FLUTE - Does the E mechanism make a huge difference?

Question:I'm thinking of getting a full, sterling-silver flute. One Yamaha does not have the E mechanism, while a more expensive one does. Which should I get? The one with the E mech costs $200 more.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm thinking of getting a full, sterling-silver flute. One Yamaha does not have the E mechanism, while a more expensive one does. Which should I get? The one with the E mech costs $200 more.

The split E mechanism is meant to aid you. When you play the flute, is high E ever difficult to get out easily, or slur to, or make sound good? There is a mechanical reason for this. High E and F sharp are both gnomes. Here, I can directly quote my Trevor Wye book. I'm going to type word for word what I see on paper:

"You may have noticed that top E natural and F sharp are rather sharp. They are also more difficult than the surrounding notes. There is a mechanical reason for this; if you finger the low register chromatically from low E flat up to B flat, and without blowing, directly compare the fingering with that of the high register, you will see that, apart from E natural and F sharp, there is, in general, one hold open for the comparable upper note. That is EXCEPT for E natural and F sharp. Without a split E mechanism, these two notes have TWO holes uncovered with the comparable low-register note. If one hole could be closed-as on a split E mechanism-top E natural would be easier."

*back to me talking* That basically explains exactly why high E and F sharp are difficult to play well. There has been a mechanism invented for F-sharp too, but it is complex and expensive, so don't even concern yourself with that. I haven't even heard of a model with that on it.

So yes, the split E-mechanism makes high E much easier. What it does is it closes an extra hole that is normally open. It allows the flute to more accurately play the high E.

It is definitely possible to work past the gnome problem with years of practice, but it is difficult. The split E mechanism can only help you. My flute has this mechanism, as many flutes do, and it is helpful. I would recommend it, but it's up to you.

The one bad thing I would say about it is that with a split E mechanism, the high F sharp becomes more difficult for psychological reasons. (Even Trevor Wye said this in his book, but I thought it before I read about it.) It becomes basically the most difficult note to make sound good, and you mentally make it into more of a problem than it is. When both notes are like this, you don't think about it so much as just accept it. Of course, you can always be strong enough not to think this way, and just concentrate on making F sharp sound better. I believe that the high E is actually more difficult than the F sharp unless you have a split E mechanism, in which case F sharp is more difficult.

All in all, I would recommend getting the one with the split E mechanism. That is my opinion. It has helped me, it has helped many flautists around the world, and it can help you.

Hope this was helpful.

Good luck.

does your mom make a difference?

I have no clue i play claranet

Sterling is the best silver, it deserves the best mechanism, and so do you!

I never had one....so I never knew what I was missing! I got around the standard flute repertoire just fine without one. ;)

I'm sure it will help, but a "huge" difference? Probably not!