That I know of, there are simple-system flute makers (Burns, Sweet…) who tend to consistently “promote” their skills at offsetting the G (T3) and D (B3) holes. (Just an eighth of an inch can make a HUGE difference…) And, I think, almost everyone at this forum would concede that offsetting those holes improves ergonomics and speed for flute players, yet doesn’t harm tone. So why would any flute player want inline holes on their simple-system flute? They hurt your hands. They slow you down!
I have small hands, and the inline holes are not a problem at all. On the other hand (no pun intended) I have met players that have learned on “ergonomic” flutes and can’t pick up a inline flute and play it, as they hands have become familiar to the custom finger holes.
So I would say that in the long run it is better to get accustomed to playing with a inline holed flute. Of course if there is a medical problem tat makes it impossible to play and in line flute, then go for it!
Jut two cents worth…
I find the “ergonomic” hole layout counter-intuitive. I’ve been playing instruments with inline holes off and on for 30-someodd years. I got a flute with an offset G awhile backI’m getting used to it. I don’t find it any easier on the hands, but I do find that it makes it easier not to hold on with the pinky or RH3 when playing Csharps.
Total nonsense, most of the great flute makers of the 18th 19th and 20th
centuries used inline toneholes, some later makers who pretend to improve
flute design, just to hopefully get their names on the history book of flute improvement etc, and it does’nt help in anyway except in the mind of some
wanabe fluteplayer who speeds through the tune missing most of the notes,
and totally ruining the piece of music
I think that offset ergonomic finger holes for a flute make a lot of sense. It is true that flutes have traditionally been made with inline finger holes, but it doesn’t follow that inline finger holes are therefore superior for that reason alone. I had a classic 1956 Chevrolet that was a beautiful car. However, it didn’t have seat belts, and it had a hard torpedo-shape in the center of the stearing wheel that would impale you in the chest with a front collision. That was the way that they used to make cars, but in terms of safety, they were not superior to our modern designs. In fact, they were deadly, but we didn’t think about it back then. In the past five years I have had two front collisions in a modern car with seat belts, shoulder belts, and air bags. I walked away from both collisions, but I would have been dead or seriously injured if I had been driving my old 56 Chevy. I will restate the idea that I am advocating: just because something has been done for hundreds of years in one way, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for improvement.
My hands are not big. But my fingers don’t fit a flute with offset holes. The holes just feel so close together, it takes a lot of effort to cover them. Perhaps my brain is broken, but I much prefer inline holes.
What about those who use Piper’s Grip? You can’t play a Flute with offset holes using Pipers Grip. Although, I do have one Flute where the offset holes actually make the first and second holes painfully far apart. The only reason I haven’t sold that Flute is because it is perfect in every other way.
I use Piper’s grip on the right hand and it only takes a few seconds mind set change when I play the CBurns ergonomic. I grew up playing fife with no such thing as off-set holes. Inline flutes work just fine and so do off set. Its up to the player to make that simple adjustment. Let your mind and fingers do the work and they will.
BillG
Hi Jack. This is probably a hijack.
I find that it doesn’t so much matter about the finger holes because you can get used to them after a few minutes when you switch.
What I find matters more, for me anyway, is the eight of an inch or so difference in DIAMETER of the flute itself, and the size of the fingerholes themselves. I have noticed it more so lately than I ever did.
Just something to think about.
M
And what about when you switch to an Eb flute, or a Bb? Your fingers have to adjust to that, too.
But at least, there is a choice out there for those who want it.
I find offset holes a wee bit faster.
I’m quicker on the CB flutes, but I
don’t care about this a great deal.
Plainly a case of different strokes
for different folks. Better for
having the options.
Another take on this…
I have small hands and play wooden flute using pipers style grip on both hands. Offset holes don’t help me enough to allow standard grip and make it nearly impossible to play using piper style grip.
I may as well have my say …
I have long fingers and can generally play instruments that others find difficult or impossible. However, I can’t play a 2.5 shakuhachi with in-line holes, and I don’t think anyone (bar Henry the Octopus) can either. So, if someone blessed with delicate hands can avoid severe muscular problems by having the holes rearranged, I think that is a good thing.
The caveat is that people who NEED offset holes (as opposed to those who just prefer them) should probably get their flute made to fit their own hands, not a generic offset arrangement.
PS I have no problem playing my Burns Folk Flute with piper’s grip on the RH. I have to adopt this grip so I can reach the flute with my pinky for bracing. So long as you are not skin and bone, there should be enough padding on the inside of the finger joints to cover most hole positions.
Inline holes are much friendlier for us lefties too 
This, too, is perhaps not very clear-cut. I’d imagine somebody like Loren or Terry could give their insights into how monkeying about with hole positions changes tone.
Just to add that, when it comes to Bb flutes,
offset holes are indeed a blessing, IMO.
The 2.5 Shakuhachi I mentioned is effectively an Ab flute with a few holes missing, so i can imagine that an in-line Bb simple-system would be pretty difficult to finger!
I support the idea of making a flute more ergonimcally sound. I’m an industrial designer and human factors are a concern of my job. If a slight change like offsetting a hole can make the flute less stressful on the hands, then it’s a good improvement. Human-made objects should conform to humans as well as possible, not the other way around. I don’t think it is by any means ‘just’ a gimmick. Sure, it is a selling point, but it’s one the truly adds value to the flute.
Doug makes a great point about design and puts it about as well as it can be put.
I don’t find this to be the case with my keyless Bb at all. The finger spread isn’t really that much different to the D flute (but yer arms are further to the right to accommodate the increased distance between the embouchure hole and the tone holes).
I’ve got a D bamboo flute which has an offset G hole, and that hurts my G finger so much it’s unplayable (by me). If the G was in line with the rest of the holes, I’d be able to play it without difficulty.
Just goes to show that people are different, I suppose.
I’ve noticed the same thing, Mary.
Yeah, I had a Burns Bb for a while, and actually found the offset fingerholes to be awkward to use. I wish they’d been in-line (if I had it to do over again, I’d’ve ordered the thing with in-line holes).
I found it strange, as Gary’s noted, that the distance between fingerholes isn’t much greater on a Bb than on a D; it does feel like you’re reaching waaayyyy over to your right to get to the first holes, though!
I can’t imagine what’s wrong with offset holes if a body needs 'em, though. I wonder what percentage of folks really do need them, however, as I’ve seen pretty young wee kids playing along just fine on a full-size D flute with in-line holes. . .