I’m recovering from a problem with my left index finger, and I’m using it as little as I can.
So I’m using the C natural key as much as I can.
There are passages where the cross fingering is more natural and fluid, it seems.
This question is directed to experienced people.
Are you aware of anybody who always
uses the key to play C natural? Does anybody do this? Thanks
A friend plays a keyed flute of a well known maker and no cross-fingered C natural really works well, so she always uses the key.
I sometimes use the key and sometimes don’t, mostly depending on the tune, phrase, how I feel, weather and so on. All in all the key gets more use for faking B rolls (B-C#-B-C key-B) than for playing C’s.
Thanks. It’s nice to know it’s possible.
Takes a good deal of practice to use the key fluently in some passages.
Jim, you probably know this of me already: I use the C key and the cross-fingering for C natural at the top of the first octave about equally, depending on context (fingering sequences, speed, aural exposure of note). I also vent the C key a significant amount for open C#. (I don’t use it at the top of the 2nd 8ve because I use the other “standard” 8-key fingerings there, oxx xoo, for C# and xox xx,o, for C nat.)
Very likely everyone knows this except me, but I just discovered something today. I’ve always had my RH (bottom) hand fingers at right angles to the flute. This means that one has to move the R1 finger quite a way to get to the C key, that sliding wiht R3 from D to short F is tricky because one runs into the edge of the key, and that it’s hard to comfortably reach all the foot keys with R4.
However, by having my fingers at an angle to the flute so they are slanted towards the foot solves all these problems at once. Now the R1 is right beside the C key, so it only takes a little rolling motion to depress the key, the R3 slides up the rounded block of the short F, making this much smoother, and all the foot keys can be reached more easily and accurately.
Hugh
Yes, I seem to have done this the right way without thinking of it.
I’m playing the Olwell Pratten as much as I can now, and it has a C natural key.
I also have a keyless Murray and byrne with a C natural hole.
The latter for me is much more agile than the key, possibly because
I’ve used the hole much more but also I think because the movement
involved is much simpler. On the other hand the flute with the key is
more stable as my thumb stays in place, though I doubt it matters much.
Anyhow I’m convinced that I can do
it all with the key.
Lots of practicing of passages where I
get confused. Slow but sure.