What use are these for those of us who tend to play ITM?
I reckon busking is one, but I wonder about others.
- Flute band music
- Practice instrument for playing while the dog wanders in the back yard
- To annoy pipers
- Because they are lively and fun
- You know someone with an F whistle
Best wishes
Steve
Playing all those neat Lúnasa tunes they play on low F whistle in the same key?
I had a Reviol low F whistle for a while. Eventually sold it, because nice as it was, I was more interested in learning tunes I could play with others. And that led to learning flute instead of faffing around with low whistles. If you only play tunes for yourself, it’s in a nice range for some things, and no doubt helps with embouchure development.
playing tunes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCr-H-qwtg
I use mine for learning tunes that I have heard played on F flutes and whistles on various CDs of Irish
and Breton players. The responsiveness and agility of an F flute makes it really fun to play such tunes.
Here is a clip that illustrates some of the capabilities of a F flute in the hands of a really good player.
In addition to the above:
For accompanying songs in C or F (or whatever relative keys)
For playing tunes with that one friend with an F harmonica
It’s a nice alternative to a C flute for C or F tunes (as evidenced by the Seán + Jesse clip posted above)
I don’t like to bottle out of using the keys on a D flute, but G minor can be a bit of a struggle at speed. On an F flute, however - hey presto, say goodbye to G minor misery!
The narrower bore versions are used by the musicians in Galicia and are called “Requintas”. These were originally based on French flutes left behind by Napoleon’s armies, and adopted for Galician music in the early 1900s in an attempt to modernize the sound and diversify the repertoire. The range of pitches for these actually stretches between F and G. These play almost the same music as the Gaita bagpipes - usually an octave above them. Here is one of Galicia’s best examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrTCd03XH1o&t=366s
I play this style and occasionally make Requintas. These with a pipe band below me are actually my favorite flute to play!
Casey
Gallegos, please Casey.
I find it useful for playing along to quite a lot of the music popular here - stuff from old German manuscripts, Swedish stuff, north European folk, French stuff. Often notated and played in F or BFlat, so I can either use the keys or take the keyless in F, Both options are possible but lead to a very different result. And there is an elegance to playing on a keyless that is rather nice. Note, once learned on any keyless instrument, the tune can be played in any of the other keys using the whistle technique of swapping instrument. This alone is very useful when singers or guitar players liek to shift key for their own comfort. (As mentioned G Minor is rather popular in some circles, e.g. some varieties of pipes play naturally in G minor.) For this I have flutes in low A, D, EFlat, F and g and whistles in C, A and G (amongst others).
The flute itself is fun for playing alone, busking or in a pre-arranged band context.
And I have one for sale… 
African Blackwood, Sweetheart, in Europe, €250. Contact me for more info.
I play tunes on mine.
More enjoyable than unblocking a sink with it.
???
Pat
You use it for Boss. Fucking. Tunes.
In fact I think it’s actually illegal to use a D flute to play Dermott Grogan’s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfqirEriI4k
Only bangin’ tunes are played on the F flute (or three-quarter flute, as it’s often called).
…
Seriously though, the way I heard it was that they made their way down from the flute (marching) bands Northern Ireland into areas like North Connaught, where they were taken up by traditional musicians. Being a poorer area historically, maybe only a few people per village could own/play an instrument, and so the fact that it was in the key of F didn’t really matter. It’s also more comfortable for the fingers, cuts through noise better since it’s higher pitched, and requires less air. Certainly if I were the one fellow tapped to play for a kitchen full of dancers, I’d reach for my F.
We prefer to be called Gallegos, not Galicians.
Galicia is where we are from; Gallego is what we are called.
I imagine it would be nice for playing many Dm tunes also.
Been thinking about adding one to the quiver
EZ
I imagine it would be nice for playing many Dm tunes also.
Do you think so?
First, are you thinking of D-dorian or D-minor?
D-Dorian really benefits from the C bell-note. F-natural or D-minor also make use of C.
Three options:
(1) C-flute could be a good choice… which is what a whistle player would reach for.
(2) F-flute, you would be typically be playing a G scale fingering (A-dorian or E-minor), which is fine.
(3) D-flute with C-foot. To play in D-dorian, F-major or D-minor on a D-flute, you need a C-foot and some practice with the F-nat and Bb keys.
I keep coming across really beautiful tunes in D-minor, D-dorian and F.
I don’t think anyone has yet said because of the size & tone.
(I would also say, because it’s lighter - but mine is actually heavier than my 'D’s).
Ah yes sry.. I do not have an F flute, but I suppose if I did I would play tunes in F and Bb on it.. As I do with my F whistle..
An F flute would be pretty nice.
EZ
Any one selling an F flute
ANY ONE SELLING AN F FLUTE let me know thanks