Most of us play simple system flutes. I.e. the basic flute that has 6 holes, not the mechnical Boem style flutes.
A friend of mine recently asked this…is there a similar instrument in the single or double reed family? That is, a clarinet or oboe that has only 6 holes and no keys that plays in a major scale (diatonic) like our flutes?
Yeah, plenty, both “Western” and non-Western instruments. The chalumet is the keyless clarinet. There are baroque oboes too. The xaphoon is a modern instrument, cross of a clarinet and a sax, fingers only. Several people make bamboo saxes too. I can’t remember the names of the non-Western instruments right now (too early in the morning), but i’m sure someone will fill in.
Duduk is one. Dangit, what’s it that the guy played in that horrible movie “Serendipity”? You see them in eBay from time to time.
g
In the double reed cagegory, there are bombardes and other types of shawms. I’ve seen some sort of minimalist clarinets with only a few keys. Modern clarinets go up more than an octave when you press the octave key but saxophones do. What do those Xaphoon things do, Glauber?
Here’s some info on bombardes.
http://www.bmol.infini.fr/culture/bombarde/bombarde.us.htm
Steve
UILLEANN PIPES!!! 
The system is simple; the result, well…
There is the Welsh Pibgorn (I think thats the correct spelling) and the Breton Bombarde to name but two. Not entirely sure about the exact hole arrangements though.
Mat.
Reed instruments can be found throughout Asia. There are the Japanese hichiriki and shō along with their Chinese counterparts; the khaeng (Thai, isn’t it?), and several oboe-like instruments.
They go up more than one octave, like a clarinet. You have to do it without the help of an octave key. They use tenor sax reeds, but the body is cylindrical like a clarinet’s. The sound is a lot like a real sax. Fun thing to play.
g
This has nothing at all to do with reed instruments but Glauber, I have your Avatar framed on my wall over here in Old Blighty!
Any idea who the artist is? mine is a print and I cant remember where I got it from.
You know, Mat, i stole this (shamelessly) from a Web site. I found it through images.google.com. I think that Web site is not up anymore. I had to mess with it a little. I probably still have the original in my other computer, if you’re interested.
g
Glauber! stealing pictures from a web site! Shocking, I would never consider doing such a thing (Ahem :roll: ). Dont worry about the digital version, I could always scan/photograph the one on my wall. Would love to know the story behind it.
Its up there because I have a similar Collie (do you have those in the US? Its the breed of dog in the picture) and I play the flute.
Although my dog showed some early promise on the spoons she has never really taken to the flute; claws just keep getting in the way.
Mat
I thought it was a Springer Spaniel…
check these out;Adler-Heinrich Chalumeaux
michael mac harg may also make a chalumeaux.