 The Fingering Forum
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Author: band geek
Date: 2004-04-05 20:44
i'm looking for a new flute, and i'm on spring break so i can't ask my band director all my questions. so. .
What is the difference between a B foot and a C foot on a flute? Is one better, and if so, would i need it for concert band music anyway? um. . well. . that's all for now.
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Author: ~Heather ~
Date: 2004-04-05 23:20
A B foot can take you down to the B below middle C. A C foot takes you only to middle C. If you are looking to upgrade, a B foot is a must, especially for concert band.
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Author: Amanda
Date: 2004-04-06 04:09
A B foot isn't NECESSARY, but it's nice, and most advanced-level flutists have one. It might cost a bit more, but if you're considering playing past high school, I think it's worth the cost.
A note on professional flutes: Depending on your age and experience, you might want to get an upper-level student model first, before buying a professional instrument. Yamaha, Pearl, Gemeinhardt, Emerson, Armstrong, and Sankyo make high-level student models for prices around $2000. A REAL, high-quality professional flute will cost at least $5000 (on up to $20000+) new. Don't buy one of these until you're sure the investment will be worth it. Students at the college or conservatory level should have one, but it's not necessary, and rather extravagant, at the middle school and high-school level. Recommended and respected brands of professional flutes are Burkart, Sankyo, Muramatsu, Miyazawa, Pearl, and Powell.
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Author: band geek aka Hannah
Date: 2004-04-07 02:54
thanks! actually Amanda @ www.wwbw.com there are some Gemeinhardt and Yamaha (I don't know about other brands, only looked once) for less $$. it seems like a pretty good site for music stuff, if anyone's interested.
THANKS AGAIN
*hannah
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Author: Kyle Jubenville
Date: 2004-04-08 22:38
Hi, if you are looking to upgrade your instrument...I would highly highly suggest Pearl flutes. They are reasonably priced and you get a very very good sound with them. Their intonation can be a little tricky, but every instrument has it's quirks. I also highly recommend the Powell Sonaré flute. Powell typically only makes high end, VERY expensive flutes, but they put out an intermediate instrument that I actually use right now that has taken me far even as a college student. I recommend very strongly against Gemeinhardt flutes. They are very comfortable to hold and finger..but if you get a decent tone on one..that is the best that you will ever sound. Gemeinhardt flute players sound just don't seem to mature and get rid of the fuzziness. But like I said..they are very comfortable to play..which can be very deceptive.
And as far as a B foot goes..it is a fun gizmo(key HA!), but I have used it once outside of scale work, and I've been playing for about 5 years, 3 of which have been in college. So you're really not going to see a need for one until it is time for you to upgrade MAYBE. but B foots are on most intermediate flutes, you usually don't have too much of a choice. I also do recommend an offset G. I have long fingers and big hands, so I didn't have a problem playing on an inline instrument..but I find the offset flute that I'm playin on now much more comfortable and my fingers can move a lot faster.
Also..a BIG consideration. the more bells and whistles you get on any instrument..the more that is likely to break.
Go to Fluteworld.com They have some great deals right now! :-)
Good luck!
Kyle
Fluteboiwonder@aol.com
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Author: Nancy
Date: 2004-04-22 03:00
Get a C foot. It's lighter and you will almost never play a low B. It costs more, it weighs more, you won't play low B, why buy it?
I agree, avoid Gemeinhardts. I would go for a Jupiter or an Emerson, both dependable with great sound.
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Author: doug
Date: 2004-05-13 13:42
I prefer a B-foot, it creates a darker, fuller, sound.the C- foot has a brighter tone, faster response but at the cost of the richness of the sound. B-foot's also create more resistance in the lower octaves whitch is great if you have to play forte passage in the first octave. I own a $12,500 pearl cantabile flute, 14Karat rose gold riser split-E, offset G (I used to play an in line) c# trill and of course B-foot. And I won't look back. The diffrence is amazing the clarity of tone that pearl flutes posess is amazing. I used to play a old Buffet flute, that sound's okay but the new flute just easier to play I can use more tone colors, play quietly in the third octave without going flat, play fortissimo in the low register without going sharp and with out having the note cut out. I srongly reccomend pearl flutes I also reccomend other professional makes:
Muramatsu
Brannen-cooper
Nagahara
Akiama
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