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Post by cavedweller on Jun 16, 2015 23:44:14 GMT
hello, i'm a begginer/intermediate flute player, i have experience with bansuri (indian flute) and simple recorder style irish flutes... i'm looking for a xiao that is expressive, deep sounding and comfortable enough for me to improvise on different scales with different kinds of instruments. i also realy like playing solo in big caves (while traveling) and so i would like it to be a loud and clear... and sturdy... my budget is 100-160$ with some flexibility... i was thinking of getting a wooden flute.. something like these: 1. wooden shakuhachi style
2. that 'short xiao' on red music shop - www.redmusicshop.com/Xiao/Professional%20short%20Xiaobut i'd be happy to hear more ideas and also, does it realy matter what kind of wood it's made off or is it only a minor difference? what seller would you recommend? |
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Post by Blue on Jun 17, 2015 13:47:42 GMT
If you want to improvise on different scales, I would recommend getting 8 holes rather than 6 holes. Would make it easier to deal with sharps/flats (half-notes), and you wouldn't have to deal with the piper's grip. Additionally, get the G-pitched one, which is the most common pitch for xiaos.
Be aware, however, that there is a right-handed and left-handed version of the 8-hole xiao. Be sure to tell the vender if you are a right-handed or left-handed person!
Wooden xiaos are typically louder and clearer than bamboo ones because the bores in the wooden one are geometrically more straight than the bamboo ones. It's hard to comment which type of wood you should get as an in person audition would probably provide a better picture.
The shorter xiao is probably one octave higher than the regular longer xiaos. Therefore, the shorter xiao would probably sound louder than the longer one.
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Post by Flolei on Jun 17, 2015 14:58:49 GMT
All what wrote Blue is true. Only one precision: no, the pitch of the short xiao is the same. It is a shorter bei xiao without the longer bottom part. It is not very traditional, just for travelling.
About wood - I don't know. Some people have good experience. It is not really my case. My wooden xiaos or mellower but less loud than my bamboo ones.
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Post by cavedweller on Jun 17, 2015 15:16:55 GMT
thank you both so much for your answers  what about shakuhachi vs the 'short xiao'... any thoughts on that? i understand there is a an advantage to having a 2 part flute (like the 'short xiao') due to the ability to fine tune the instrument whenever wheather conditions require.. will that be significant with a wooden flute? and also, do you recommend buying from the two sellers i linked? ("sound of mountain" & "red music shop") or do you have other recommendations? thanks in advance |
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Post by Flolei on Jun 17, 2015 15:26:07 GMT
Red music shop is an honest and reliable seller.
Shakuhachi is a completely different instrument with a different mouthpiece and only 5 holes. It is deeper and louder than xiao, but it is more difficult to play, especially if you want to play with other instrument.
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Post by cavedweller on Jun 17, 2015 18:03:12 GMT
i'm sorry, they seem to call a veriaty of their instruments "shakuhachi" on the seller websites, what i ment was the 'shakuhachi' style, like the woodwn flut i linked at the beginning of the thread. i listened to a few shakuhachi players and i understand what you mean about the classic shakuhachi flute, it does seem to be harder to control and has a more "breathy" sound to it, which is nice, but it's a bit too breathy for my taste, and of course, i'm looking for an 8 hole flute or at least 6... not 5. let me give you 2 different inspiring exampls of two sounds that i realy like: 1. www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5X3mA3Qn7Y - deeper with more bass expression and presence... 2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW3_qTp7E1E - gentle, light and slightly mellow... obvously, these are 2 very different flutes, and this is where my dilemma originates from.. and if i could have a flute that is somewhere in between, i'd be very happy i'm sorry for bothering you guys, i think this is probably a desicion i'll just have to make, since there is no way i could hear the flutes before i order...or is there? |
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Post by Flolei on Jun 17, 2015 19:18:50 GMT
Yes, there are two instruments: - Nan xiao (Soutern xiao). The one you linked is from a maker who makes them the best I know, but each flute is about 1000 USD. The ones you get are far less expressive and deep. - Bei xiao (Northern xiao). Here it is even a thin xiao (qinxiao), if I am not wrong. Now I understand better what you are looking for. If I can give you an advice is to get this one from Eason: www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Exquisite-Master-Class-F-key-Purple-Bamboo-Xiao-(by-Dong-Xue-Hua)%E3%80%80/264The sound example maybe is not the best, but I think it is mellow and loud enough. |
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Post by Flolei on Jun 17, 2015 19:20:15 GMT
Notice: Both are bamboo flutes. For wooden I have no idea, as I was not very satisfied with the two ones I bought (one from each style).
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Post by cavedweller on Jun 17, 2015 19:34:05 GMT
could you plz share a link/photo of the wooden flutes you have?
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Post by Flolei on Jun 17, 2015 20:29:33 GMT
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 17, 2015 20:36:51 GMT
Unless you have large hands, a G xiao is probably a better choice. The F key is usually for playing with a guqin, hence the name qinxiao. If you play with other instruments, a G xiao will probably be more useful, and the finger stretch is more manageable. I agree that an 8 hole xiao will be more useful for more music than a shakuhachi. If you want to play Japanese music, then shakuhachi is a great choice, and you should find a vibrant community of students and fans.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by cavedweller on Jun 17, 2015 21:43:46 GMT
the link for the nanxiao is not responding.. but i think i get the point. although there are some positive reviews on other beixiao's made of the other woods so maybe the more expensive ones are better.. and maybe not. i wonder if the short, 2 section xiao's that they have at red music shop are any good.. i found this flute (made by dong xue hua) on red-music for 89$: www.redmusicshop.com/Xiao/Professional%20Bamboo%20Flute%20Xiao%20by%20Dong%20Xue%20Hua,%202%20sections maybe this should be a good place to start?.. btw, do you own the flute you recommended earlier? |
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Post by meoweth on Jun 17, 2015 23:48:01 GMT
Guys.. I looked at the links, and I wouldnt suggest buying from either of those. Just goto Taobao, any taobao agent will work for shipping. And type in the chinese characters for dizi or xiao (using google translate if needed). Then click sort by Sales instead of Popularity and you will see the monthly sales volume. Pick a price point you are comfortable with from the first few sellers that have the highest monthly sales volume and go for that.
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 18, 2015 2:26:25 GMT
I am not much of a fan of the Taobao approach for musical instruments, preferring instead to do my business with experienced and knowledgable vendors. When I see that a Taobao vendor has hundreds or thousands of a particular instrument in stock, I have to wonder about how much care went into the making. Volume is okay for pencils, but not for flutes. I guess it just depends on your standards and budget.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by Flolei on Jun 18, 2015 5:07:42 GMT
The model sold by Red shop music at 89 USD is the lowest one by the maker, the one sold by Eason is one of the most expensive ones (I mean prices in China). Red music shop is honest and reliable, but their prices are higher than Eason's ones (Eason sells only high level instruments). If you have a look, Eason's one costs 199 USD when sold by RMS. Therefore I recommended it. Best price for high quality.
As the cheaper xiaos I bought at the very beginning of my Chinese music way are still ok, I don't own yet the xiao I recommended. I own the dizi, which is also in the same range of quality and price. It is very beautiful, loud and well-tuned, so I assume that the xiao is also very good.
I have a very good experience with buying directly from Taobao, but it is a risk for beginners and people who don't know Mandarin at all. When I buy one instrument there, I spend hours and hours in choosing it. Full-time work! I agree with David that the high volume is really not the point for flutes. The best instruments were from smaller makers with no volume at all. But I know that I took a risk, therefore I don't recommend it because it is not very secure.
The two parts short xiao can be good, I don't know. But the dizi I bought from this brand is not very good. Not loud, not clear, really not very good sound.
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Post by Flolei on Jun 18, 2015 7:54:21 GMT
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Post by cavedweller on Jun 18, 2015 10:38:54 GMT
i found the oriental music website just today... i actually really like the sound of it. the thing is, they say that this specific flute is made from a wider piece of bamboo, to give it a more amplified bass (which is what i like about it), and according to the seller, it requires more air to be blown into the flute in order to get the sound, and you can also hear it on the recording - the player has to take big breaths every few notes... still, i do like the sound, and i'm not afraid of a little hard work, but i'm afraid it might restrict me even after i've learnt the proper way to blow into it.. what do you think? BTW, are you sure it's the same flute as the one i found on red music shop? cause i was thinking that same thing... and it does look practically identical... (and obviously priced similarly) |
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Post by Flolei on Jun 18, 2015 18:54:00 GMT
I would say that it is the same instrument. BTW you can also buy by this seller (Bamboo grove). He is serious and reliable, and he is a player himself, which is a very good point.
Well, I think that the quantity of air is bigger in comparison with the gentle thinner xiao which needs really very few air. I have one in F whose bore is thicker. Of course it needs more air, but not more - for example - than Western concert flute.
If you want a deeper instrument, you need more air, I think it is nothing to do to avoid this.
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Post by cavedweller on Jun 19, 2015 6:31:33 GMT
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