Irish flute size

Irish Flute
1

Hi everyone!

I’m thinking about buying my first Irish flute, and I have a question. I was wondering about the distance between the sixth and seventh holes on an eight-hole wooden flute. I have very small hands (my ring size is 3 1/2), and I don’t know if I can even reach the last two holes. I’m considering a flute on ebay (Item #3733981094).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10183&item=3733981094&rd=1

Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks.
Amy

2

Amy,

I would worry about trying to get the thing to play at that price. (If it seems too good to be true…)

Casey Burns offers his “Folk Flute” with the “small hands” option. If you are trying to learn to play flute it is extremely helpful to know that the problems that you are having are NOT the flute…

Denny

3

Amy,

Two things:

  1. Don’t touch that thing on eBay with a barge-pole.

  2. It’s actually a six-hole flute. Those last two holes down the bottom aren’t fingered, they remain open (they’re ‘leftovers’ from when the flutes were keyed, those big holes at the bottom would be keyed for low C and low C# I believe).

You’d be far far better off spending your money on a flute from a reputable maker, and you’ll find any number of recommendations here on the forum. The Casey Burns folk flute springs to mind (though I’ve not played one)… I’m sure others will chip in soon enough!

Hope this helps…

4

Hi Amy,
The ebay flute that you refer to was probably made in Pakistan. The photos of the flute look great, but it is impossible to know how a flute will play by looking at a photo. I ordered a similar Pakistani flute some time ago, and the flute was impossible to play. Some of the notes didn’t play at all. And it had been advertised by the online music store to be easy to play. I returned it and got my money back. I don’t think that I would recommend any wooden flute made in Pakistan.

The seller of the flute in question is a maker of native american flutes. He also imports flutes and whistles. He has a 100% ebay rating with many satisfied customers. It is indicated that he answers emails, so you might want to “ask seller a question” near the top of the ebay page.

I concur that the Casey Burns folk flute with small offset finger holes is a good choice for someone with very small hands who wants a low D flute that they can finger. You also might consider a smaller flute in a higher key, such as a G flute. I am going to list a link to my webpage, where I have a flute buyers guide that may be of interest to you.

http://home.earthlink.net/~life2all/dougswebspace

Best wishes and happy fluting,
Doug Tipple

5

I agree with the messages above that advise you to avoid the dubious ebay flute.

Casey Burns’ folk flutes are very good instruments. While I was waiting for a boxwood flute from Casey, he loaned me a folk flute. It was the small hands version. It had a great, woody sound, well in tune, and was very comfortable re: the finger spread. The mopane wood is beautiful, too. Do a search here on the folk flute, and you’ll see that quite a few people “sing its praises.”

Good luck in your decision, Jeanie

6

Unless you know the buyer and trust the buyer implicitly, never buy a flute without at least a 3-day trial and return policy. And if you are a beginner it’s good to have an accomplished player to vet the flute for you.
You might buy a Pakistani flute, not be able to get good sound out of it, and think it was your fault, when it was the fault of a poorly made flute. However, there are Pakistani flutes that have been reworked by Rod Cameron, and these offer good value.

7

Cocuswood?-my Ar*e!!
That ‘Artifact’ is a FLO (Flute Like Object),it would look good on the wall,or maybe light the fire(if you still live in the 19th C.).
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.

8

Yes, second the above–Casey Burn’s small hand flutes
are fine; also even his normal sized flutes are
uncommonly easy to play because of the
ergonomics. It seems plain, too, that the folk flute
can be resold at a good price if ever you
wish to move up, however some of our
chiffers feel there’s no up to which to move.

9

Thanks for all the great advice. I definitely will not buy the ebay flute, but I think I will get a folk flute. I’ve played “regular” flute for years, but I’m looking forward to trying something new.

Thanks again.
Amy

10

You will not need the “small hand” option if you can make the reach on a Boehm. The embouchure will be a bit different, but it is not one of the shallow chimney ones.

Denny

11

Just checked out the link. Why, that’s the lightest cocuswood I’ve ever laid eyes on! Almost looks like rock maple…naaahhh. :roll:

Round embouchure hole, too…

Aren’t there some sort of misrepresentation consequences?

12

Karma?

Denny

13

I was thinking of something more immediate, akin to flogging.

14

I am afraid that our civilized society finds that objectionable.

Denny

15

Yes, curious when you think about it, isn’t it?

16

We’ve come a long way! :astonished: :roll:

17

sigh

I suppose so…a slap on the wrist, then.

And a fine.

18

Well, you would have to wait for a trial…

Time to quit. Starting to go over the top!

Denny

19

Another moronic thread.

20

Okay, then. :slight_smile:

Waitaminnit…you’ve been pretty squeamish. It’s not YOU selling that flute, is it??? :laughing: