Buying a Fife

The good news: getting started on the fife is cheap. A quality plastic fife costs less than a meal out. The better news: even professional-grade fifes are affordable compared to most instruments. You can go from beginner to advanced without breaking the bank.

For Beginners: Start Plastic

Your first fife should be a plastic B♭ fife. Don't overthink it. The Cooperman black plastic fife is what most corps use for new members. It plays in the correct key, it's durable, it's unaffected by weather or humidity, and it costs around $15. You'll use it for months while you develop your embouchure and basic skills.

The important thing at this stage is to avoid cheap C-key fifes and toy fifes sold at generic music retailers. Those are pitched differently and can't play fife and drum corps music. Look specifically for a B♭ fife from a fife and drum maker.

For Advancing Players: Your First Wooden Fife

After a few months of steady playing, you'll notice the limitations of plastic: less tonal warmth, less dynamic control, and less responsiveness. That's when a wooden fife opens up a new world.

Cooperman's one-piece rosewood fifes ($80–$200) are the traditional choice and what you'll see most often in corps. They use a Cloos/Ferrary-style cylindrical bore that's forgiving and easy to play. Sweetheart/Musique Morneaux fifes ($70–$150) offer a similar traditional bore at a similar price. Both are excellent intermediate instruments.

For Serious Players: Premium Fifes

The Healy Flute Company builds what many consider the finest fifes in the world. Skip Healy's patented parabolic-to-cylindrical bore design produces remarkably even tone across three octaves with exceptional intonation. Prices start around $600 and go up for custom woods and options. These are the fifes used by the U.S. Army Old Guard and top competitive corps.

At this level, the choice of fife is deeply personal and often influenced by your corps tradition and playing style. Talk to experienced fifers in your area before committing — they'll have strong opinions and good reasons for them.

Six-Hole vs. Ten-Hole

Traditional six-hole fifes can play in a few related keys using standard fingerings and half-holing techniques. Ten-hole (and eleven-hole) fifes add extra holes for full chromatic capability, making them more versatile for complex arrangements. Most corps play six-hole. If your corps uses ten-hole, they'll let you know.