Irish Flute - what are the bottom 2 holes for

ddlong

Hi there. I've just bought a new Rosewood flute (http://www.irishmusik.com/wooden-flutes--boxes--uileann-pipes.html). It has 6 holes in the middle piece which obviously I need to cover with my fingers, but what I can't figure out is that there are 2 other holes in the bottom piece and I don't know what they're for (complete novice here) ! Any ideas ? Tried googling it but no joy. Thanks.

Tallon

You have two hands mate, with fingers on each :P

Watch the video

ddlong

I did watch the video and he didn't touch the bottom 2 holes at all. I thought it was like a tin whistle where you use 3 fingers from each hand to cover the 6 holes in the middle piece - is that not the case ? Am I supposed to use 4 fingers from each hand ? I would have to lift my whole right hand off the flute and down to the bottom piece to be able to cover the bottom holes. Surely that can't be right ?

Tallon

ddlong wrote: »

I did watch the video and he didn't touch the bottom 2 holes at all. I thought it was like a tin whistle where you use 3 fingers from each hand to cover the 6 holes in the middle piece - is that not the case ? Am I supposed to use 4 fingers from each hand ? I would have to lift my whole right hand off the flute and down to the bottom piece to be able to cover the bottom holes. Surely that can't be right ?

Apologies, looks like I was wrong. They are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMXNdM5LSs

ddlong

In that video, the 1st flute he shows is like mine, but again he doesn't touch the bottom 2 holes. I wonder are they just there to improve the sound or something ?

eoin5

They're more notes if you ever decide to get keys put on it.

Den_M

I'll tell you what it's not for, son. And when I do, you'll understand why I can never go back to Sea World.

clunked

Resonence holes to improve tuning?

Fluorescence

They're actually more notes - c# and c. You need keys over them to be able to play them, otherwise your lowest note is d