Artley flute 18-0 closed hole
This stronger, more durable mechanism is only found on higher-end flutes. Pointed key arms: In this design, the keys are connected to the rod via a stylized pointed arm that extends to the center of the key. It is the standard design in most student and intermediate flutes.
This option is better suited for performers with longer fingers.ĭapped (Y-arm) keys: In this design, the keys are connected to the rod via a Y-shaped arm.
Inline G key: The flute's G key is inline with all the other keys. This is an ideal feature for performers with smaller hands. Offset G key: The flute's G key is offset to make it easier and more natural to play. Plateau or closed-hole flute: The keys of this flute are solid, which makes it easier to play. These holes allow the flautist to have greater control over intonation. Here are a few other terms you might find handy in helping you get through the rest of this guide.įrench or open-hole flute: The keys of this flute have a venting hole in them that must be covered by the performer’s fingers. So far, we've talked about the lip plate and the embouchure hole. Depending on your model, this piece contains three or four keys that are activated by the little finger of the right hand via touch pieces and rollers. It contains most of the keys that a player depresses and releases in various combinations to create notes. This is the longest section of the flute. These vibrations are what the ear interprets as notes and music. A player rests his or her lower lip on the lip plate and blows across the embouchure hole to vibrate a column of air within the instrument. This is the part of the flute with the lip plate and the embouchure hole. They are the headjoint, the body joint, and the footjoint. Unlike the aforementioned prehistoric flutes, which were constructed in one piece, modern flutes contain three separate sections called joints. Over the years, many improvements and modifications have been made to the design of this instrument to allow for a greater range of expression. As you uncover the holes, starting at the far right and moving left, the notes get higher and higher. When all the holes are covered, the instrument plays its lowest note – C or B depending on your particular flute. In its lowest register, a flute is little more than a tube with holes. These flutes appear to have been crafted of bird bone and mammoth ivory. In 2012, flutes speculated to be approximately 42,000 years old were found in a German cave. A rather simple instrumentĪccording to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the flute is the oldest-known musical instrument in the world. The two instruments that take the most breath to play are the tuba and the flute.