classical flute flared foot

D4

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

With two holes open, the filtering effect of the downstream holes is clear at frequencies above about 1.5 kHz. Compare this spectrum with more regular impedance spectrum for D4 on the classical instrument with a D foot. The regular, harmonically spaced minima in the latter spectrum allow greater power in the higher harmonics, and thus a brighter tone for this note. However, D4 with this flared foot produces more regular minima, and therefore a brighter D4 note, than does D4 on a classical flute with a C foot.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a classical flute with a flared foot played using fingering for D4.

Sound Clip

You can hear D4 played by Geoffrey Collins.