Learning to use the keys

Irish Flute
1

I recently purchased my first keyed flute and am in the process of trying to learn to use the keys. I really like Terry’s idea of learning accidentally. The main reason is that I like a lot of the tunes on his list. So I am starting out with “Cook in the Kitchen”.

My question revolves around the clacking sound the keys make when trying to play at a reasonable speed. If I play very slowly, I don’t hear it so much, but when I play to speed I really hear it. My wife says she doesn’t hear it, but my musician friend did and I do.

The flute is a McGee Rudall Perfected 6 key if that helps. It is in perfect working order and I am sure it is not a problem with the flute.

Is the clacking just a part of the beast or is that something that one must really work on to stop it from happening? If it something I must work on, do you have any suggestion for how to quiet them down?

Thanks.

Jeff

2

Which keys are clacking?
When are they clacking, that is, when in the process of using the key
does the click happen?

There is usually a bit of cork under the touch where it touches wood,
so as to dampen any sound. Is that when there’s a click
or is it made by the key sealing the hole?

Terry of course is someone to ask.
Also there is the option of not caring much about this
and letting itself sort itself out. Not a big deal, in fact.

3

Well this is the first and only tune using keys that I have tried and it only requires the use of the long Fnat key. Since I haven’t used any other keys, I don’t know if it happens with them also.

I believe the noise is happening on closure of the key. The pads are in excellent condition and I don’t hear any sound when I just open and close the key. It only happens when I am playing.

Maybe it will go away with practice, like the squeaks in the upper register did. LOL

Jeff

4

if it were me I wouldn’t sweat it. If it keeps up, I would write to Terri.

some noise from keys isn’t a big problem.

5

You most likely hear it more than anyone else and when playing at speed I doubt anyone will.

Clacking on open is usually the problem and as already said a bit of cork will fix that.

I can’t say I’ve yet heard anyone complain of this closing type of noise and never heard of anyone trying to compensate for it in playing.

I suppose if your pads are really dry it might make more noise.

Are they leather?

Try putting a little dab of water.

I usually lick or spit on it a bit on mine if they aren’t sealing right away… yuck I know, but only do it before eating or drinking. :slight_smile:

Perhaps that might soften them up and dampen the sound.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

6

Isn’t this like a lot of other instruments up close? On a button box you sometimes hear button clicks. On Boehm instruments you hear pad closures. On a guitar or mando you hear string sliding. If you’re not used to keys, it probably seems overly loud. But as long as it’s not clattering, it’s just part of the normal acoustic signature of the instrument, and proves you’re not playing a synthesizer. :slight_smile:

7

Interesting… even open holes can make noise. Listen and you can hear the fingers make a popping sound when they hit the holes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4q-OrNG3bQ

Regards,

Kirk

8

Heh, that sounds like my setting I learned from Ben Power.


You want to be able to hear that rapping of the fingers on the holes… well I do at least.

Its something I’ve worked to make happen.

9

My guess is like what Jim said; that the problem’s at the user end of the key … when you’re playing the tune closer to speed you’re pushing the key down harder and the touch is hitting the flute, which can create a distinct clacking noise. Even if Terry put a little cork pad under the touch (which he thoughtfully did on my McGee Pratten; the man thinks of everything!), if you hit it hard enough you’re going to get some noise.

Good luck!

10

Thanks everyone,

My flute does have the cork pad under the lever as you describe. I think that the noise is occurring when I let the key go too fast and it snaps back. At least it seems to happen less when I try not to do that. So that is what I will work on.

As was mentioned, I think it might just still be part of the quaintness of the Irish flute. I remember working hard to not make the string plucking sound of my mandolin. It is just part of the sound of the mandolin.

Jeff

11

it might be that the pad will quiet down as it breaks in (I have no idea what Terry does for pads)

historically I’ve always been fond of
“ask the maker” :poke:

You are kinda putting him in a spot by talking about it, in front of him and behind his back at the same time. If he kibitzes in your thread it becomes somewhat of a commercial post.

12

Denny,

I agree if there is a problem with a flute, ask the maker. Terry is very responsive to answering questions about his flutes or anything flute for that matter. He has been more than helpful in answering questions about the flute that I have asked him. I REALLY like the flute and I am not saying anything behind his back in front of him.

I want to make it perfectly clear that I don’t think there is anything wrong with the flute at all. It is me as a novice keyed flute player trying to ask a question about technique. The only reason I mentioned the type of flute is so folks would know what type of keys, etc. that I am dealing with.

The noise is getting less and less as I work on lifting my finger more carefully from the key. I think that is what the problem was.

Jeff