Repair Terms

A Shim is a paper or plastic washer (donut) that is used behind the pad in the key cup to help create a better seal between the pad and the tone hole. Both whole and partial shims may be used.

A Leak is a place between the tone hole and the pad where air is escaping. This can create a slight change in color on a single note or make the instrument unplayable.

Lost motion refers to a key that makes a small stop or bump before it is depressed all the way.

An Adjusting screw is a small screw that causes two keys to move together in combination to create a specific note. Many professional and handmade flutes do not have adjustment screws and use a shimming method to regulate the combinations.

Flute Terms

The C# trill key is a lever that activates a key over an additional C# tone hole.   This key simplifies many awkward trill and tremolo fingerings.  It is normally available with offset G only. 

Drawn tone holes are tone holes that are pulled up (drawn) from the main body of the flute and then shaped.

French model flute, also known as an open hole flute, it is a flute with venting holes at the center of the A, G, F, E, and D keys.

The Gizmo key is a small raised lever mounted on the low B key arm to facilitate the individual to closing of the low B key.  Also known as "high C facilitator," this lever helps in producing a clearer 4th octave C.