Monica, Thank you for your input. A condor bass is near the top of my list when I'm ready to buy again. Right now, I need to go on a flute diet! Flutes seem to be following me home or arriving on my doorstep like stray cats.
I tried out my flute teacher's HS Condor base Em (regular sized, not the 1" bore) and found it surprisingly easy to play though my hands are on the small side. The cedar sounded a bit wispy to me, however, and not as full as I want for a lower flute, though I LOVE my Jonah Thompson F# in cedar.
Two questions: 1) Would the Em in walnut produce a fuller sound, or would it sound too bright for a low, soulful flute? And, 2) is the fingering on the Condor base Dm similar to the Em, or is it more difficult to play. I'd prefer D to E, but am concerned about finger reach and distance to the first hole. I don't really want the smaller bore in either key of the Condor base.
Such good info on this forum. Thank you, everyone, for all the good advice.
I'm going to a NAF gathering today and am taking all three flutes since I don't know what key we'll be playing in. Trouble is, I only have two bags. But at the last moment, I thought of my fold-up "Stateline" music stand bag. It works perfectly!
That must have been fun to play together. I watched a YT video in which someone used both a high and a mid-range flute in the same piece. It didn't show her playin, only background scenery, so I couldn't see when she switched, but it was done effortlessly. Got me to thinking of ways a higher tned flute could be put to use.
And they cost a lot less than the low flutes!
I love it, Susie. It's less resonant than my HS Sparrow Hawk but has a kind of plaintive sound that I assume is due to the pine. The HS is aromatic cedar, and both are in Am.
My Sparrow Hawk has a new baby brother! Meet Jonah Thompson, also in A.
Interesting and very much worth considering for my next flute.
Lovely dulcimer playing!
Monica, is the difference between 440hz and 432hz noticeable? I know you can't play the two together, but wondered if the difference is worth the price and if so, why.
Monica, these are some gorgeous flutes and a stunning display. The horse head, wow. Who made the short flat one?
Susie, that's exciting! That sounds like a wonderful choice. Though I'm not yet ready for a second flute, I've been contemplating the F sharp, so the info you gave is valuable to me in my musings. When I get more comfortable with my A flute, I think I see an F sharp in my future.
Enjoy!
Thank you to those who commented on my bag. At the moment, the closure is a leather drawstring that I cinch and tie. I may add a toggle or something later. Here is a photo of my dulcimer, plucked psaltery, and Native American flute.
I love them both to pieces hugssandi!! Great job on the bag.
I've been eyeing the Feathers for a while and now I really want one. Is there a wait list for them, or does he have them ready to go?
The previous post is a photo of the bag I wove for my flute. I wasn't able to add a message after inserting the photo.
Just popping by to say how much I'm loving my HS Sparrow Hawk! I was pretty awful at first, but now the notes are cleaner and it's feeling more expressive. I still make plenty of mistakes but now I mostly know how to correct them. It feels like meditation just to play for a few minutes between tasks or before bed. I really enjoy playing an instrument in such an improvisational way and having it transport me.
I told a friend about my NAf and she rushed out to buy one, too. Like me, she'd always loved the sound but never considered playing because she didn't think she was musical. Now she takes her flute everywhere, and I'm sure someone she meets along the way will rush out to buy one, too. And so the magic continues . . .
I love this bag, Annie. The batiks do such a good job of representing water.
Fabulous, Ken. Both sturdy and beautiful.
Strumelia, I like the idea of trimming first. I think I'll try that next time. I'm also thinking a peg winder would make the job much quicker and easier. Is that the case?
Ken, thanks for the tips.
That same 2 year old replaced my bass string!
At least the thinner strings are easier to work with (for me, anyway). Since I've been buying sets rather than individual strings, and since I like just one melody string on my dulcimer, I always have a second chance to get the melody string wound on. That reduces the stess.
Of course I could always buy in bulk, then I'd have plenty of back-ups, and for less money. But, like I said, I'm happy with my sets for now.
As long as they sound good, all is well!
I'm not great at it, but I'm getting there! However I wasn't the one with the initial string question. I'm pretty happy with the strings I have, though the suggestion of experimenting is a good one.
Thanks, Jan, though, for thinking of those at the early stages of string proficiency!
Thanks, Brian. I wanted to be able to trust the guitar/ukele store people since I don't have a local dulcimer store.
Your info (and other people's info) about string gauge is very helpful. As my playing is improving, I'm finding myself more interested in the technical stuff.
I'm just learning about string gauges myself, so I'm no authority, but shouldn't a music store employee be able to measure the string with a caliper to determine its size?
When I wasn't sure which packet of strings I'd used on my dulcimer, the guy at my local music store (who, like yours, knows about guitars but not dulcimers), was able to tell me the gauge of my strings. I was able to confirm his measurements by checking the package of the strings I was pretty sure I'd used.
I'm curious to know if I'm right about this or if I'm missing something.
That's a great story. Music has a way of connecting people.
Sleeping angel, thank you for sharing this. I'm putting it at the top of my list of books to buy. It sounds great.
Doors just keep opening . . .
I
Yes, Terry, it feels that way. My first experience with a dulcimer was life-altering, too.
My HS Sparrow Hawk just arrived and WOW is it beautiful!
I know. I was already eyeing one with turquoise inlay!
Thank you, both. I didn't know there were instructional videos on the HS website. I've only listened to the voices of the different flutes.
I think my flute comes with a DVD, but I didn't get the package. I'm sure I'll buy one of the books later, but since I opted for the slightly pricier aromatic cedar, i held off on adding to the cost.
These sound like wise words, Terry, and very soon I hope to put them into practice.
This will be my first experience with a wind instrument, except for a feeble attempt at harmonica (which I hope to try again before too long)..
You've been very inspirational and helpful, Terry. I'll let you know how things go with my Sparrow Hawk.
I ordered a HS Sparrow Hawk "A" in aromatic cedar today. Can't wait ti it arrives so I can begin a new adventure in music! I never would have arrived st this point without all the great advice in this group, so thank you, all!
Thanks for the info, Susie. I also prefer the mid-tones, but all the HS flutes I've listened to on the website sound beautiful, so it's hard to decide!
(Sorry, Strumelia!)
Hmm, interesting, Blondie. Which wood is it made of? And, if I may ask, why are you selling it?
Would the Red Tail Hawk be a good choice for an adult beginner with small hands? I'm considering the Sparrow Hawk in A, but haven't decided yet.
Susie, can you remind me which flutes you have? I especially like the longer one.
This is a great stand for a small number of flutes. And it looks perfect on the woven rug.
I love everything about this photo. The wonderful stand, the collection of flutes, and the cute and smiling dad!
I look forward to getting my first flute soon, but I've already realized it will need companions down the road. They look so beautiful displayed together, especially in such a practical way.
