Flutes Buying Guide

When buying your first flute,  there are a lot of things to consider.  From the key holes to the body material, there are tons of variations that could change the price and tonal quality of the instrument.   Check out your options before you rush out to buy anything--you'll avoid the sour notes and make sweet music  in no time.

Things To Consider

Plateau keys or French-model keys? 

• Plateau keys  are closed hole keys that are easier to play for students who have smaller and underdeveloped lung capacities. French-model  keys are open hole keys that are used by professional players who want to produces subtle tonal nuances. Many players start out on plateau and transition to French-model.

What should your flute be made of?

• Nickel and silver are durable materials that are most often used when constructing flutes. Some flutes even use a combination of the two. Dubbed nickel silver, it's used on the head, body and footjoint of the flute to prevent denting.
• Since the headjoint is at the centre of a flute's tone production, it is often made of pure silver. Silver produces a warm, rich tone that cannot be recreated by nickel.
• Professional flautists opt for flutes made entirely from silver because their response is the most crisp and clean.
• As for the exterior plating, silver is also more popular since it's shine is brighter than nickel. It is less affordable and requires more cleaning than nickel, but it does not run the risk of becoming slippery if the player has sweaty hands.

Other Pieces

• Lip plates are often plated in gold because it is hypo-allergenic and provides traction for the bottom lip, which comes in handy when you are playing particularly fast passages.
• Foot joints come in both C and B varieties--one has a range to low C while the other has a range that extends to a half-step below low B. It is rare that flute music include low B, but without this footjoint, such rare music cannot be played.
• The G key can be offset or in-line with the rest of the keys. Offsetting this key often allows for easier play, particularly for small or youth hands. Most offset G keys are found on plateau student model flutes, but can be found on some open-hole models.

Major Manufacturers

With flutes, buying brand name is key because the reputations of the better-known companies rest on their high-quality products.  While the designs may be similar to cheaper products, the tonal quality and durability can greatly vary.

• Bosch 
• Dewalt 
• Hal Leonard 
• Import 
• Irwin 

Related Guides

Bassoons	Clarinets	Trumpets	Saxophones	Horns

External Links

• MarkShep.com: Tips on choosing, renting and buying new and used flutes.
• MusiciansFriend.com: Database of buying guides for all sorts of musical instruments.