Is a lined head joint necessary for a flute, or is unlined good also? I understand that the lined heaed joint allows for more precise tuning when one is playing in a session, but is it a necessity? I’m saving up for my first wooden flute, and I’m trying to get a good instrument without spending for a feature I may not need.
Thanks to all who reply.
With best regards,
Pfreddee(Stephen)
I think you’re asking about a tuning slide, which is helpful when playing with others (or recordings). Those HJs can be lined, unlined, or half-lined for a different sound or playing characteristics. Some flutes just have a long tenon to allow some tuning room - depends on the maker.
a lined head joint is a little brighter town then unlined head, like Kevin said, both have a tuning slide. I like both!
I think I have a slightly different take on this question. If you buy a modern made flute it will be fairly close to being in tune at A=440Hz, and may not (depending on the maker) not have any of the tuning anomalies you might find in an older flute (the famous flat foot syndrome fr’instance). However, I have to ask if you are currently playing a flute, and if so what kind? If it is a Tipple,it will have a well thought out embouchure and chimney height, and you will have already started addressing the problem of blowing down the tonehole rather than across it. If you play a modern flute or a bamboo flute, you will have to adjust your blow to the deeper chimney. The point being that you will then be blowing progressively flatter to get the ‘Hard,Dark’ sound generally favored for ITM. A modern flute with a tuning slide will be set up to be in tune with a middlin; extension for a middlin; blow, and will allow you to tune up or down to allow for you individual blow. And more importantly will allow you to grow into your flute without being forced into any peculiar embouchurre gymnastics.That, tom me, would be the best reason for a newer player to get a tuning slide.
Bob
Need for a tuning slide might depend on how you play, with whom you play, settings, all that.
So I play in a dance band with a piano guy. We might arrive at a hall and he likes the sound of the piano there, so doesn’t want to use his keyboard. The piano is in tune with itself but not the rest of the world. Fiddler doesn’t care, he’s going to tune to the piano anyway. Where does that leave me?
Or I’m in tune in the early part of the evening and later a bit off because bodies have heated up the hall. Or it’s a very cold room, and I really don’t want to adjust the way I blow because of that. Or there’s no piano but we’ve come in out of the cold and there’s little time for the fiddler to re-tune between dances as his instrument adjusts, and the mando player (not busy selecting tunes for the next dance) just chases the fiddle’s tuning. You see the difficulties. Slides can be a must for some of us.
If you play alone or with folks that are always perfectly tuned to electronic tuners, different story.