Irish Flutes - Foot Joint Considerations

For Keyless Flutes (and flutes without an Eb key)

Keyless flutes, and keyed flutes without an Eb key normally come in three pieces.  The foot is integral with the section containing the right hand finger holes, except on models with long one-piece bodies, such as the Prattens (see below). 

Some prefer separate right hand and foot sections instead of the integral foot - the extra ring to the right of the 6th hole breaks up the bare wood.  Short D and Long D feet are available.  They look the same as the feet pictured below but do not have the Eb key.

Prattens models have all six finger holes are on the long central section, and the foot is already separate.  

For Keyed Flutes

If you intend to have an Eb, C# or C key, it is very desirable that the foot be separate to permit it to rotate for best access to the foot keys.

There are three foot joint options:

• the Short D foot, which terminates visually and acoustically at D.
• the Long D foot, which terminates acoustically at D, but appears to extend down to C.
• The C foot.

D Foot

I recommend a D foot for Irish music, unless you know you are going to need the low C and C#.  If space is at a premium (eg cramped sessions or stage) the short D is ideal.  On flutes with a short D foot, I shorten the head a little to maintain a good weight distribution.  Many prefer the Long D, feeling the extra length is more visually satisfying and affords a better balance of weight.  I rework the bore of the Long D foot so that it does not weaken the low D.

C Foot

For those who want low C and C#, I make a Revised C Foot which retains the block-mounted grasshopper-knees keys, but relocates the touches for far better access.

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