Fingerspan on Bb

Irish Flute
1

Hi all,

Now I have a few photos to share with you, showing the spacing of the holes on a Bb compared to a D flute. Not much of a difference as you can see:

left hand:

right hand:

I shouldn’t have used a flash… it may be a bit hard to spot the holes on the right, but if you have a close look, you’ll see them.

Here’s a photo of both flutes in full length:

The Bb does not really look like a Bb at first, because of its short foot. Both flutes were made by Tom Aebi and yes – I am very very happy with them!

I have also posted these along with my other flutes on the flute porn thread if you’re interested.

Claus

2

Nice pics Claus. Very interesting.
Two absolutely gorgeous flutes if you ask me. I’m thinking about getting a Bb flute quite soon. How is the air demand compaired to the concert pitch flute?

Cheers

3

Henke, air demand is pretty much the same as on the D. To get it rocking, you can use a bit more pressure if you wish. Interestingly, to me the Bb seems more forgiving (embouchure-wise) than the D. I would have never expected that.

Claus

4

Does Tom Aebi have a website?

thanks,

5

No website, unfortunately, but he has information on models and prices available in *.doc format.
His email adress is: flutes@freesurf.ch

6

Just an innocent question: what is the interest of Bb (other instruments in session, tonality, etc.)?

What about C?

Thanks for help.

PhC

7

For me, it’s one of those things that if you’ve heard one, and you still ask, you wouldn’t understand. :slight_smile:

I just love the sound of a Bb flute. It’s one of the items highest on my wish-list.

8

Yeah, it’s the sound, definitely. Lower pitch flutes have a little something in their tone which is hard to explain. C is nice too, but Bb is probably as low as you can go on a conical wooden flute. Like many others, I got hooked to that sound after listening to Matt Molloy’s Heathery Breeze album.

Bb sessions aren’t that uncommon I think. I am fortunate enough to have a fine piper who owns a Bb full set living nearby. We had a session just last weekend together with a fiddle player and a bodhranista. It was magic! There was something pleasantly eerie about it. Like diving into a different world… smooth and … ok, I’ll stop now…
:heart:

Claus

9

Actually, I did play a flute in A once. Any lower than that, and you’d need Rachmaninoff hands to reach the holes…

Lovely looking flutes, by the way.

Anybody know what Tom Aebi’s waiting list is like these days?

I’d love to get a new 6-key (R&R style) AND some regulators for my uilleann pipes, AND a full set of pipes in C but I can’t decide which one I want most. I suppose since I can’t afford any of them, I might as well say that I’ll get them all…

10

I’ve waited about 13 months, but I think his waiting list has expanded to about 18 months for keyed flutes.

Anyway, I know your problem very well. My solution: Get them all!
My auntie says: depts are kind of money, too!! :laughing:

11

Well I’ve heard and I understand, if by that you mean hear something special about them, but I think this is a sensible question and I wish I could give a better answer. Flat pitch pipes in various keys each have their own special feel, but I wouldn’t single out one key as especially great, except of course that a particular key might just speak to you in a way that no other does.