A left handed person can play a keyless flute easily in a left-handed position, i.e. right hand on top, but in a lot of cases, including with my flutes, they will be blowing against the wrong side of the embouchure. This works, but you will get a much better sound by blowing against the correct side!
As I didn’t have to wait long for the flute as it was already made. The Ginsberg flute would this flute been made for right handed player.
Do all keyless flutes from other makers have to be blowed against the right side for right/left handed players to get the correct sound.
Shouldn’t be much of a problem. Several lefties have owned and played standard right handed (keyed) flutes. I’ve seen pictures of both Cathal McConnell and Michael McGoldrick playing very obviously right handed flutes and I’m sure they sounded just fine.
Check out www.theflow.org.uk, a website run by Scottish fluting ciotog Gordon Turnbull for more info.
I’m not sure you can say that unequivically. My Casey Burns has a very definite embouchure set-up for right-handed players only. The far side of the embouchure is gouged out in several places. I would think you would have to verify each flute before purchase to make sure it will meet your needs, unless, of course, you order one with an embouchure specifically for a left-handed player.
Ah, but our man Fergus isn’t playing a Casey Burns flute, now is he?
It is now becoming more and more common for flutemakers to tweak the embouchre hole in some way. However, there are plenty of flutes out there where there is no difference, or it can be blown from either way and the difference is pretty negligible. I’m a lefty who’s played more than a few right handed flutes and only rarely have I noticed much of a difference in response and overall playability when I play them “backwards.”
Fergus, is your flute a Pratten-based model or of the Rudall & Rose variety?
Tonight I put new hemp dental foss on the two joint parts of the flute. The flute is sounding better already. I just have to practice more and get the breathing and able to hold the blowing.
That’s the way. Just keep at it day after day after day and…well, it’ll probably still annoy the bejeezus out of you, but you will start to get better. Good luck!
Are you getting any lessons from anyone? You’re certainly in the right town for flute players…and pipers…and…What the hell am I doing stuck out here in Oregon anyway?!