Hi everybody,
i’m a new member and have some questions about the flute. I play irish harmonica and want to learn the flute but i have some questions.
First, i have small hand and i wanted to know if it’s a problem for playing ?
And can you tell me the flutes that are good for beginner ? i haven’t a big budget so i’m looking for a “low price” flute.
thank you !
Nicolas
Nicolas:
You might actually want to start with a whistle to get the fingering down. The flute is much more difficult to play 'cause of the embouchure issue. For flutes, by far the best deal our there are Doug Tipple’s flutes (he’s a member of this board), but the finger stretch is more than on a conical flute. You might want to try a Tipple flute in F to start - that way you can get the feel and the fingering without the stretch.
Good luck!
Pat
Hello Pat, for the fingering it’s not a problem, i use to play tin whistle and saxophone 
So i guess the biggest deal to me is the embouchure.
You’re writting that the stretch is more important than on a conical flute. Can you tell me some makers of conical flute ?
thanks
Nicolas
“Cheap” (relatively speaking) are usually in delrin (fancy name for plastic). The only two that I know of are Dixon and Copley. Dixons can be found at various locations around the 'net, but his home site is: http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/ If you buy from him, get the three-piece. Copleys (much better IHMO) can be found at: http://www.copleyflutes.com/ or at the Irish Flute Store. The finger spread on conicals is lower 'cause the holes can be placed closer together due to the taper.
You probably should do an extensive search on this site to answer a LOT of your questions. They have been asked before (LOTS!).
Hi Nicolas, there are few makers in france, gilles lehart, solen lesouef, vincenzo di mauro. their flutes are cheaper than other top makers, but the price is still not so low (about 600 euros for a wooden keyless). di mauro also makes delrin flutes for 400 euros, and he lives near Paris, you could meet him maybe…
hi, maybe i can find a pre-owned flute. For a budget of 200€ i can maybe have a good beginning flute
Jem might have somethin’ for ya…might want to check
Pat, you should find someone nearby that’ll let ya try a Rob Forbes. Really!
I didn’t know Rob Forbes’ were that cheap! I also didn’t mention Terry McGee 'cause his delrins are, basically, full price (with good reason, actually).
Pat
They were real close to the Copley back when I got a Forbes.
I do need to try some of Dave’s flutes someday…
Forbes are superb flutes, i personally found them to be the best delrin flutes i’ve tried so far, but stretch might be a problem for someone with small hands…
Hi guys,
i’ve read that there is two models, Praten and Rudall and that the Praten has larger bore. I was thinking that maybe for my small hand it’s better a narrower bores.
Hi Nicolas,
Nobody mentioned M&E polymer flutes, that start around 340 euros I believe… Another suitable pick could be a Tony Dixon 3 pieces in polymer which is in the 180-200 euros price range. Don’t know about the stretch though on either model.
Strictly aout the stretch, I currently use a Phil Bleazy which is VERY comfortable in terms of stretch (I also have small hands).
I live not too far from Paris, where I should go later this week. I could bring a couple of flutes for you to try… just an idea.
Cheers,
Pascal.
Looks like Doc’s got a couple of conicals in your price range as well. You can check his site at :https://www.irishflutestore.com/newsite/products.php?c1=55
Can’t really comment on the finger spread as I’ve got fairly large mitts. Heard good things about the Ergo or Small hands version of Casey’s flutes. You might also want to consider a Casey Burns Folk Flute.
Of course you could always start with a whistle…
Look for a used, wooden, keyless flute. The are a (comparitive*) lot on the market right now, likely partly because of the economic climate.
Thank you but i’m not in Paris for the moment, i’m back the 5 january.
So i’m going to read again all the website and check the used flute on ebay or on the irish flute store. thanks for all the answers, i guess i’ll give feedback in january with my new flute
I’ll check the M&E Polymer,
it’s a bit expensive bu it looks very nice !
Someone asked me yesterday what I thought of the Forbes vs. the Reviol cast bore that Doc just got a load of. I put up a video showing the difference from my point of view as an intermediate player. Might be helpful. Haven’t played the others (McGee, Burns, Copely) enough to compare.
edit. forgot to add the link 
Did you try this link ?
http://tradschool.com/en//flutes_traversieres_irlandaises_17.html
Nice video !
yes but nothing in my budget 
By the way i’ve seen on http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com that he makes flutes for small hand. It’s maybe a solution and he says on this page Small Handed or Standard Ergonomic? that a small handed flute is recommended when the distance between the thumb and the fifth finger is less than 19cm (7,5 inches). Mine is about 21cm so maybe i do not have a small hand 