Acoustics of baroque, classical and modern flutes

modern flute
B foot

multiphonic
A#4, A#5 & F6

Impedance

Fingering
a key depressed
a key not depressed
a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched
Details in fingering legend.

Acoustic schematic
a closed tone hole
an open tone hole

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

Impedance spectrum of a modern flute with a B foot measured at the embouchure hole using fingering for the multiphonic A#4, A#5 and F6. Z is plotted in dB, i.e. 20 log(Z/Pa.s.m^-3).

The F6 is flat

Sound

Sound spectrum of a modern flute with a B foot played using fingering for the multiphonic A#4, A#5 and F6.

Sound Clip

You can hear the multiphonic A#4, A#5 and F6 played by Geoffrey Collins.

may suggest other fingerings for this multiphonic.
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.