Looking for keyed flute for small hands
Looking for keyed flute for small hands
My wife plays concert flute and we are interested in looking at buying an Irish flute, but her hands are quite small. (I play low whistle and uilleann pipes, and I can tell that her fingers are just too short and thin to do stretches and cover those big holes.) I know that most keyed Irish flutes have keys for the purpose of chromatic notes. However, does anyone make an Irish flute with keys for the diatonic notes (i.e., the D scale), so there is a very small stretch?
Thanks...
Thanks...
- Jack Bradshaw
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Yes, certainly.....first choice might be a Siccama or reproduction of same...
Edit: I've just verified that Terry McGee, for one, is making them.
Edit: I've just verified that Terry McGee, for one, is making them.
603/329-7322
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
She doesn't really need keys for a great deal of Irish music, but they are fun. (I have a keyless and a keyed flute.) I have fairly small hands. I've tried McGee's Grey Larsen Preferred model, John Gallagher's Rudall model, and Olwell's Rudall model. All of these work very well for smaller hands. Casey Burns also has a small-handed Rudall flute that fits smaller hands, plus he'll off-set some of the holes for comfort. You can do a search here on the board re: any of these flutes to find out more. Your wife needs to try some to see what fits her best re: playability, embouchure, sound, etc.
Good luck finding a good fit for your wife, Jeanie
Good luck finding a good fit for your wife, Jeanie
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Casey Burns makes his small-handed model with keys.
However, I would second the idea of a Siccama model from Terry McGee. Siccama invented a flute with keys to extend the reach of the ring fingers on both hands. This enabled those holes to be larger and for other holes to be better placed. They were popular for a while around 1850 and have advantages beyond easier reach.
However, evenness of tone, volume, and intonation are not as important in Irish music as the ability to play crisp ornaments. Also, more keys cost more money.
-- Don
However, I would second the idea of a Siccama model from Terry McGee. Siccama invented a flute with keys to extend the reach of the ring fingers on both hands. This enabled those holes to be larger and for other holes to be better placed. They were popular for a while around 1850 and have advantages beyond easier reach.
However, evenness of tone, volume, and intonation are not as important in Irish music as the ability to play crisp ornaments. Also, more keys cost more money.
-- Don
If she's just looking at playing in D & G (ie, you want a keyed-for-easier-reach equivalent of a keyless flute), it may be unnecessary - try holding your low whistle normally, then hold it like it's a flute. If you're like me, it's a lot easier on the hands in "flute" position.
My Casey Burns (normal ergonomic layout, not "small-hands" model) flute has smaller holes and a much easier reach than any Low D I've tried, and his "small-hands" model is supposed to be even less demanding. The McGee GLP models are supposed to work well for folks with small hands, too.
Not to say that she shouldn't get a keyed flute - just that it may not be an absolute requirement.
My Casey Burns (normal ergonomic layout, not "small-hands" model) flute has smaller holes and a much easier reach than any Low D I've tried, and his "small-hands" model is supposed to be even less demanding. The McGee GLP models are supposed to work well for folks with small hands, too.
Not to say that she shouldn't get a keyed flute - just that it may not be an absolute requirement.
- pandscarr
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I have small hands, skinny fingers (but over an octave stretch on the piano) and find low d whistles impossible to play.
Older 19thc Rudall & Rose style flutes have an easier stretch than some of the modern flutes - and it's partly getting used to the wider stretch between RH2 and RH3 especially.
So Rudall-style flutes will be less of a stretch than some of the others, imho.
Older 19thc Rudall & Rose style flutes have an easier stretch than some of the modern flutes - and it's partly getting used to the wider stretch between RH2 and RH3 especially.
So Rudall-style flutes will be less of a stretch than some of the others, imho.
morgan, do not compare the cylindrical bore with the tapered bore barrel.
Tapered bore instruments diminish the span of the holes somewhat.
For example, I have small hands. When I visted Terry McGee's workshop he invited me to have a go on a bass Bb flute and I found, to my surprise, that it was a cinch. However a cylindrical bore makes the finger holes further apart and much harder. Its a technical thing - others could explain better.
So please don't judge the finger span required for a tapered bore D flute with the one required for a cylindrical bore low D whistle. Unless you're aiming to get a bansuri or a Tipple PVC and suchlike. But even these should not pose a problem for small handed persons.
Tapered bore instruments diminish the span of the holes somewhat.
For example, I have small hands. When I visted Terry McGee's workshop he invited me to have a go on a bass Bb flute and I found, to my surprise, that it was a cinch. However a cylindrical bore makes the finger holes further apart and much harder. Its a technical thing - others could explain better.
So please don't judge the finger span required for a tapered bore D flute with the one required for a cylindrical bore low D whistle. Unless you're aiming to get a bansuri or a Tipple PVC and suchlike. But even these should not pose a problem for small handed persons.
qui jure suo utitur neminem laedit
- Cathy Wilde
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I have a 4-key Ormiston that's teeny-tiny, wee little holes and very easy reach. It served me as a very fine "crossover" flute, and when I had to put it back to work a couple St. Pat's Days ago after my Pratten went temporarily lame, I was very pleased with its tone and flexibility.
Might be worth a look .... www.ormistonflutes.fsnet.co.uk
Mine looks most like the one on the bottom of the first picture. But alas, after all these big old Prattens, it feels too small for me now!
Might be worth a look .... www.ormistonflutes.fsnet.co.uk
Mine looks most like the one on the bottom of the first picture. But alas, after all these big old Prattens, it feels too small for me now!
Deja Fu: The sense that somewhere, somehow, you've been kicked in the head exactly like this before.
As mentioned above, the Casey Burns small hands ergonomic
flutes are virtually certain to accomodate your wife's
small hands. Casey is worth phoning up and discussing
your concerns; nice fellow, very informative and
helpful. These flutes are made precisely to accomodate
this difficulty and they do work; you can save a
good deal of money and come up with something
that ornaments as well and sounds as good
as your standard Irish flute.
flutes are virtually certain to accomodate your wife's
small hands. Casey is worth phoning up and discussing
your concerns; nice fellow, very informative and
helpful. These flutes are made precisely to accomodate
this difficulty and they do work; you can save a
good deal of money and come up with something
that ornaments as well and sounds as good
as your standard Irish flute.
- Cathy Wilde
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- David Levine
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Spare Me
Ipse dixit!However, evenness of tone, volume, and intonation are not as important in Irish music as the ability to play crisp ornaments.