How to Buy a Flute
Let’s start by putting flutes into some categories. The first is Closed Hole versus Open Hole.
A closed-hole flute is designed for beginners. It is easier to play because the top of the key is a solid piece of metal, so closing the hole is easier. Open-hole keys, also known as French, are keys that have a hole in the middle of the main finger keys. These holes allow advanced players to shade pitches and create special effects, but they also make it more difficult to cover the hole. If a beginner buys an open-hole flute, be sure to buy a set of plugs for the holes. These are inexpensive and readily available in most music stores.
The second category is the material with which the flute is made.
While flutes are often made of exotic materials like wood, gold and platinum, we will discuss the normal kinds of flutes—silver and silver-plated flutes. This list starts with the least expensive and goes upwards.
1) Silver-Plated Body and Head Joint
2) Solid-silver Head Joint and Silver-Plated Body
3) Solid-Silver Body and Head Joint
The advantage of a solid-silver body is sound quality. Pure metal has a much deeper resonance and richer sound quality than plated. The drawback is expense—a solid silver flute is much more expensive, so you must weigh your needs versus your wants.
For a middle ground, you can purchase a flute that has a solid-silver head joint. The most important part of any instrument is the first few inches. For a flute, that means the head joint and the embouchure plate and hole. You can tremendously improve a flute with a high-quality head joint. Many advanced players will go to a solid silver flute, and then their next step up the ladder is to a custom-cut head joint. Or maybe two.
I am a fan of having beginners use beginner instruments; there is nothing wrong with buying a basic beginner flute with a silver-plated body and a C foot. Beginner instruments are lighter and are designed to take a few knocks. When your student excels, you have a good instrument to trade in or sell, and beginner instruments are the easiest to sell. Meanwhile, you are not worrying about your several thousand dollar silver flute being in a school locker.
Other Keywork
There are some features that are nice to have. An off-set G key makes it easier to reach the G fingering, something that often causes trouble, especially if you have short fingers. This is a good key for any level of flute, if that is how your hands fit the instrument.
A split E mechanism closes the lower G key cup when fingering high E, making the note better in tune and easier to produce. Flutists have differing opinions on this key, though most agree it is good for less expensive instruments. If you are in doubt and have the opportunity to try one with and one without, you can judge for yourself.
Remember: these are recommendations. What fits you, or what kind sound you want to have is your choice! Count on your teacher, your friends and local professionals to help you.
