Hi All.

I just picked up a flute, my new toy!

It came with nothing, only the flute and it's case.

I need to buy some accessories, and I'd like to hear some opinions about what I need.

I was told I should have a tuning rod. What exactly does this do, and how do you use it?

And for a swab, I heard that silk is the best? I use a regular cotton swab for my clarinet, works just fine. Is silk better? I using a swab and cleaning rod the best way to dry out the flute? Other options?

And also how about those "pad saver" brushes that fit into the flute? It looks like you store them inside the flute, they apparently protect the pads from dust/moisture, etc? Are they a good thing?

thanks

I've heard the pad saver brushes that fit in the flute do more harm then good - they hold the moisture inside. Its better to clean out the flute with a lint free cloth and a cleaning rod.

I'd suggest buy an electric tuner, and a metronome if you don't already have them. Other then that, if you put down your flute a lot, you might want to buy a flute stand.....

Thanks for the responses so far.

I play other instruments, and I can get the pitch adjusted properly on this flute. But I'd like to know exactly what the tuning rod is supposed to do?

Is it supposed to change the pitch of the flute? That's done by moving the left joint in and out, correct? Or is it supposed to help adjust the stopper at the left end of the flute to make the flute more resonant?

I think you mean a tuning fork? To tune the flute, you either roll out/in or move the head joint out/in. Or, are you talking about a cleaning rod? Most cleaning rods that come with flutes have a small mark on them near the end, this is to tell if your cork is in the right place. To do that, you just insert it into the full put together flute, if the notch is at the end of the foot joint, your good!

Suzie, thanks so much for your explanation, that's exactly what I was looking for.

Now, since my flute didn't come with a cleaning/tuning rod, do I need to buy one from the manufacturer? Or are all of these rods the same length? In other words, will one tuning rod work on all flutes? Or are they "model-specific"?

I have a Yamaha 481, if that makes any difference.

thanks

i'd order one from the yamaha site.

As for the pad savers i keep one in my flute, but it is not instead of swabing it out with the cloth, you put it in once you have cleaned the flute (swabbed it out and cleaned off the finger prints)

i find a weighted cleaning cloth to be the best cloth for the foot joint and body but a normal lint free cloth works fine for the headjoint (as you poke it up there with the cleaning rod)

A lot of music stores sell yamaha flute cleaning rods. I like the plastic ones because they don't scratch the flute.

For tuning, I have a (rounded) tuning fork that I keep in the foot joint(fit inside - stored the cleaning rag/etc inside as well to keep the tuning fork from bouncing around. A microfiber cloth like you typically get for your glasses works well.

Note - some cases have enough of a gap around the edges to slide the tuning fork in as well. I like wood or plastic cleaning rods as well if you can get them.

I got tired of carrying around the stupid tuner when a small tuning fork works just as well.

Other things:
Pad savers/etc and those foam/pipe cleaner type cleaning rods - junk, really.

Thumb rests - this is a godsend to a lot of us. Recommended.

If it has open holes, try plugging the G key if it's inline. I do this on mine and it makes it play a lot easier.

Oh - itsy-bitsy can of desiccant also does wonders if you find that you are building up tarnish. I am lucky in that I have nearly zero acidity in my sweat, but some people's flutes tarnish like crazy. No moisture makes it very hard for it to get started.

Actually - letting it dry before you put it back for a couple of minutes is usually the solution(or putting it back after cleaning when it's still damp is the problem if you want to look at it that way)

<Added>

edit - on the cloth, get a plain microfiber cloth. Nothing on it, no powder, no cleaners, nada. All of that just makes things worse.

i was getting way confused when you guy were talking about where you store the padsavers and rods and stuff. I was thinking, "How can you play flute with all of that in there?" haha... its when you have the flute in the case. I got it!

Excellent answers, folks. Thanks.

Could someone please explain the details of the thumb rest? Where does it mount, and I guess it goes on the right thumb? I'd guess it makes holding the flute easier? Less fatigue? Other reasons?

And again, is the tuning/cleaning rod mark a standard mark?

In other words, the 17mm that was mentioned, is that applicable to all flutes? or does one brand have a 17mm mark, and another one a 19mm mark, etc.

I have experienced a few very weird effects (odd harmonics) on some occasion (although I'm a beginner on this instrument and attributed it to my lack of experience) so I'm guessing this end cork on my flute is not optimally adjusted.

Finally, I don't know the names of the various keys yet, but on my right hand ring finger, it's supposed to cover the 3rd round key down to the right (with the hole) in it, and I keep bumping into that little "key" that fits right between key number 3 and next round key up (number 2). Is it common to bend or somehow move that little "in-between" nubby key? Or do I just need to learn how to contort my hand so that my right-hand ring finger doesn't touch that little nubby key. It's difficult to keep my finger so that it seals the hole! I see what they mean about the closed-hole flute being easier to play. Maybe I'm holding it wrong.

thanks again for all of your responses. Much appreciated!!!

Dana

Finally, I don't know the names of the various keys yet, but on my right hand ring finger, it's supposed to cover the 3rd round key down to the right (with the hole) in it, and I keep bumping into that little "key" that fits right between key number 3 and next round key up (number 2). Is it common to bend or somehow move that little "in-between" nubby key? Or do I just need to learn how to contort my hand so that my right-hand ring finger doesn't touch that little nubby key. It's difficult to keep my finger so that it seals the hole! I see what they mean about the closed-hole flute being easier to play. Maybe I'm holding it wrong.

The thumb rest or a thumb port might help with this problem. (I think I know what you are talking about.) I think you are accidentally hitting the Bb key/trill key with the side of your finger.


I have the same problem, but I have that problem because my hands were broken many years ago and my fingers are not quite straight.

The thumb port which you can get from flute world has helped me a lot. My teacher likes it because it helps with correct hand position.


I personally perfer this brand because it doesn't scratch your flute. I have found that other brands scratch the flutes and they are made of hard plastic where as this is made of soft rubber.

http://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=48726&ppk=ta

I hope this helps.


<Added>

Rereading your post. I realise that you are accidentally hitting one of the trill keys.

The thumb port should still help. You are probably holding the flute wrong. Do you have a teacher?

One more thing - since it's an open holed flute, get a set of plastic inserts for it(couple of dollars, tops) to plug the keys. Learn to play with closed holes first - it's one less thing to think about.