29 Flute Facts That All Aspiring Musicians Will Absolutely Adore

The flute belongs to the woodwind type of musical instrument.

The flute is a reed-less instrument, and the sound is produced when the flow of air crosses an opening. An expert flute player is called a 'flutist.'

There are different flutes: alto flute, bass flute, concert flute. The concert flute is the most commonly used one, and the concert flute produces the same sound given in notes. Alto flutes and standard concert flutes have a pitch in the key of G.

Western flute consists of transverse instruments made with wood or metal. The transverse flute includes dizi, koudi, chi, and xindi. Pan flute consists of multiple closed pipes. Japanese flute, end-blown, is called shakuhachi.

History Of Flute

Any hollow instrument held vertically and horizontally is called a 'flute.' A functional bone flute was discovered in China, dated around 9000 years old.

• The oldest flute found was the thigh bone of a young cave bear, having two to four holes.
• A flute was found in Slovenia around 43,000 years before. However, there is a dispute related to this fact.
• Another flute aged 35,000 years has five holes, and a V-shaped mouthpiece was also found at Hohle Fels cave in Germany.
• The archaeological findings were published in the journal 'Nature' in August 2009.
• The findings revealed that well-established musical customs prevailed before the invasion of Europe by modern people.
• In 2004, a three-holed flute, made from the tusk of a mammoth, was discovered from Ulm, southern German Swabian Alb.
• The oldest Chinese transverse flute is a chi flute found in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, Hubei province, China.
• The transverse flute is made with bamboo, having closed ends and five steps at the side.
• The earliest reference to flute appears in the Sumerian language. The epic poem 'Epic of Gilgamesh' also mentioned the flute.
• The flute has been referred to in the Bible as 'Chalil.'
• Some early flutes are made from shin bones or tibias.
• The flute has been an integral part of Indian mythology, and it is believed that the cross flute originated in India.

Working Of The Flute

To play it perfectly, one must thoroughly know the musical instrument's functioning.

• The flute comprises two root components: the generator and a resonator.
• The generator part is the edge of the mouth hole through which the air is passed along.
• When the air comes into contact with the edge, the airstream moves in a wave-like motion throughout the hole.
• The constricted air inside the tube works like a spring. When the push of air at the mouth hole starts fluctuating, this air‑spring experiences continuous tiny pushes and starts vibrating.
• The pushes given by the quivering at the mouth hole should be strong enough to keep the air‑spring active but not as strong to control the pattern of the vibrations of the air-spring.

Flutes In India

People play the tubular-shaped musical instrument not only in European countries but in India too.

• The flute that originated in India is a side-blown flute known as bansuri and is one of the oldest instruments. The flute is very famous in northern India.
• Bansuris are bamboo flutes with six or seven finger holes commonly used in Hindustan classical music.
• It has been known as Nadi and Tunava in the Rigveda and other prominent religious Hindu texts.
• The Sanskrit text 'Natyashastra' discusses its importance and its operations.
• It is available in modern fiberglass, ivory, and various other metals.
• The flute is a pivotal musical instrument in 'Natya Shastra,' a famous performance art and music book.

Flutes In China

Most Chinese flutes are made with bamboo, although they can be made using other substances, such as jade. 

• The bamboo flute or dizi is Chinese music's most well-known musical instrument.
• The Chinese flute is carved from a single piece of bamboo and is held horizontally while being played.
• It consists of six finger-holes at a particular spacing.
• Dizi has the distinctive feature of having an additional hole covered with a thin layer of reed which produces a bright, humming tone.
• Xiao, another Chinese flute, is played vertically, made from bamboo and similar to dizi, but lacks the reed covering.
• The dizi gives an experience of ethereal, lofty, and floating musical experience.

The flute has become an eminent instrument since ancient times to the modern world. It was used on different occasions and get-togethers.

FAQs

What are three interesting facts about the flute?

Three facts about flute are:

• It has been said that Lord Krishna is one of the oldest flute players, and he created the world using the enchanting sound of the bamboo and that the flute symbolizes freedom and love.
• The flute is the highest-pitched musical instrument.
• Piccolo is a type of flute that produces one octave higher notes than the other concert flutes.

What are five facts about the flute?

Facts about flute are:

• A flute is a hollow tube that produces sound when you blow into it.
• The word 'flute' has been mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The House of Fame.'
• Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, Sumerians, Indians, and Japanese used old versions of today's flutes.
• History has revealed that flutes have been made of ivory, wood, glass, plastic, brass, platinum, bone, jade, nickel, silver, or even gold.
• Every flute has a unique sound. The material and the thickness of the metal also affect the sound.

Who invented the flute?

Theobald Böhm, a flutist, goldsmith, and industrialist from Bavaria, invented the flute.

Why is a flute called a flute?

The word 'flute' has been used to indicate instruments of pipe held vertically and sideways.

How is a flute played?

The flute is played by holding horizontally using both hands and blowing air through a hole in the mouthpiece.

When was the flute invented?

The flute was invented in 900 B.C. or before that.

How does a flute work?

A flute releases sound when a stream of air across a hole in the instrument makes a vibration of air at the hole.

Where was the flute invented?

The first flute ch-ie was invented in China.

When was the flute first made?

The first flute was made in 900 B.C.

How many types of flutes are there?

The three types of a flute are standard, piccolo, and harmony flutes.

When was the modern flute invented?

The modern flute was invented in 1847 by Theobald Böhm.

How has the flute changed over time?

The flute gradually changed from having carved holes keys to metal ring keys, and the mouthpiece received a small plate surrounding the hole.

Who invented the first flute?

Theobald Böhm invented the first flute.

How to play the highest note on the flute?

Special techniques are used to play the highest note up to F#7, or three octaves and an augmented fourth above middle C.

How long is a flute?

The modern flute is 26 in (66 cm)in length.

How to blow into a flute?

Position the flute just below the mouth, shape the mouth oval, blow into the hole, and focus the air hitting the outer rim of the mouth.

What type of instrument is a flute?

A flute is a woodwind instrument.