Key of an irish flute?

Question:I buying an irish flute with 5 to 6 keys. but I don't know what key to get it in. I know most irish music is in the key of D and G. But what if I wanted to get one that can play in a flute choir? What key? If I get a flute with 5 or 6 keys does it matter what Key I get it in? Will it be able to play in basically any Key or just the key it tunes in?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I buying an irish flute with 5 to 6 keys. but I don't know what key to get it in. I know most irish music is in the key of D and G. But what if I wanted to get one that can play in a flute choir? What key? If I get a flute with 5 or 6 keys does it matter what Key I get it in? Will it be able to play in basically any Key or just the key it tunes in?

With an eight-key, fully chromatic "D" flute, it is relatively easy to play tunes in keys like C, F, Eb, or Bb, and you can hit accidentals (such as F natural or C natural when you're playing in the key of D) faster and more accurately. A keyless flute, on the other hand, is basically like a big whistle played sideways: you can cross-finger or half-hole to get the accidentals, but it's less efficient than using keys. The biggest advantages of keyless flutes are that they're lighter and much less expensive than those with keys. And you don't need keys for most of the traditional Irish tunes that sit well on the flute.