I have this reservation about the rt hand Bb touch, FWIW.
I’ve seen this only on one flute, so I don’t know if this
is universal–anyhow I’ve played this one a good deal.
Because the rt hand Bb touch is (on the flute I’m thinking of)
beneath the C natural
key, the latter is a bit shorter than it usually is, in order
to make room. And this, for me, anyhow, makes the
C natural key a bit harder to reach and to use, so that there are
passages where I would otherwise use it but I can’t if there’s
the Bb touch. I find the C natural key very useful indeed,
including ornamentation, so this is a real consideration for me.
On the other hand the Bb touch is nice, however I’m
seldom using a Bb key. Also I find Bb the note on
the flute I can most easily and profitably (in
terms of nuance) half-hole.
Jim, i’m with you.
my R&R (#3836 i think) has a double Bb touch, and i don’t really care for it.
i have to turn the right hand joint more out, in order for my key not to be in the way of my RH index finger..
i too, find it a bit in the way of the C key.
the regular Bb touch is fine, and i like it.
eilam.
The only music I ever play (barring the occasional Christmas Carol or Olde Man River) is Irish Trad, and I have had little if any occasion to use the Bb key.
So, your MMV, but I do like and use the Cnat key when I play a flute that has one. I wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of that particular key.
M
p.s. Just watched my new gift, a DVD of The Devil Wears Prada, my guiltiest secret pleasure of 2006!!! Happy Christmas to y’all! (Hi, Jack!)
I’m on the list for a new Grinter that’s due to arrive hopefully in June or July, and I’ve asked to have a right hand Bb put on instead of the normal left hand one, primarily because I hold the flute flat-fingered and can’t reach the normal Bb key. We’ll see how it turns out - can’t wait!
I think the normal, short Bb key is fine for the rare occation that I need to use it.
I’ve never played a flute with the long Bb touch, but I can’t imagine me prefering that, especially considering the fact that I use the Cnat key at least ten times more often.
I think that the left hand key is well placed and easy to use if you use a curved fingered left hand grip as I do. I use it a fair bit and I also play pretty well exclusively Irish trad - consider East Galway repertoire. I think that a right handed key is invaluable for those flute players that use a straight fingered grip that stops them reaching the left thumb key with any facility.
A question I have is whether the shortening
of the C nat key I see on my flute with a rt hand
Bb touch is common to flutes with that arrangement.
Or is it just mine?
Maybe there’s a way to fit them both on there that
leaves the c nat as long and accessible as before?
Interesting thread, as I’ve been considering having keys added to my flute, and one of the debates I’m having with myself concerns the placement of the Bb key. I think the main objection I have with having any key for the left thumb is that I’m originally a sax player, and the thumb is only used for the octave key. And for the same reason, the Bb touch is a natural desire for a saxophonist. So, does anyone have one and use it? I’d have to really think about all the possible transitions before committing, Bb to C-nat being the primary, followed closely by Bb to D, which would be a lot of motion for a RH touch Bb, I think.
Anyway, I hope this thread continues with some valuable input, as I’m very curious …
Shortening the C is not required with a Bb touch. I used to have an old flute with a rh Bb, C and E (I think – it seemed that it played a kind of out of tune high E) key on the right hand, and the C was not shortened.
FWIW – Since oboe is my main instrument, I am used to using the right hand to raise the A to a a Bb, and I would love to have a rh Bb on my flute. But I use my flute for more than just Irish trad. I hardly ever use the Bb for ITM.
I wish I had a Bb touch on my flute. I am accustomed to playing saxophone and it uses fingering similar to a saxophone Bb. Also, I’ve been plaing some bluegrass music that uses the Bb key a lot and I’ve thought how much easier it would be on my left hand if I didn’t have the short Bb key. I have never used one on a flute though, so it would have to be placed in a not so peculiar place for my approval.
I repeat (this will not be so helpful, I’m afraid) that
half-holing the Bb is a snap, IMO. Just plunk down
L2 on the lower edge of the A-note hole. Also I play blues
occasionally and the half hole enables me to
shade the note. The Bb key is rarely of help to me,
less so than any other key on a six-keyed D flute.
Being a gearhead, I do regret that I didn’t think to ask Peter Noy if he made double Bb touches. The right-hand touch might have been of use to me as I use the so-called “piper’s grip”. So, I often do my Bb by crossfingering. These work on my flute:
Lower octave:
x o x x x x
Upper octave:
x o x o x o
Lower octave done that way is good enough, I think, and the upper octave is great. I do more half-holeing of the Bb if I’m going for the “nyah”.
what’s the touch thing ? like , what’s the difference between a touch and a key ?
i’ve been playing keyed instruments since the year dot , and i’ve only come across this "touch " since taking up the flute .
thanks , jim troy
