Members of the western flute family
The Piccolo
The piccolo is the smallest member of the flute family. It's about 33cm long, that's roughly half the size of the concert flute. The piccolo has It has two pieces, the head and the body. Piccolos are usually made of wood, but they're sometimes made in silver or plastic. The piccolo plays an octave higher than the concert flute. Since the piccolo has no foot joint, the lowest note it can play is D. Piccolos are common in orchestras and wind bands.
The piccolo is the smallest member of the flute family. It's about 33cm long, that's roughly half the size of the concert flute. The piccolo has It has two pieces, the head and the body. Piccolos are usually made of wood, but they're sometimes made in silver or plastic. The piccolo plays an octave higher than the concert flute. Since the piccolo has no foot joint, the lowest note it can play is D. Piccolos are common in orchestras and wind bands.
Concert Flute
The concert flute is the most common flute. It is 67cm long, and made up of three pieces; the foot joint, middle joint (the body), and the head joint. The concert flute is in the key of C, with a range of three octaves.
Concert flutes usually made of silver, but also come in gold, wood or platinum. The concert flute can sound high or low, bright or shady, etc.
Concert flutes usually made of silver, but also come in gold, wood or platinum. The concert flute can sound high or low, bright or shady, etc.
Alto Flute
The alto flute is larger than the concert flute (86cm), therefore it is lower in pitch than the concert flute. It is tuned to the key of G. This flute model was perfected by Theobald Boehm. The alto flute has a distinct, mellow sound. It is a transposing instrument. This means that the notes come out a fourth lower than the notes written on the page. The alto flute is just a bigger, longer concert flute. Sometimes it has a curly head joint so that players can reach all the keys.
To learn more about the alto flute, click here.
To learn more about the alto flute, click here.
Bass Flute
The bass flute is in the key of C, pitched one octave below the concert flute. The bass flute is so big,that they have to have a curly head joint so that the players can reach the keys. To learn more about the bass flute, click here.
Contra' alto Flute
This flute is in the key of G, an octave lower than the alto flute.
To learn more about contra' alto flutes, click here.
To learn more about contra' alto flutes, click here.
Contrabass Flute
The contrabass flute is in the key of C, and has a pitch of two octaves lower than the concert flute. This flute is about nine feet tall.
To learn more about contrabass flutes, click here.
To learn more about contrabass flutes, click here.
Subcontrabass Flute
This flute is huge! It has a pitch of two octaves below the alto flute.
To learn more about the subcontrabass flutes, click here.
To learn more about the subcontrabass flutes, click here.