Ring Flute

Post by **Dale** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 6:05 am

http://www.ringflute.com

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 6:31 am

That's an interesting looking beast! I wonder if you can wear it on your head like a tiara?

Eric

Wormdiet · Post by **Wormdiet** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:14 am

have fun tuning it!

fyffer · Post by **fyffer** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:18 am

At first I thought it would be a fun novelty item, then upon further inspection it seems that thing would be really weird to play...

note from the picture that both hands are facing the same way.
It appears the coil extends to the right of the player, making your right hand the top and your left hand the bottom, so "normal" simple system fingers of

(L)1 2 3 (R) 4 5 6 suddenly becomes (R)1 2 3 (L) 6 5 4

(edit: Also just noticed there are 7 holes, too!)

I dunno about you folks, but I don't think I could reverse my hands *and* fingerings like that.

In order to play it normally, you'd have to cross your arms in front of you put your left hand inside the loop, facing forward, right hand outside the loop facing in.

For $79, I'll make mine out of a garden hose.

Henke · Post by **Henke** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:36 am

Good stuff! Finally a flute that is set up for lefties like myself as standard

Father Emmet · Post by **Father Emmet** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:00 am

Looks like it would make a good throwing weapon, like that thing Xena the Warrior Princess has. Would it produce a tone while whizzing through the air?

Post by **Nanohedron** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:26 am

A dilettante's rubbish. One obviously can't use the Rockstro grip on it, after all, so what good can it be?

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:54 pm

That's an ocarina. I don't think he invented it; i have a "doughnut" shaped ocarina that's basically the same thing, just smaller. It's a toy, or something to take out of your bag of tricks in a gig.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:30 pm

glauber wrote:That's an ocarina. I don't think he invented it; i have a "doughnut" shaped ocarina that's basically the same thing, just smaller. It's a toy, or something to take out of your bag of tricks in a gig.

I don't think it's an ocarina. An ocarina is a "vessel flute"..blowing across the mouth of a jug is like playing an ocarina. Looking at the little "venting hole" on one side leads me to believe there may be a wall inside there somewhere. That would make this a curved tube, elegantly joined so as to look like a ring, but where the bore does not go around the entire ring.

I've drawn in red how I think the bore is made in this thing..excuse the amateurishness..I'm stuck at work with MSPaint

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:07 pm

Wanderer wrote:
glauber wrote:That's an ocarina. I don't think he invented it; i have a "doughnut" shaped ocarina that's basically the same thing, just smaller. It's a toy, or something to take out of your bag of tricks in a gig.
I don't think it's an ocarina. An ocarina is a "vessel flute"..blowing across the mouth of a jug is like playing an ocarina. Looking at the little "venting hole" on one side leads me to believe there may be a wall inside there somewhere. That would make this a curved tube, elegantly joined so as to look like a ring, but where the bore does not go around the entire ring.

I've drawn in red how I think the bore is made in this thing..excuse the amateurishness..I'm stuck at work with MSPaint

I could be wrong, but i think that end-pipe is just decoration.

fyffer · Post by **fyffer** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:27 pm

glauber wrote: I could be wrong, but i think that end-pipe is just decoration.

No, I really think it would have to be open. Otherwise, all the holes closed would produce the one-octave below tonic sound -- imagine plugging the end of your flute and playing the low d. Different physics for a one-end open tube (like a bottle) than a both-ends open tube (flute/whistle). I think Wanderer got it right -- that's the way I envisioned it as well.

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:33 pm

Great, when I play badly people would be paying attention to the flute not me.

The embrochure plate looks like it leaves a short chimney and the cut is a very rectangular one. I wonder what blowing one would feel like.

Yesterday I was thinking about artistic shapes for the flute and was wondering if there was any reason why you coulden't cut a heart shape instead of a round hole in the two vent holes in the foot? (coulden't do this to the holes you actually fingure)

Blayne Chastain · Post by **Blayne Chastain** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:58 pm

wow... pure sh*t... I just had a listen to the sound clip!

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:19 pm

The sound clip reminded me very much of the sound of the Hall pyrex flute.

--James

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:45 pm

Listening to the clip I noticed that the instrument never seemed to be pushed to the limits as far as responsiveness or range. (Did it even break into the second octave?)

What key is it? It sounded like a high A flute and looks about the right size.

All criticism of the playability aside, I am starting to wonder if this was an artistic vision or a marketing gimmick. I am all for the former, but fear the latter.