Parts Of The Flutes You Need To Know
Parts Of a Flute
The parts of the flute are numerous. Starting from the lip plate, the key mechanisms of the foot joint.
All the parts of the flute serve a purpose that makes the flute function very well as a musical instrument.
The flute is a member of the woodwind family, made of either wood, metal, or synthetic materials.
Of course, there are different types of flutes, ranging from vessel flutes to transverse flutes.
But the standard western concert C flute, which is also a transverse flute, is the most popular among them.
The standard concert, or C flute, is a member of the western flute family. Other members of the western flute family are the piccolo, alto flute, and bass flutes.
The standard western concert C flute is generally made with metals like nickel-plated silver, gold, and other materials. But piccolo is commonly made with wooden bodies and metallic keys.
Thus, the parts of the flute we are discussing here are part of the western flute family. We are not discussing parts of the bamboo flute or vessel flute.
Therefore, we will discuss different parts of the western flute one after the other in detail.
Moreover, we will establish how each part functions and contributes to the general functionality of the flute.
The Western Concert Flute
The western concert flute is a simple metal tube that is relatively small.
The flute is a tube, closed at the top and open at the bottom.
Also, the tube has tone holes drilled along its sides at specific intervals.
The key mechanism is attached to the tube on one side, and it is used to open or close the tone holes. This action allows the instrument to create different tones and notes.
But the tube of the flute is not one piece of metal.
Generally, the tube is the main part of the flute, and it comes apart in three sections. These sections, known as joints, are listed below.
- The head joint,
- The body joint,
- The foot joint
Each of these three sections or joints has different parts that are peculiar to them.
Tenons are a component of the flute that are used to join all three joints together to form a complete instrument.
When the three joints are joined together, we will have a complete instrument.
The instrument that we have is known as the modern concert C flute.
Parts of a Flute Diagram
The diagram above is the pictorial representation of this part of the flute.
As we can see from the parts of a flute diagram, we have three joints. Also, each joint has different parts that further add to the functionality of the flute.
All three joints are the three major parts of the flute. Each of them has different functionality, and they are very important.
All these parts make the flute a versatile instrument with a brilliant and sweet tone.
In the next sections, we will discuss each of the joint parts of the flutes one by one. We will also discuss other parts of the flute each joint has.
The best thing about learning parts of the flute is knowing the functionality of each part.
Thus, every beginner should know all the parts of the flute by their names.
Also, they should know the functionality of all the parts that make up the flute.
This will actually help us to handle and play the instrument very well, to the best of our ability.
The Head Joint Parts of A Flute
The head joint is the top section of the flute. The tube of the flute is closed at this end.
The flute headjoint is a tapered tube with a wider bottom and a narrower top.
Also, it has several important parts that allow the player to create the instrument’s sound.
In particular, the flute head joint is the part of the flute that initiates the sound of the instrument.
For instance, the head joint houses the embouchure hole the flautists blow through to play the flute.
Obviously, the head joint is a component of the flute without keys. But it contains other components.
Also, some types of western flutes have curved head joints, but straight head joints are more common.
For instance, the alto flute and the bass flute used curved head joints.
While the curved head joint is optional for the alto flute, the head joint for the bass flute is typically a curved head joint.
Whichever head joint our flute had; all of the head joints have the same piece.
Other parts that can be found on the head joint are:
- Crown
- Lip plate
- The riser
- Embouchure hole
- Cork
- Tenon
- Reflective Plate or Tone Reflector
The first four are the external pieces on the head joint.
The last two components listed above are the internal pieces on the head joint.
Let us see what all these pieces are, one by one.
The Crown – Part Of the Flute
The crown is a piece of the head joint that seals the upper end of the head joint.
It gives support to the inner cork that stabilizes the length of the flute tube. The support of the crown keeps the cork positioned at the proper depth.
Generally, the crown is made with the same material used to make the flute.
Also, it is made in a different shape and can be decorated. Indeed, the cork is usually decorated, giving the flute an elegant look.
The Lip Plate -Part Of the flute
This is the piece on the head joint where the player’s lower lip touches the flute.
It is usually made with an oval-shaped metal that is slightly concave inward.
The lip plate is connected to the tube of the head joint with the aid of a riser.
The embouchure hole is drilled on the lip plate. The combination of the lip plate and riser gives the metal flute embouchure its depth.
This gives a flute made with metal the same blow hole thickness as a wooden flute. As a result, the metal flute is easier to play, just like a thick wooden one.
The lip plate also allows for proper lip positioning and smooth air stream direction to the embouchure hole.
The Riser – Part Of a Flute
This is the metal part that raises the lip plate away from the tube of the flute head joint.
The riser is also known as the “chimney.” It is also called the “wall” by some American flute makers.
Air from the embouchure hole that creates vibration and produces sound enters the head joint of the flute through the riser. This makes the riser one of the most important parts of the flute.
Moreover, the height of the riser determines the depth of the embouchure hole.
The depth created by the riser contributes to the tone’s quality and the response of the head joint.
A deeper riser produces a richer quality sound because it generates more low harmonics.
A shallow-depth riser, on the other hand, will only produce a brighter and more free-blowing head joint.
The Embouchure Hole – Part Of a Flute
The embouchure hole is the critical part of the flute. It is a piece that flute players blow through to make sound with the instrument.
The embouchure hole is at the center of the lip plate. So, the lip plate sits around the embouchure hole.
Fundamentally, the lip plate allows players to position their lips very well.
The shape and size of the embouchure hole varied according to different flute makers.
The most common shapes and sizes today range from a rounded rectangle to a long, oval shape.
The different shape and size of the embouchure hole have different capabilities for altering the tone quality of the flute.
For instance, the small and oval embouchure holes respond very well in the upper register.
On the other hand, the large and rectangular embouchure hole produces a better tone in the lower register.
Cork – Part Of a Flute
This is the inner piece of the headjoint, made of cork or synthetic material. It is an assembly of screw, nut, and cork material.
The cork assembly acts like a stopper. It creates an airtight seal on one end of the flute tubing.
This reflects the air that you blow into the instrument and ensures that the air is moving in the correct direction.
A good cork is crucial to creating a good sound on the flute.
A well-installed, firm, and solid cork provides a solid mass for your air to bounce off of. This means a crisper articulation and deeper resonance for the flute.
The flute head joint cork can be damaged by different factors. Basically, it can be easily damaged by water. The water will make it too loose or soft.
Of course, a damaged head joint cork will have a negative impact on the flute’s tone quality.
Also, the impact of the damaged cork will affect the intonation and articulation of the instrument.
Headjoint Tenon – Part Of a Flute
The tenon of the flute headjoint sits at the lower end of the headjoint.
This is the bottom side of the headjoint, and it fits snugly into the flute body joint.
It is typically used for the assembly of flutes and to tune the instrument.
Of course, the tenon can be used to adjust the overall pitch of the flute.
With the aid of the tenon, the headjoint can be slightly drawn out of the body. This action will make the whole tube of the instrument slightly larger.
Likewise, the headjoint can be properly pushed and placed into the body joint of the instrument.
This action will make the whole instrument much smaller. As a result, the overall pitch of the instrument will rise slightly.
The Body Joint Parts of a Flute
The body joint is the middle section of the flute where flute fingering and playing techniques happen.
The body joint remains the largest section of the flute parts. Also, it is the most visible component of the flute.
The body joint is the part of the flute where most of the tone holes are drilled.
Also, it is the part where the key mechanism used to play the instrument is located.
Thus, the body joint is an important part of the flute used to produce tones of different pitches.
Remember that the head joint of the flute is important to creating the instrument’s sound.
Furthermore, the body joint forms the largest part of the flute and has a barrel at its upper end.
To assemble the flute, both the head joint and the foot joint are attached to the body joint.
The head joint is attached to the upper side of the body joint. Also, the foot joint is attached to the lower side of the body joint.
Besides the key mechanism, we can find other pieces on the body joint. For instance, the tuning slide is part of the body joint.
Keys – Parts Of a Flute
The keys used to play the flute are technically constructed and form the mechanical part of the flute.
They are strung onto rods that are logically attached to the metal tube of the body joint.
The attachment is achieved with the aid of posts and ribs used in the key’s mechanism.
The main function of the key is to close and open the tone hole. This is done by pressing down on the key and releasing it.
The tone hole is closed when we press the key down and opens when we release it.
Every key on the mechanism has a spring that makes it possible for it to bounce back up after being pressed down.
The spring is an important part of the key mechanism. It makes the opening and closing of the tone holes, achieved by pressing down the keys and releasing them, a smooth task.
The level of tension or resistance provided by the spring to the keys can be adjusted. This is done in a way that suits the player’s needs.
The spring can become weak, broken, or bent. If this happens, the key may fall open and lose its rebound.
This should be avoided to keep the instrument in good working condition.
So, we need to check the spring regularly. If we find the spring weak, we can adjust it.
Also, we need to replace the spring if it is broken or bent.
More on Keys
The key mechanism is designed so that some keys can close more than one tone hole.
This allows the flutist to play more keys with his or her limited fingers.
As we all know, nobody has thirteen fingers to press all the keys at the same time.
Close hole key and Open Hole keys
The key used for the flute can have an open hole or a closed hole.
The closed-hole key is a finger key that is completely covered. Each of the closed keys has a soft pad inside.
Closed-hole keys are also known as plateau keys. This type of key allows flutists to relax their hands more while playing. As a result, it helps them play smoothly with less effort.
On the other hand, the open-hole key is a finger key with a perforated center. The inner part of the open key is empty and open.
The open holes are normally covered by the fingertips of the player when the keys are depressed.
Students may use temporary plugs to cover the holes until they can reliably cover the holes with their fingertips.
Keypads – Parts Of a Flute
The keys are fitted with pads made with felt or synthetic material. The pads properly cover the tone holes and seal them off when the keys are depressed. This action keeps the tube from leaking air.
The keypad always needs to be in good condition. This is mandatory to maintain the quality of the tone the instrument produces.
Thus, we need to clean them properly and regularly before and after using them.
Moreover, it is possible for the keypads to get damaged or worn out. If this happens, we need to replace them. The replacement of the flute keypad should be done by a qualified flute technician or repairer.
Tone holes
The tubular pipes of the body joint are properly drilled along its body. This forms what is known as the tone hole on the body of the instrument.
But the tone holes on the western flute are not just drilled holes. All the tone holes have metal chimneys that are properly attached to them.
The metal chimneys extend out of the tubular body of the flute to meet the keys and pads.
This makes it possible for the keypad to properly rest on the tone hole and seal it off.
The Barrel and the Tenon
The barrel is located at the upper end of the body joint. Most of the flute makers inscribed their company name on the barrel. Also, you can find the serial number of the flute on the barrel.
The barrel allows the tenon on the headjoint to properly fit into it. This allows the headjoint to be firmly attached to the body of the instrument.
The tenon of the headjoint can be pushed into or pulled out of the body barrel for tuning purposes.
In addition, the lower side of the body joint has its own tenon. This part fits well into the footjoint section of the flute.
The Foot Joint Parts of the Flute
This is the lower parts of a flute. The footjoint is the smallest among all the three main sections of the flute.
The footjoint, like the body joint, has a few tone holes and a simple key mechanism.
The tone hole on the footjoint is constructed the same way it is on the body joint.
Specifically, it has a metal chimney that extends out to bond with the pads of the key.
Types of Footjoint
The footjoint of the flute comes in different variations. These are listed below.
- D footjoint
- C footjoint
- B footjoint
Of course, most flutes on the market today come with either a low C footjoint or a low B footjoint.
The D footjoint
With one key and one tone-hole, the low D footjoint is easily identified.
The D footjoint is good for more vibration in the instrument’s lower register.
It allows the low notes to be played with a stronger and cleaner attack.
This type of footjoint is good for students who have just begun playing the flute.
Also, for any student who struggles to get a clean tone in the low register.
The C footjoint
This is the footjoint with the lowest note of middle C, known as C4. This type of footjoint is commonly used on student flutes.
With two keys and two tone holes, the low-C footjoint is easily identified.
The B footjoint
This is the footjoint with the lowest note of B below the middle C. That is B3. This type of footjoint can be found on intermediate and professional flutes.
The B footjoint extends the bottom range of the instrument to a low B instead of a low C.
The instrument with a low B footjoint plays low C better than others.
Three keys and three tone holes distinguish the low B footjoint.
We have D-sharp level, roller key, D-sharp, C-sharp, and low C-sharp keys on the B foot joint.
Some flute models have a B footjoint with a gizmo key.
The Gizmo Key
The Gizmo key is not common to all western flute footjoints. It is used on some of the B footjoints of some flute models.
The Gizmo key is known as the “high C facilitator key” and is located on top of the low B and low C keys.
The gizmo key can close the low B tone hole and leave the low C or C-sharp tone hole open.
Specifically, the key enhances the tone and response of fourth-octave C and a few surrounding notes and trills.
In Summary
The parts of the flute are in three major sections. These are the head joint, body joint, and foot joint.
The body joint connects both the head and foot joints together to form a complete instrument.
The headjoint is where tone creation begins. The flute produces the sound when the player accurately blows into the embouchure hole.
The body joint has a key that can be used to control the pitch of the tone produced by the flute.
The tone changes when the tone hole is opened or closed by depressing the key.
The footjoint extends the range of the tone produced by the flute and has keys to achieve that.
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