Flute pads

Flute pads seal the keys when you press on them. Your fingers just aren't big enough to cover the entire hole, so the padding helps create a tight seal.

Typically the pads are made from felt. The pads need to be kept clean and dry so that they don't dry out of shape and stop sealing properly.

This is one of the main causes of frustration for students.

New types of pads, such as the Straubinger™ Pad, have been developed in recent years to accommodate some of the deficiencies of the traditional pads.

Straubinger, for example, claims to be 90% more stable than the conventional felt pad. If your instrument is subjected to change in temperature or humidity, the pads will remain stable.

They also lasted longer and stay in adjustment longer than conventional pads. As such, the tone response is much quicker than with traditional pads.

What do you do when your pads get "sticky?" Try these tips to remedy sticky flute pads.

To get the Straubinger pads, however, you must take your flute to a Straubinger certified pad technician.

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