I'm looking for a new flute on flute world and i was wondering which is better for someone in the 8th grade offset g or inline g. Please help. Thanx!

I would suggest you try both inline and offset G and see what feels best for you. being in a certain grade really has nothing to do with deciding which one to get. I play on a offset G flute and I am a junior in college. It just basically comes down to personal preference. People with longer fingers tend to favor the inline G as people with shorter fingers or hand problems favor the offset G.
Here is a pretty good article on inline vs. offset from the Miyazawa website:
http://www.miyazawa.com/library/options1.asp

Good luck in your flute shopping!
Shawn

I was wondering if any maker made an inline *closed hole* flute - other than custom jobs I mean.

As for getting something, what's the budget?

Offset is ergonomic and in-line is not ergonomic.

If the flute were vertical then all the fingers would be out to the sides and all the keys can be in a row. Because the flute is held horizontally in order to support it you must draw the index side of your palm to the body of the flute. Your wrist twisting counter-clock wise away from the flute. The G key is offset since the 3rd finger is short.

Ideally the 2nd finger should be offset with the 3rd finger being more offset like on Alto and Bass flutes, but it is not.

Hand size should be no consideration in choice. No flutist has hands so large that they play an in-line flute with an arched 3rd finger. Go to any flute maker's page and check out their artists that play in-line flutes and check out their 3rd fingers and notice how straight and stretched some are.

If you play something that requires fast left hand movement on both, you will be able to move faster on offset. Period.

If you do play on in-line long enough you may get used to it without a hitch unless you have unusually small hand/short fingers. A funny thing that will happen though is that if you go from your in-line to an offset flute you may actually feel cramped since the G key is closer than you are used to it, but after a while on offset and you switch to in-line you may feel PAIN till you get used to it.

If you have issues with carpel tunnel or arthritis an in-line flute may intensify the problems... or even cause them if you practice long enough hours (~5+).

Used offset flutes sell better nowadays and sometimes for more than their in-line equivalents. It's interesting watching used flute listing with multiple flutes of the same model, the offset ones now get sold while the in-line ones sit. Many in-line flutes on the market may be simply from people switching to something more ergonomic in their tender ages. It's great if you prefer in-line and want a cheaper professional flute.

Simply put: in-line flutes are like coffee mugs without handles. It may look nicer, but it may cause hand trouble if you're not careful.

Personally I'd get an offset G. Right now I am also looking for a new flute, and even though my current/old flute has an inline I am still looking for an offset since its just more comfortable, probably for everyone (or very close to everyone) no matter what hand size.

I can play my flute perfectly fine without the plug in the G key and I do have really small hands.

I think that having an inline vs. offset could also possibly affect the resale value (inline having the negative effect)as most people want the offset G.

But it all really is a personal preference. Try both and see which one you like more

Note that in-line G is quite rare in many countries. It seems that in USA it is little more than a rationalised local fad, maybe based on little more than appearance.

Well it is changing a bit here too, we see more offsets than in-line compared to what it used to be not too long ago

Joe B

i have very long fingers (i have what many musicians refer to as "piano hands"... long, bony fingers and extremely small palms) and ive always found that the inline g is more uncomfortable with the G# key. most flute professors at university level agree that those with long fingers should stick to the offset g whereas those with short and/or stubby finger lengths should head in the inline g direction. i would take a look at where your pinky hits the G# key when trying both flutes. if its hitting on the arm inbetween the two g keys on the inline g flute and it is a possible hazard in your playing, dont buy the inline g. its unfortunate that people are sucked into buying an inline g when it truly is not for them.

Thanks for all of your help!

http://www.8notes.com/f/25_62237.asp?y=1&spage=1#62250
A nice post I found. Metal isn't the big deal, so a pro flute with a plated body is far better than say, a silver student model. Though, some, like the Yamaha 600 and 800 series make the line a bit grey. Concentrate on the quality of build for the body and the tone for the head(though most likely you'll replace the head eventually anyways), another reason to get a lower-end Pro model in most cases.

Seeing that your hands may still be growing, I would recommend an offset.

I would have to agree with Kara. If the reaching of an (exta millimeter) or so is uncomfortable (or can not be accomplished), then go with an "offset G".

As a note of point, one of the great flutists of our time, Doriot Dwyer plays (and always has played) a French model flute with an in-line G.

She is a diminutive woman (she has small hands and can't weigh more than 120 pounds soaking wet) --- told me that "it's only a matter of reaching a millimeter or two for getting to the in-line G".

But, after all is said and done, it always remains a PERSONAL choice --- and that which you feel most comfortable with.

IF you feel you can't (ever) "reach" the in-line G key, then, by all means, stay with (or choose) an off-set G.

Despite what I have been told by technicians at Haynes and Powell --- I still feel (and agree with Kara). Play what you're most comfortable with. MY opinion.

Regards, Jim Millen

Overall size of a person does not dictate which placement of the G keys they will prefer. Even amongst people of roughly the same physical proportions, hand size and shape can vary widely. It's not so much that you need large hands to play an Inline G comfortably, but that you need an rather long ring finger. Doriot Dwyer may very well be more comfortable on an Inline G (some people are), but for the vast majority of players, an Offset G is both more ergonomic (and thus less likely to cause stress that results in injury), and more comfortable.

On a side note, we usually refrain from digging up threads from so long in the past, unless something really significant comes up. By this point, many of the folks that post questions seem to have disappeared from the forum, or have already taken steps to buy a new flute/learn + perform a piece/etc...