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n4vgm
1st November 2005, 05:58 PM
Hello everyone, I'm just getting into playing and making flutes (so far bamboo and aluminum tubing) and I noticed something that I wanted to ask about.

I have experience in music and wondered why flutes aren't set up so the fundamental is the lowest open hole (not all holes covered). That way you could use the all covered fingering as the 7th (or flat 7th) and drop down then come up to the root. Is it just that that would make your flute harder to play since it would be one hole off on all fingerings? To me that extra note might add a lot of potential melodicly.

I am working on a flute like this and kind-of hit on the idea by accident (the scale is not standard - just made up by ear). Since the flute isn't tuned to anything but itself and I'm just getting the feel of flute playing I doubt I'll be playing with anyone else soon.

Well, thanks in advance, I just thought I'd throw this out for discussion.

Bob Z.

sound world
15th November 2005, 05:48 PM
Did you mean a six-hole flute,3 fingers per hand on top?
I suppose this is because most woodwind players are used to there being a major scale easily possible from your right hand fourth finger upwards without resort to keys and crossfingerings-that situation holds for all woodwind I can think of.The scale starting from your right hand middle finger is invariably minor.
Of course you could add an EXTRA hole for your little finger to play the seventh,which is what might occur with keywork on another instrument.
But there's no rules except ones to be broken.I love playing instruments with zany tunings,it frees you up!