This keyless flute in D is specifically designed for players of Traditional
music. It is not just a keyed flute with the keys removed, but has been
designed to work as a keyless flute on its own. It has a large oval
embouchure with design features taken from the best practise in headjoint
design. This allows the player to get the maximum volume and tone out of
the bore design without producing hiss or consuming so much air you see
spots!

The starting point for my design was the lovely Potter flute in the
Edinburgh collection. It has a beefy tone, a strong low register and
spot-on tuning. To allow the bottom end of the low register to carry better
I have extensively modified the bore in the footjoint. This significantly
brightens the lowest notes helping them to be heard in a noisy session!

I have exchanged the small, heavily undercut holes for larger plain holes.
These do increase the power of the flute a little, but this is done mainly
for two other reasons. First it makes it much easier to slide smoothly from
one note to another. Secondly it makes it much easier to accurately "half
hole" notes like F natural.

In line with the usual practise in keyless flute design the instrument is
tuned to play with the more straightforward "whistle" fingerings rather than
baroque flute fingerings.

The flute is made in three sections with silver rings around the sockets.
Normally I make these flutes in unstained boxwood, but I can make them in
stained boxwood, or in other woods on request. (see below)

For those wanting a chromatic instrument and can live with a slightly quieter flute have a look at the "Ordinary Flute"

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