutes made from pvc pipe or bamboo. The most challenging stretch for most people is the span between the 5th and 6th finger holes. A customer in Australia, who can easily play my low D flute, asked me if I could make a joint between the 5th and 6th hole so that she could adjust the hole positions on a larger low Bb flute. I have to admit that it’s an idea that works, one that I can now offer in a custom flute. This is a photo of two different designs for low Bb flute end joints. Both flutes are 3-piece flutes.
Yep, low whistle makers like Mike Burke have been offering bottom holes that rotate on their “big boys” for a few years. It does work and unlike “ergonomic hole positions” it works for more hands. I myself have thought of making an instrument where the lower two holes for each hand can be rotated. That, along with a joint between the two hands would essentially make all the holes positionable by the player and could serve as a platform to measure custom hole offsets. Too many ideas and not enough time! Maybe this winter?
Feadoggie
P.S. Doug, I re-discovered an old thread while looking for some whistle information and Mike Burke shared this tidbit in that discussion. Great minds…
