Home » Flute Information » About Irish Flutes

---

The simple system flutes such as those made by Martin Doyle are most commonly known as Irish flutes. The term simple system flute refers to the conical-bore flutes that were in use before Theobald Boehm introduced his cylindrical bore flute designs in the mid-nineteenth century. With the change to the Boehm system, the outmoded simple system wooden flutes continued to be used in Irish, Scottish and Cuban traditional folk music.

With the passage of time, somehow the descriptive phrase that stuck hardest to these types of flutes was 'Irish flute' – perhaps because of the rejuvenation of traditional Irish folk music throughout recent decades. Martin Doyle has been one of the foremost Irish flute makers that has worked to kept these flutes alive and flourishing in the hands of the musicians that cherish the sounds that they have to offer.

Simple system flutes are usually made of timbers such as African blackwood (Mpingo), cocus wood, rosewood, and boxwood. They have six tone-holes and anywhere from zero to thirteen keys. Many experienced Irish flute players prefer six or eight key flutes, although much of the traditional Irish repertoire may be played on keyless flutes.

Three Martin Doyle Irish flutes: keyless, three-key and six-key flutes and all made from African blackwood.

The tin or penny whistle has exactly the same fingering as the Irish flute and they are often the instrument upon which flute players begin their musical adventures. That fact no doubt gave rise to a noteworthy Irish traditional music quote penned by an unknown yet insightful author ...

Never get one of those cheap tin whistles. They lead to much harder drugs like pipes and flutes.

Fingering Charts for Irish Flutes

For those wishing to know the various fingering positions used with the simple system keyless D flute, Martin Doyle offers fingering charts with printable PDF versions available to download.

Irish Flute Links