hey everyone i'm a guitarist, vocalist, and recorder player. recently i have become interested in learning to play some more traditional sideways flutes (sure this isn't a technical term but you get what i mean!)

i went to my local music store to have a look at the options avalible to me...i don't think i want to learn i full sized flute (not just yet anyway) but i feel quite drawn to the idea of piccolo or a fife etc.

If anyone could give me any advice about the benifits and disadvantages of each system. and especally what the fingering is like on each...i know that i fife has the same fingering as a baroque recorder but what about a piccolo? i assume that the keys on the side of the one i looked at are for playing accidentals (is this right??) apart from the extra keys it looked the same as a recorder (it had 7 holes on the front and one on the back)

any advice people could give would be great!

heaps of love from JamJar Jacob
xx

very very hard to start on piccolo, start on a regular flute

Patrick's right if you want to pick up a transverse flute (technical term for sideways), start with either the fife or a concert flute, not piccolo. The fingerings on the piccolo are the same as on a concert flute, but unfortunately it is not as simple as using the side keys (probably what you're referring to are the trill keys) for accidentals. The Boehm flute (what you usually think of when you hear "flute" is quite a bit more complicated than that, and the fingerings change from register to register. I'm not so sure about your analysis of Baroque flutes and fifes having the same fingering system. I play fife too, and have played a little on a Baroque flute, but there are many different types of Baroque flutes (with anywhere from 1 to 13 keys), and thus many different fingering systems. The piccolo is very difficult to play (especially to play well), even for an experienced flutist, and IMHO, you should learn to play flute before you move to piccolo. If this doesn't seem interesting, I would go with fife. I hope that helps....If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!

Hi agree with Patrick. It is much easier to start on the flute rather than on the piccolo.

It depends very much on the kind of music you are playing but if you are playing baroque music, a baroque flute with one key (the Eb, to be operated with the right hand little finger) could be a good way to go. The fingering is quite close to the tenor recorder's one (or the soprano recorder, just one octave below). I will need to use cross-fingering like with a recorder. Some people call this kind of flute "traverso".

If you are planning on playing more modern repertoire, or if you are used to an alto or a bass recorder I suggest you start directely on a Boehm flute. The fingering is not as close but it you should be not be very difficult for you because you have already a good musical background.

If you just want to try it out, I can recommend the Yamaha fife. This is a little plastic fife, which sells for about $10. It comes with a fingering chart, is widely available, and is regarded as a pretty good little instrument for the price. have a look at this site:
http://flutewise.com/fw/fife.html
Although this primarily refers to kids, most of it is equally applicable to adults.

As others have said, it really depends on the music you want to play.

I would never start on the piccolo. Plus, even if you do play it expertly, it probably may not give you the sound you want if you're playing it with a guitar accompaniment.

I second the idea of the baroque flute if you really want to add something that complements your recorder playing. Of course, you CAN play baroque music on a regular old silver flute, so that's not a bad choice either.

If you're interested in the fife, make sure you do some research. Mine is a military Bb fife, which is a very shrill instrument (yes, JoeB, it is WORSE than the piccolo). But, there are many different types/models of fifes, some more suited to concert repertoire. There are 6 and 10 hole fifes, and there are some keyed models available.

Also, wooden Irish flute is something you might want to look into as well. I don't have one and haven't researched them, but they are fairly widely available, with lots of information out there on learning to play.

>>i assume that the keys on the side of the one i looked at are for playing accidentals (is this right??) apart from the extra keys it looked the same as a recorder (it had 7 holes on the front and one on the back) <<

And, rereading your post--was it a keyed piccolo, or one like this:

http://www.skiphealy.com/images/instr_standard/full_instr_piccolo.jpg

patrick is right it is nearly impossible to get a picc. in tine says my band teacher that and the pitch is a lot harder to get out start with a concert flute and work your way up. the note i would think would also be easier to learn on a concert flute since it is bigger.... i amy self am having issues switching to picc. at the moment

Regarding the choice between traverso/flute, one could add that it will also depends on the other instruments your are playing with becuse of the volume of tone needed. The traverso is a much quieter instrument than the flute.

For my taste the traverso is a good match for the recorder, the acoustic guitar or the harpsichord. The flute is better I think for playing with louder instrument like a piano.

I would feel a little sorry for the traverso who is playing with a piano or for the acoustic guitar who is playing a duo with a Boehm flute.

ok so you all given really good advise but now i'm kinda even more confused!!! i think a piccolo sounds like a bad idea though! think that is general consensus

I'm sorry you're more confused. Is there anything specific we can clarify or any other questions that might help un-confuse you? Starting on piccolo being a bad idea does seem to be the consensus, but which way are you leaning? Baroque flute, Boehm flute, fife, or something else?

ok so i have been doing some more reserch on the internet and it has made the things you have all been saying make more sense...i feel i am moving away from the idea of a boehm flute (i know this is bad reasoning) as i think they kinda look a bit pretentions for my liking...i like my instruments to be as simple (in design not playing) as possible (i think this is why i was drawn to the recorder in the first place.

i like the look of the baroque system.

i think i will purchase i fife as well simple because at the price that they are for a cheap one there is little point in not doing!

in answere to the question what sort of music do i play it is mainly light indie rock sort of stuff.

as regards volume level i have to amplify my recorder to compete with the rest of my band so i see no reason why i can't do this with a flute as well.

thankyou to everyone who has given me assistance...while it confused me a bit to start of with it gave me a starting point with which to do some better reserch...thankyou you lovely people.

so now its off to the music store again to audition some instrument...i will let you all know what i choose!

heaps of love again JamJar Jacob x

you know i never realised the flute family was so large! irish flutes arn't chromatic, right?

Irish/Baroque flutes can play chromatically, but require special cross fingerings to do so, which can be quite awkward depending on the sequence that they are used in. I'm glad you've figured out what you want. Good luck!

>>i think i will purchase i fife as well simple because at the price that they are for a cheap one there is little point in not doing! <<

Just remember that, simple instrument or not, buying a cheap fife is like buying any cheap instrument. Do a little research first. "Simple" doesn't equate to "no workmanship required." In fact, oftentimes the simpler instruments benefit the most from superior craftsmanship.