HI,
I have been a whistle player for a few years and decided it was time to learn flute. Last week I got a tipple d, and though I love it, the stretch seems a tad far to me. My hands get sore after just a few songs. I don’t really want to buy a new flute unless I need to..but…
Do you think it would be worth getting a small handed burns folk flute, or should I tough it out with the tipple, hoping my hands will get used to it. Also which of these two flutes do you think is easier to learn on?
I’m pretty new to the flute myself. I had a hard time with the grip and getting good coverage. Until I read that some people use piper grip, just like on low whistle. I may try to go with a more traditional grip later on. Right now I’m playing a Tipple with in line holes, and the piper grip just feels more natural.
When I began with the flute, I had the same problem. I used the piper grip on the right hand, and the traditionnal one on the left. It helped me a lot.
I also found that I could manage a “full traditionnal” grip on a medium holed flute, and I had to keep this “half piper” grip on very large holed flutes like Prattens.
Anyway I find now that the stretch is easyer on the flute than on the low whistle. It’s a question of work.
I think I could probably manage a trad grip on a smaller holed flute myself. The way my fingers line up on the Tipple, my finger tips insted of pads want to cover the holes, and they darn near sink in them. Tipples have fairly large holes right? I can feel the notes when I play them often, and I’ve had a fiddle player tell me I’m getting a supprizing amount of volume.
Thanks for your input. The pipers grip is awkward with the offset finger holes, plus my fingertips really do want to sink into the holes. Things have been getting easier though with lots of practice. I did break down and buy a Casey Burns folk flute for small hands anyway so I could compare. It might be nice to have two flutes. I don’t really know but I’m guessing the Tipple is way louder which might be better for some things…would it be frowned upon in my local session group?
oh no…I don’t have that disease you all seem to be coming down with where you need to acquire more flutes and whistles than any human really needs…how do you stop yourselves?!
Cylindrical simple system flutes (like the Tipple)
are usually going to be harder to finger,
because the holes are spaced farther apart than
is the case with conical flutes. So you will probably
find the CB flute easier. But there is also the possiblility
that you just need to get used to the finger stretch.
So you might keep trying it, moving back and
forth tween the flutes.
Tavia, I’d really like to hear how you do with the small hands version. I’ve been holding off buying a flute until I can be somewhere that someone will let me just hold one for an evening. I’m really kind of scared that I might find the stretch too much.
I really like smearing notes on whistle, and would enjoy large tone holes for that reason. But I am too chicken to make an investment without being pretty sure that it won’t hurt to play.
You’ll find the small-handed version fine, I think. It’s really quite compact and convenient.
I have a small-handed Burns Rudall which is great. Very easy to cover even when Arthur Itis is visiting. I’ve never even had to think about it. It’s quick and responsive, too.
At the moment, I am getting used to a McGee Rudall with larger holes and a larger stretch. I’m playing it slightly slanted, but I want to go straight on, so I’m working on stretching that hand. It is getting there, bit by bit.
I also have a Cox bamboo D, which is quite large, and I have to use piper grip on the right to cover it. The small-handed Burns is quite a bit smaller.
Why don’t you ask if someone with a Burns small-handed folk flute will do a rubbing and mail it to you? If they tell you the circumference at the far left and far right holes, you can make a flute model out of a paper towel tube. (I’m not sure the holes and diameter of mine would be the same, but if you want a rubbing, PM me.)
You really can’t go wrong with one of those. The price is good and, if you don’t like it or you outgrow it, you can sell it.
Peggy, thanks for the ideas. I have been thinking that a small hand flute would be a good place to start. But rubbings! What a perfectly simple and beautiful suggestion! I hadn’t thought of it. Of course, that would tell me just what I need to know.
I’ll post a separate thread to see if I can find a variety of possibilities and go from there. You’re brilliant!
No, not brilliant. I seem to have borrowed without giving due credit. The idea came from someone else on this list many months ago.
Let’s see, it was Aodhan, who says that Hammy Hamilton (a lovely man, by the way), will send you a rubbing should you need one. Here:
P.S. No clue on the hammy sizes, although if you send him a letter, he’ll send you a rubbing of one of his flutes to compare. If I remember the one he sent me, it was comparable to maybe a titch larger than my M&E R/R.
Here are two things that helped me. I hope that they might also make a difference for you:
I moved my thumb position about 1/4" towards the bottom of the flute. I found it was easier to stretch the forefinger up than it was to stretch the ring finger down.
Posture. I found that by raising my right elbow and keeping the flute more horizontal helped a lot. Experimenting with the position of my right arm (from the shoulder to the elbow) helped me find a position that worked for me.
I would try to stay with the normal size flute for a period of time, (maybe six months, if you practice consistently??) simply because it will give you more choices if you want to purchase a different instrument down the road. But if it turns out that the standard size is just too big, then go for the CB small hands. Whatever works in the long run is ultimately the best solution.
Good luck!! Let us know how it goes.
Shannon
Finally, here are the disclaimers. I’m really an oboist, and only tinker around with the flute. But the right hand stretch on the oboe is pretty much the same as the flute. These are things that I found helpful on oboe. When I started playing flute, I had the same problem you are having, and found that these solutions also helped me on the flute.