Flute Selection - Closed Holes Versus Open Holes

When selecting a flute, many options present themselves. For parents outfitting their budding flutist with a first instrument, price is usually the main one. For the advanced player, however, many more factors come into play, including...

1) Material - Plated silver, silver, gold, and for the lucky few with lots of cash, platinum.
2) Manufacturer - You can stick with the traditional American flute maker, Powell or Brannen, or turn to the Japanese instruments, Muramatsu and Miyazawa.
3) C foot joint versus B foot joint.
4) Offset G-sharp key.
5) Assorted optional trill keys.
6) Engraved lip plate to prevent slippage.
7) Drawn versus soldered tone holes.

but the biggest is...

Closed holes versus open holes.

The flute is a simple tube with holes drilled in it--this is what enables the pitch to change. The covering of the flute's holes have evolved over the years from simple holes bored into a wooden instrument, followed by a metal mechanism of rings placed over the holes, making it easier for the player to keep his fingers in place over the holes. With the advent of the metal flute in the early 20th century, the key mechanism grew more and more elaborate, until all holes where the flutist's fingers rested were covered with a round, silver disc. Several of the key mechanisms controlled other keys that the player's fingers couldn't reach. Trill keys were added later for easier trilling between awkwardly fingered notes. A gizmo key was added to close the low B key on the foot joint.

The traditional flute has closed holes with keys that are solid discs. On the open-hole flute, however, the keys resemble little silver donuts. The flutist places his fingers in the center of the "donuts" and covers the holes.

Open-hole flutes have been favored by advanced students and professionals for decades. Indeed, anyone older than a sixth grader showing up with a closed-hole flute would be subject to scorn and downright pity.

Some of the arguments for the open-hole flute include...

1) Need for proper finger placement. Fingers must be placed directly in the center of the keys and cannot be hanging off or barely onto the keys. Otherwise the tone won't speak properly.
2) Greater depth of tone.
3) Ability to play "extended techniques," such as quarter tones and glissando-type effects.

Of course, there's also snob appeal.

But lately the trend is reversing. Why? Muscle strain is a big factor. Many players claim that they don't have the aches and pains in their shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers when they play a closed-hole flute. In addition, these players are choosing the off-set G-sharp key to provide greater comfort. The in-line G-sharp key requires the flutist to bend the left wrist more which potentially causes greater tension in the arm. Is that pretty straight line of keys worth it?

Flutists must come to terms with what works best for their body. Muscle strain and tension inhibits playing and can ultimately end a career.