Hi everyone! I’m sneaking over this way from the whistle forum.
I’m thinking about taking up the flute along with my whistle. Being a poor college student, I can’t lay down a couple hundred dollars for a wooden flute so I was thinking about a Tipple or a one-piece Dixon. I’ve about decided I want to get a Tipple, but I’ve noticed several comments on here about the large hole size, which was a problem I ran into with the low whistle. Anyone else have any problem with it? Does having the holes offset help any?
To give you an idea of my finger size, I can wear a size 6 1/2 - 7 ring on all of my fingers
If you are having a challenge with the hole size on the low whistle, then let me suggest that you save your pennies, and eventually spend them on a Casey Burns Folk Flute. http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com
BTW, welcome to The Dark Side (of transverse flutes)!
The folk flute is a great option. It’s not so cheap, but a very good flute. And it’s wooden!
Those Tipples are fine, too. But being cylindrical, they tend to have wider hole spacings and bigger holes. And I would go for a lip plate when ordering a Tipple, as it plays more like a wooden flute with the plate.
I’ll concur with all of that. I’m a great fan of the Tipple flutes, and continue to play mine often. I have to concede, though, that my Burns flute is a bit easier on the hands and better sounding. You get what you pay for, and both are great values.
Remember also, you could start with a slightly smaller Tipple – say an Eb or F. This will be inexpensive, easy to handle, and great for learning. When you’re ready, you could move up to a wooden flute in D, and keep both.
I have just recently begun to play a Doug Tipple
two piece in D. It has a very good tone and is loud,
even when playing with a box player.
The fingering is no problem for me whatsoever.
I had been playing low D whistle using the modified
pipers grip and moving to the Doug Tipple was a
breeze - in terms of fingering - the other stuff is
another days work!!!
The hole sizes on my large-bore flutes (F, E, Eb, low D, Db, C, B, and Bb) are 3/8", 3/8", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 5/16". I have chosen these sizes to compress the fingering as much as possible on a large-bore (20 mm), cylindrical flute. Smaller hole sizes on this same flute will spread out the distances between the holes. While larger hole sizes have the disadvantage of being harder to cover for smaller fingers, the advantages of larger finger holes are a clearer tone and a greater facility for half-holing and bending notes.
By way of comparison, the hole sizes on my smaller-bore (15 mm) flutes (high C, Bb, A, Ab, G, and F#) are 5/16", 5/16", 5/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/4".
I believe that the key of G is the second most common key in Western folk music. I think that the little G flute is an easy flute to finger and a fun flute to play.
The Folk Flute holes seem quite small, except for the right middle finger. With the small-handed option and the ergonomic spacing, it is easier to reach and finger on a D Folk Flute flute than a Bb whistle. It feels like cheating!
It sounds like your hands are smaller than mine, or maybe just your fingers are thinner. Casey Burns says if your hands measure less than 7.5 inches across, the small handed option might be good for you. I was at the cusp, so hopefully I can play any kind of flute, but that remains to be seen.
If 7/16" is the biggest hole size on the D, then that shouldn’t be a problem. Two of the holes on my Howard (which is notorious for big hole size) are 1/2", and those are coverable but prone to sqeakage since my fingers barely cover them.
Those folk flutes sure look nice, but I’ll have to save them for another day. Unless someone has one to offload for pretty cheap!
I just got an F 3 piece Tipple and immedietly fell in love - real easy to play and great sound. My hands are also on the small side (haven’t measured) but the reach is comfortable on this and a larger D Tipple. Both of these have the offset and I recommend a 3 piece as you can rotate the lower portion for comfort. I confess that I also use my pinky for the lower hole and also do this on my low D whistle whiac is a 3 piece Burke Viper. I can reach with my 4th finger but it feels awkward. I don’t know if any of this is correct but it works fine for me. I just wonder when I go for something more expensive how I will do with some makers who don’t offer offset holes.
