How the alto flute makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the alto flute belongs to the flutes (edge-blown): an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating – flutes, recorders, whistles and panpipes.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The alto flute is an instrument in the Western concert flute family, pitched below the standard C flute and the uncommon flûte d'amour. It is the third-most common member of its family after the standard C flute and the piccolo. It is characterized by its rich, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range. The bore of the alto flute is considerably larger in diameter and longer than the C flute, and requires a larger column of air (volume of air) from the player, though it also requires a slower airspeed. This gives it a greater dynamic presence in the bottom octave and a half of its range. Its range is from G3 (the G below middle C) to G6 (4 ledger lines above the treble clef staff) plus an altissimo register stretching to D♭7. It uses the same fingerings as the C flute and piccolo. However, the instrument thereof is a transposing instrument in G, which is sounding a perfect fourth lower than written.
Other flutes
Frequently asked questions
What does an alto flute sound like?
As one of the flutes, its sound comes from the way an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating.
What type of instrument is the alto flute?
It is classified as flutes (edge-blown) (Hornbostel–Sachs 421.121.12).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q544352 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Alto flute – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by The original uploader was Rukario639 at English Wikipedia . – Copyrighted free use-link