Yamaha YRF21 flute vs Woodnote soprano baroque

Irish Flute
1

I fancied trying out playing a flute (never even learned recorder), so I bought a Woodnote plastic (8 hole) flute http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/GR2102-p-Woodnote-8-hole-Fife-Page.htm.

I can pretty much reliably get a note out of it (but very breathy).

Now I’ve read the the Yamaha YRF21 (http://www.justflutes.com/pages/product-detail10924.htm) is the “only one” of these plastic beginners flutes that is any good.

Can someone who has experience of both flutes comment on this? From pictures, they look identical.

Also, is a full-size flute easier or harder to blow than these small ones?

2

I have both the Yamaha and the Aulos (see: http://www.rhythmband.com/client/category_detail.php?id=1618 ) versions of the plastic fife and like the Aulos a little better - the F/F# is a little more manageable on the Aulos, imho… I personally find them harder to play than a full-size flute and the upper octave gets a bit annoying. I’ve said it here LOTS of times and you’ll hear a lot of others give the same advice… To wit: buy a Tipple!

Pat

3

I agree with Pat! :slight_smile:

But the differences between the plastic piccolos are fairly minor and none are easy to control.

Doug Tipple came up with this: Tape over the thumb-hole and the top tone-hole, then the piccolo will play with simple fingering in the Key of C. :thumbsup: This lower tone improves the piccolo (IMO) and makes it much easier to finger (though the 3rd finger of the right hand will have to be down on the side of the piccolo to cover the former pinky hole).

Have Fun! :party:

4

Thanks for the comments (particularly saying that they aren’t easy to control!).

I could really do with a quieter instrument; can’t try playing the plastic squeaker once kids are in bed. My wife has a wooden tenor recorder, and that’s nice and mellow, so not irritating in a small space (I live on a boat). A descant recorder is just so shrill, the woodnote is similar.

Are the larger plastic or wooden flutes more mellow?

5

yep…

'couple years of practice doesn’t hurt either
'course it takes some time :wink:

6

Tipple yes. Tipple good. Strike that…Tipple was good…now Tipple is Great!

7

I only have the Yamaha. I have man hands. The offset C is bit too offset for me. I can still play the thing, even for a few songs, before my hands start cramping up. I would never want this to be my primary instrument. It’s great for keeping in a car or a backpack. In 2 pieces, it fits in cargo pockets pretty well. For the price, I’m glad I bought it.