What is An Irish Flute?

Series Summary

Irish Flutes are simple system, cone bore flutes that are generally of wooden construction; however, they are sometimes made of composite materials. The wooden design and cone bore create a sound rich in overtones, perfect for traditional Irish music. The shape of the Irish Flute is cylindrical with a taper from the embouchure to the foot and open finger holes along the body of the flute. The open finger hole design allows the flute player to employ Irish Flute musical ornaments such as cutting, rolling, and the cran. If you would like to learn how to play the Irish Flute get free instructions online from one of our experts.

In this free video series learn how to play the Irish Flute from professional Irish Flute player David Cantieni. Watch these videos to learn how to hold the Irish Flute, how to play a note, how to play a tune, how to use use your breath while playing the flute. Learn also hand articulation, synchopation, cuts, and rolls with the Irish Flute, and how to combine musical ornaments.

This series is an Equilibrio Films production.

Video Transcript

" Hi I'm David Cantieni and on behalf of Expert Village I'm going to be showing you the many aspects of playing the Irish wooden flute. If you are interested in more information or finding out other places where you may find me you can go to www.digdigmusic.com or you could email me at digdig@cracker.com. What is a Irish flute? There are actually many different styles of flute that are use to play Irish music and I will show you a few of them here. The usual type of flute that is played is similar to this. This would be a flute model after the classical flute of 1850 and this particular flute was made by Patrick Olwell in Charlottesville Virgina in about 1998. another flute this is a keyless wooden flute made locally by Ralph Sweet and you may be able to see that this holes are a different are smaller then the other flute. The other aspect is that he holds it closer together. Here is what the Irish would call a concert flute. This is a wooden flute from about 18 about the turn of the century maybe a little newer then that. It is this one is a Riddler's Housing there was many different brands made at that time. This has the regular bone system fingering and it can be use in Irish music it is not as popular as the six key or the key less flute. Finally we have a bamboo flute also six holes there is other types of flute that may have a thumb hole that would not be Irish style. This was also made by Patrick Olwell in Virgina and there are many players who use this kind of flute."