Flute

The flute is a member of the woodwind family that produces sound when air is directed across the embouchure hole, creating vibrations within its tubular body. It’s known for its clear, bright tone and agile playing style. Flutes are common in concert bands, orchestras, and chamber groups, often carrying melodies or light decorative passages. Variations include the standard concert flute and occasionally the alto or bass flute for deeper tones.

From graceful melodies to lightning-fast passages, our flute section adds color, motion, and elegance to performances throughout the season.

Fun Facts

• Flutes vary slightly in length depending on whether they use a C foot or B-foot joint, which extends the instrument’s range and physical size.
• The modern flute evolved from early European transverse flutes, becoming standardized in the 19th century with the Boehm key system, which shaped today’s instrument layout.
• Flutists control tone almost entirely through air direction and embouchure shape, since there is no reed to vibrate.
• Flutes span a wide price range, from student instruments in the low hundreds to professional handmade models that can exceed $100,000 depending on materials, customization, and craftsmanship.
• Flutes have been discovered in archaeological sites dating back over 30,000 years, making them one of the oldest known instrument families.

Common Names

• Flute (standard orchestral and concert band term)
• Concert Flute (used to distinguish from other flute family members)
• C Flute (common instructional and ensemble term)

Western Concert Flute Family (High to Low)

Piccolo:
The smallest and highest-pitched member, playing an octave above the concert flute.

Treble Flute:
A higher-pitched instrument used in some modern contexts.

Soprano Flute:
Another higher-pitched option, sometimes used in ensembles.

Concert Flute (C Flute):
The standard and most widely recognized flute in orchestras and bands.

Flûte d’amour:
Also called the tenor flute, pitched at or slightly below the concert flute.

Alto Flute:
Pitched a perfect fourth below the concert flute, producing a mellow sound.

Bass Flute:

Pitched an octave below the concert flute.

Contra-Alto Flute:
A large, lower-pitched instrument, pitched a perfect fourth below the bass flute.

Contrabass Flute (Octobass Flute):
Pitched an octave below the bass flute.

Subcontrabass Flute (Double Contra-Alto Flute):
Lower in pitch than the contrabass flute.

Double Contrabass Flute (Octocontrabass Flute):
The lowest member, pitched below the subcontrabass.

Hyperbass Flute:
Extends the lower range even further; the lowest-pitched flute.

Other Flutes

Native American Flute:
A distinct cultural flute with a unique sound.

Irish Flute:
A traditional wooden flute used in Celtic music.

Bansuri:
A bamboo flute used in Indian classical music.

Dizi:
A transverse bamboo flute from China.