Acoustics of baroque, classical and modern flutes

classical flute
flared foot

F#6

Music Acoustics UNSW

modern B modern C classical C classical D classical flared baroque B3
D4 E4 F4 F#4 G4 A4 B4
C5 C#5 D5 E5 F5 F#5 G5 A5 B5
C6 C#6 D6 E6 F#6 G6 A6

Conventional Fingering

Impedance

Acoustic and Fingering Schematic
a covered tone hole or key pressed
an uncovered tone hole or key not pressed
a partly covered hole

Details in fingering legend.

Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance
Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics


Impedance spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot measured at the embouchure hole using conventional fingering for F#6. Z is plotted in dB, i.e. 20 log(Z/Pa.s.m-3).

It may be considered as the fingering used to play D4, but with two register holes that weaken and detune the first four minima, while leaving the fifth minimum unchanged. Thus a note is produced near the fifth harmonic of D4.

This fingering is out of tune - classical flutes intended to play in the third octave usually had extra keys, which allowed the designer more parameters to vary to maintain intonation over a wider range. In our study, the player was asked to play the fingerings 'where they were', rather than to tune them by varying the coverage of the embouchure hole. (The dimensions of the instrument are based on those of a large-hole Rudall and Rose flute: R & R #655 from the Bate Collection in Oxford.)

Sound


Sound spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot played using conventional fingering for F#6.

Sound Clip

You can hear F#6 played with conventional fingering by Geoffrey Collins.

Alternative Fingering

classical flute flared foot

Impedance

Acoustic and Fingering Schematic
a covered tone hole or key pressed
an uncovered tone hole or key not pressed
a partly covered hole

Details in fingering legend.

Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance
Non-specialist introduction to flute acoustics


Impedance spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot measured at the embouchure hole using alternative fingering for F#6. Z is plotted in dB, i.e. 20 log(Z/Pa.s.m-3).

This fingering may be considered as F#4 with a register hole (LH 2nd finger). The fourth minimum produces F#6. This fingering is very sharp, which is why the fingering above has the RH 3rd finger as cross fingering.

Sound


Sound spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot played using alternative fingering for F#6.

Sound Clip

You can hear F#6 played with alternative fingering by Geoffrey Collins.



Fingering legend
How were these results obtained?
Acoustic measurements are available for these flutes -
modern B, modern C, classical C, classical D, classical flared, baroque
Sound clips are available for modern B, classical flared and baroque
To compare flutes, it is easiest to open a separate browser window for each instrument.

Copyright © Academic Press. JSV+ Joe Wolfe, John Smith, John Tann and Neville H. Fletcher, Acoustics of baroque, classical and modern flutes
Revised to include the baroque flute 2001.