The Irish Flute Combo

The Irish Flute Combo starts with one of my Standard Flute models in D with rings and slides as the core flute. Additional middle joints and a foot joint are used to convert the flute to play easily in the keys of C, Eb and E, depending upon which joints are used. Since these flutes play diatonically, the keys that are easy to play in with this setup are D/G, C/F, Eb/Ab and E/A and their relative minors. (Updated March 15, 2021)


[photo of the Irish Flute Combo]

In the above image:

  • Head Joint
  • C Upper and Lower Middle Joints
  • D Middle and Foot Joints. This Foot Joint is used also with the C Middle Joints.
  • Eb Middle and Foot Joints. This Foot Joint is used also with the E Middle Joint
  • E Middle Joint.
  • How does this compare to a keyed flute? It is possible to play all of those keys on a keyed flute and many players take that route. However, using keys to play in key signatures other than D and G is awkward and requires a long learning curve. The Irish Flute Combo allows one to play the natural diatonic fingerings at different pitches. Thus music learned in one key is easy to play in these other keys. It is pretty much the same concept as having whistles of different pitches to play. It makes sense if you are going to play something in Eb to have a flute that plays in Eb!

    Irish Flute Combo Retrofits: If you already own one of my Standard Flutes with rings and slides, keyless or keyed, the Irish Flute Combo Retrofit Package can be ordered and fitted to your flute, expanding its capabilities.

    Hand sizes and alignments. The core D flute for the Irish Flute Combo is available in Standard, Small Handed and Large Hole Standard configurations, either with the ergonomic finger hole alignments described elsewhere on my website, or in-line. The finger hole spacing for the C body is set at 33mm between holes (measured center to center) but can be made a little closer if necessary. The E and Eb bodies are narrower than my Small Handed flutes but work fine for larger hands. These can all be made with the ergonomic offset or in-line finger holes.

    What about keys? Keys still may be added to the Irish Flute Combo bodies as desired, at $450 per key. You may wish to have the 4, 5 or 6 keyed configuration on the D flute core. I find the idea of the C flute having keys particularly intriguing.

    [Combo setup in C] [Combo setup in D] [Combo setup in Eb] [Combo setup in E]

    Is the tuning slide necessary? I have made my Low Combo flutes in A, Bb, B and C for several years. I find that having a tuning slide is useful when going from one setup to another. Certain scalings will respond differently to different players. Thus if the D setup plays in tune, sometimes the C will need to be pulled out a little more, or the Eb and E pushed in a bit. It is just good to have that tuning flexibility and in this instance I am making it a requirement.

    Is this available for the Folk Flute? Or my Standard Flute? For Folk Flutes, no. If you own one of my retrofittable $700 Standard Flute models, you can get the retrofit package. However this also requires you to order the Rings and Slides retrofit for an additional $400.

    Regarding retrofitting older Casey Burns Flutes: If you ordered your flute sometime after the year 2000, most likely your flute is retrofittable. Before then my scalings were in somewhat a state of flux. If you are interested, contact me. I might require you to send me your flute so I can evaluate whether or not the retrofit is possible. In most cases, the retrofit is possible.

    What woods are available? Currently the Irish Flute Combo is available in Blackwood and Boxwood. Mopane is not available. Note that you can also mix and match woods! A Blackwood retrofit for a Mopane D flute would be entirely acceptable.

    In the above images the Irish Flute Combo is set up as 4 different flutes: C, D, Eb and E. Use the head joint for scale.

    Hand sizes and alignments. The core D flute for the Irish Flute Combo is available in Standard, Small Handed and Large Hole Standard configurations, either with the ergonomic finger hole alignments described elsewhere on my website, or in-line. The finger hole spacing for the C body is set at 33mm between holes (measured center to center) but can be made a little closer if necessary. The E and Eb bodies are narrower than my Small Handed flutes but work fine for larger hands. Holes can be ergonomically offset or in-line.

    I started addressing the needs of smaller handed players as far back as 1985, and iteratively developed flutes that are comfortable to one's hands with the narrowest finger spacings available in the Irish Flute market. These are the distances between fingerholes (measured center to center) range from 32 to 35mm on my Standard D flute, and from 29 to 32mm on my Small Handed Flutes. Holes are usually offset for further comfort.

    Fingerhole Spacings for my flutes - measured center of hole to center of hole, for comparison purposes.

  • Between 1st and 2nd fingerhole Standard: 35mm Small Handed 32mm
  • Between 2nd and 3rd fingerhole Standard: 33mm Small Handed 31mm
  • Between 4th and 5th fingerhole Standard: 32mm Small Handed 31mm
  • Between 5th and 6th fingerhole Standard: 32mm Small Handed 29mm
  • My Standard Flute has a slightly closer fingerhole spacing than most of of the other flutes out there, if only by a few millimeters in some cases. However, these few millimeters and the offset can make a huge difference. And for small hands, nothing else exists that can compare with mine for comfort. If your hands are on the small side, and especially if you have issues with such things as arthritis or tendonitis, or simply want a flute that doesn't require you to spread your fingers much, select one of my flutes.

    The spacing of the Large Holed Standard is very close to the Standard. On the upper hand holes the spacing is 35mm and 34mm. On the lower hand the spacing is 33mm and 33mm. The holes are a little larger (.5mm to 1.5mm) due to their lower position on the flute body. This should be considered if one has very narrow fingers.

    How do the other piches play in comparison? For some time I have been making flutes in C using my Low Flute head joints with the larger 21mm bore. Recently I developed a C flute that uses my D flute head joint and foot joint that plays better. The bore is similar to my Rudall flutes, based on a later Rudall Carte, that feature two vent holes on the foot joint. These would play reliably down to the C if I made them with the keys for these two bottom holes (I don't!). By rescaling the finger holes downward I was able to make this flute work in this pitch. The C flute plays very evenly with a warm, rich tone, just like my Rudall model D flute.

    [Irish Flute Combo]

    The higher pitches Eb and E remain rich but are increasingly lively the higher the pitch. The narrower fingerhole spacings also make them faster to play. Bottom line - these pitches are just fun! The E body is especially useful for playing fiddle tunes in the key of A.

    Just to dispel any confusion: Modern Flutes are called "C Flutes" by most players. We call our normal Celtic flutes "D Flutes". In reality these are all the same type of instrument pitch-wise, in that the note sounded with all 6 primary finger holes covered is D just above middle C. The modern flutes are called "C Flutes" because written C sounds the note C. Traditional musicians commonly don't even read music and it is more useful to know what key one is actually playing in. Thus we call our Celtic flutes "D flutes." Thus with the Irish Flute Combo, the C flute setup plays in the key of C, and so forth.

    How to order: email me to discuss your order.


    Orders for the Irish Flute Combo will be accepted on a case by case basis. Please contact me.

    Price for the Irish Flute Combo: $2400.

    Price for the Irish Flute Combo Retrofit: $1200.


    Shipping: Shipping will be determined at time of ordering. I ship all flutes via the US Postal Service using Priority Mail Express, and insure these via U-Pic for full value. International orders are also declared at full value. Any duty or sales tax (VAT/TVA) is your responsibility. Consult your local authorities. Delays in Customs processing are not my responsibility. If an invoice is needed for accelerating such processing let me know.



    contact me: caseyburnsflutes@gmail.com

    Page last modified:
    May 11 2023

         © Casey Burns 1981-2007