Flute Trials: Finding the Best Instrument for You
Have you decided to upgrade and buy a new flute? Congratulations!! Flute shopping can be a really fun experience, although it is not always the easiest process if you want to do it right and get the flute that is the perfect fit for you.
First of all, it is very important to note that you ALWAYS try an instrument before you buy it (assuming you aren’t getting a handmade flute specially built for you). It is amazing how two flutes which have the same features on paper can feel so different when you play them, as flutes are often just as unique as the people who play them.
To get the most out of your flute trial and to best determine the instrument that is right for you, you need to find a nice place to try flutes, decide on a small group of candidates, and have a method for comparing them all.
The following tips can also apply to when you are shopping for just a headjoint alone and not a full flute.
Where to Try Flutes
You should always start your flute shopping journey at a flute or music store. Buying flutes elsewhere can be quite risky as the quality of the instrument is not guaranteed, and if you are buying used, it might not even be working and would have to be repaired before you can even play it.
Most flute stores offer free week-long trials for their instruments, if you pay for the shipping. If you are fortunate enough to have a flute store in your area, definitely go in person and try out as many as you want. However, I would then recommend you borrow the top contenders for a trial so you can try them out in the peace of your own home and really get a feel for how they play. It is also great to be able to play the instruments for several days as it is not always easy to tell right away which one is the best, especially as sometimes it takes a little while to adjust to a new instrument.
Picking Flutes to Try
When trying to narrow down your choices of flutes to try, you first need to decide on your budget and if you are buying new or used. Don’t be afraid to buy used! As long as you are shopping at a flute store, the instrument will be in great shape as flutes that are well taken care of can last a really long time, and you might be able to save a pretty penny.
Then decide on the features you want. You might not be able to get everything you want within your budget, depending, so make a list of your priorities. Decide on your must-haves and what you would just like if you can get it. For example, maybe a solid silver headjoint and a C# trill key are must-haves but a solid silver body and a D# roller are a plus. If you need help figuring out what features you need, our free digital course, “Finding Your First or Forever Flute (and How to Make It Last)!” walks you through all of the different options.
Also, don’t be too terribly picky about brands unless you already know of one that you want, because if you are trying flutes from a flute store, every flute brand there should already be by a good maker. Please note that you can place your trust in a flute store about this aspect but you sometimes do have to be a little more cautious about the instrument’s brand when shopping from a general music store.
After considering your budget and essential features, your choices for instruments should have been narrowed down considerably. From there, decide on three or four flutes you would really like to try. If you do less than three, you might not find a flute that really works for you best, but if you do too many more than three, the options will be overwhelming and you will have a very hard time making a decision.
How to Try Flutes
When trying flutes, it is best to play the same things on all of them so that you can more easily compare. Play something on one flute, then play the same music on the other flutes before going on and playing something else. You will need to test the flutes throughout their full range, in different dynamics and articulations, and with different pieces.
Start with playing the full range of the flute, doing a complete chromatic scale from as low to as high as you can play. Then test the different ranges of the flute, first the normal middle register then low and high. Then in the different registers, try playing soft and loud and try tonguing and slurring. It is also good to test your high E and G# (a 2 octave A major scale and arpeggio works really well) as these can be unstable notes and are easier to play for some people on some flutes rather than others.
Finally play a couple of contrasting pieces on each instrument, ideally something more lyrical and something more technical to really put each flute through its paces. For example, you could play the second movement to Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony No. 1 and the Scherzo from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Or a French Conservatoire piece that has a lyrical and technical section like Faure’s Fantasie or Enesco’s Cantabile et Presto, or really almost any piece from the “Flute Music by French Composers” book. These are just a few examples but there are many other suitable works you could play.
As you compare each flute, consider writing down notes on each one. If you need help staying organized, you can download our free fillable flute comparison chart where you will be able to jot down your observations on most of the different aspects of the instrument.
Also consider grabbing a buddy or two and doing a blind listening test. Or video record yourself with the microphone a few feet away from you. You would be surprised how different an instrument can sound from an audience’s perspective rather than a performer’s. But of course an instrument not only needs to sound good, it needs to feel good to play too, so obviously make sure you are happy with both aspects.
Have Fun Flute Shopping
Best of luck with your flute trial and enjoy the experience!
If you need help making a decision, feel free to reach out to the Skye Flute Music community, a group you automatically connect to on this site when you enroll in the free “Finding Your First or Forever Flute (and How to Make It Last)!” digital course. We would love to hear from you and your flutes!
