Which Hall Crystal Flute key is best?
What Hall Crystal Flute key is best?
Our Crystal Flutes come in nine sizes or keys ranging from the smallest D piccolo at 11 inches long to our largest C flute at 24.5 inches long. So if you are asking what is the best flute for you? There are a few factors to consider.
Finger Span:
The size of the flute determines the pitch or key of the flute and the finger stretch required to play it. Our smaller flutes will be easy to cover the holes and play a higher pitch while our larger flutes will have a deeper tone, larger tone holes and a much bigger finger span necessary to cover the holes.
Embouchure:
Embouchure has two meanings, It is the name of the top hole of the flute and it is also the way you shape your lips to produce a tone. The smaller flutes play an octave higher, will take a tighter embouchure with more air pressure, and will be placed higher on the lip. While our larger flutes play an octave lower, will have a looser embouchure with less air pressure and will be place lower on the lip.
Recommendations:
If this is your first Hall Crystal flute then I would recommend one of our middle size flutes to get a balance between a smaller hand spread and easier embouchure. If you have large (man sized) hands and flexible fingers then the large D flute would be a possibility, this is my personal favorite for a deep tone and relaxed embouchure. For average sized hands I would recommend one of our G or A flutes, they still have a flute tone as opposed to a piccolo sound and a fairly relaxed embouchure. For very small hands (small woman or child sized) the D or C piccolo would be best, for you first must be able to seal the tone holes in order to play the flute. Please note Hall Crystal Piccolos produce a softer sweeter tone compared to a concert piccolo. I find then enjoyable to play and are more gentle on the ears.
Regarding the large C flute:
This flute is very large and I do not recommend this flute to anyone, especially as a first purchase. There is a reason the D flute was standard size for the 7 hole Renaissance flute. It is human sized. The modern C concert flute has a mechanical key system to assist in covering the holes making it playable. I am 5′-11″ tall and I can play the large C flute, but it is quite a stretch, and I cannot play it quickly for so much energy is devoted to covering the holes. On the positive side it has a lovely deep sound and is great for playing slower bass parts. It is a great addition to a collection for studio recording. This flute is a custom order/size and does not include our standard green foam lined box. It is shipped in a ridged cardboard tube which can be used for storage.