sorry arak, but i disagree with you, when i started playing open hole i found the finger placement very hard as mine was also with inline G, i find that openhole flutes tend to sound clearer in tone from what ive heard, which i think was what i meant by `natural` and i didnt hear that from some teacher, i am quite capeable of listening to the difference between flutes myself!

Lol! Arak!!

Although most if not all outside listeners may not hear a difference between closed and open hole flutes I think that there is sufficient influence that the players themselves do indeed hear the difference.

The open hole effect may not affect every note, but certainly has enough effect to make the whole flute seem to function more cleanly than a closed hole flute.

This all of course is subjective, but acoustic science certainly supports that air escaping through register keys would certainly affect acoustic impedence in such a minor way that the fundamental tone is not hampered, but the associated harmonics are reduced, thus resulting in a clearer tone to the player.

I like your use of the word `seem`, Piko.

Is it like this: You get 5 notes sounding slightly different, or at least THINK they do - I doubt that any blind LISTENER would think so - so that makes the whole flute - all the notes - sound better?

On the scale of subjectivity, that phenomenon would be very high indeed.

I`ve played both, with both being Gemeinhardt and I`ve found that I enjoyed the closed hole better. But the closed hole was an older flute, and I tend to like the older models better.
It`s really important that you find a flute you like. Visit a music store and try out both the open and closed and go with the flute you like. You don`t need to buy an opend holed flute. It doesn`t even matter if its a beginner flute. If you enjoy it and it sounds the best to you, seriously consider buying it.
Also depending on where you go, most places have a program where you can try out a flute for a few weeks before you decide to buy it. It might cost a little, but nowhere near as much as purchasing a flute your going to hate.

students who play open hole flute have better hand position, other than that the benifit will be forever one to be debated

If by "better" you mean more likely to induce RSI and pain while playing. There is a simple reason that I don`s use open holes: they contort my hand to such a position that exacerbates the problems with my hands and wrists and make it utterly impossible to play well, or at all.

To my mind there is nothing wrong with the fingers being off-centre as long as all the neccessary movements can be made. We don`t put out fingers centrally on picc keys so why should flutes require it?

I agree Mrs C.

So, Patrick, if you want REALLY good hand position should you play an open hole alto flute?
LOL!
Being forced into less-natural, less-ergonomic, does not equate with `better`, no matter how many times misguided teachers may tell you so!

However what CAN be said on the topic is that finger positions forced by open holes are less ridiculous if the flute and player`s head are swung horizontally anticlockwise about 45 degrees, as is a current posture fashion. The rationale for doing this seems to be to reduce strain on the right shoulder. However it equally increases strain on the neck.

People have a right to their opinion. Get over it and leave the guy alone.

I am rather sick and tired of hearing your two ramble on and on anyway.

When is the last time you REALLY listened to yourself, Kara!

Trevor Wye noted that some closed hole flutes have keys that are seated too low to where a flutist would hear an audible difference between a closed hole flute and open hole flute. Raising the keys would rectify the problem.

Give me a break, Guest, or should I say Arak. Why bother posting under a different name. You are the brightest, are you. ~~~

"Basingstoke!"

"Farfignugen!"