Gizmo key

[andy957]

What exactly does a gizmo key do?

I have had 2 teachers, neither of whom know what it does or why someone would want it, and both teachers are "professionals".

Thanks

[fluteguy18]

The gizmo key [which is really no more than an extra nub attatched to the Low B roller] merely allows the player to activate or depress the Low B key without interfering with the rest of the footjoint keys. AKA: It allows the Low B key to close, and the C/ C# keys to stay open.

It is typically used when playing in the extreme upper end of the 3rd octave to help bring the pitch down [help tune]. An example of this is when you play C4 [ our top "Super" C], and you depress the gizmo. It brings the pitch down.

The gizmo however is not a neccessary key. James Galway for example played without a gizmo for many years [including those when he played with the Berlin Philharmonic I think]. But if you watch videos of him up close, he does use the gizmo now-a-days.

I find it useful, but rarely use it myself [simply because the notes at that end of our range *A3-F#4* are not used that often or are not sustained for any period of time in most works].

[andy957]

It is typically used when playing in the extreme upper end of the 3rd octave to help bring the pitch down [help tune]. An example of this is when you play C4 [ our top "Super" C], and you depress the gizmo. It brings the pitch down.

Thanks. I just tried that and indeed it does make enough of a difference to make it worthwhile, although how many times does that C arise in the literature? I should say, however, that it is a stretch to reach .. I have larger hands, but I wonder how someone with smaller hands would get to it.

[fluttiegurl]

I have an older Haynes flute that does not have a gizmo. No big deal, just thought it was a little strange. To be honest, that was one thing that my teacher in college got on to me about the most. I never used it, and he thought I should. Now I can't

However, I do encourage students to use it because it does indeed make a difference, especially with younger students who have difficulty controlling the higher octaves.

[vampav8trix]

Anyone who has an older flute with a B foot probably doesn't have a gizmo key.

The gizmo key is nice. It is much easier to just hit that key than try to get your pinky up at the top of the rollers to close the low B when you need to get that C4.

I love it. I am glad that I bought a modern flute.

[atoriphile]

I play a flute with the gizmo key, but never use it. The problem I have is that it is located farther away, which just doesn't make sense to me.

Instead, I just press the low B key by itself (as mentioned earlier). Since my pinky is curved (not straight) while playing, I don't find it difficult to press that key while avoiding the C and C# keys.

I find that depressing the low B key while playing high C and C# not only lowers the pitch, but also helps the tone of these notes. They seem to speak more clearly with that key pressed.

Of course, each flute and flute player are different. Just use what works best for you.