Is the alto flute hard to play?

Actually playing alto well is not easy, though. Aside from the normal difficulties associated with playing flute, it responds slower due to it’s larger size, and unless you want to spend about 5K, it will probably have some intonation difficulties in the upper range, but these can be overcome with some practice.

Does alto flute have the same fingerings?

The alto flute is an instrument in the Western concert flute family, the second-highest member below the standard C flute after the uncommon flûte d’amour. It is a transposing instrument in G (a perfect fourth below written C), and uses the same fingerings as the C flute.

Is the alto flute higher or lower than the flute?

The alto flute is a lower and somewhat more unusual member of the flute family than the piccolo and concert C flute. Sounding a perfect fourth lower than the flute in C, it has a sounding range from G below middle C to the G three octaves higher.

What key is an alto flute?

G
Alto Flute – Pitched in the key of G, the alto flute has a range starting from G (a fourth below middle C). Most alto flutes are available with either a straight headjoint or curved headjoint. Bass Flute – Pitched in the key of C, this large flute sounds one octave lower than the common C flute.

What is an alto flute used for?

The alto flute is a common woodwind instrument often played in Western concert music. While the “regular’ C flute is more popular, especially with beginners and K-12 students, the alto flute has a deeper range and more powerful tone.

How heavy is an alto flute?

Weight By Type Of Flute

What is the lowest note on an alto flute?

The alto flute is a transposing instrument. Its lowest note is G – the same note as the lowest string of the violin – but it is written as piano middle C, a fourth higher, so all its music is written a fourth higher than it sounds. This is so that the player can use the same fingering system as on the concert flute.

Are flutes a standard size?

The standard C flute is 26 in (67 cm) long. Overall, the smallest member of the family (the piccolo) is 13 in (33cm), and the largest member, the subcontrabass flute, is 15 ft (4.6 m) long. Let’s look at all the members of the flute family and their sizes side by side.

What is the range of a alto flute?

G3 to G6
Alto flutes are pitched to the key of G, offering a range from G3 to G6. They’re usually made from nickel, silver-plated brass, or silver. Like all flutes, alto flutes have three main parts: the headjoint (which contains the mouthpiece), the body, and the foot joint.

How big is an alto flute?

about 34 inches long
The alto flute sounds in G, a fourth below the C flute. It is a transposing instrument, meaning the music is written in C and the instrument sounds a fourth below. It is usually about 34 inches long.

Who invented the alto flute?

Theobald Boehrn
Virtuoso flutist, inventor, and composer, Theobald Boehrn (1794-188 1) is best known for his significant achievements in acoustical and mechanical design of the modem concert flute. Few realize that Boehm is also responsible for the modem design of the alto flute, now enjoying a recent rise in popularity.

What is the difference between concert flute and alto flute?

When playing alto, bass or contrabass flute, the airspeed used should be slightly slower than for concert flute, especially for notes in the second and third octaves. When playing concert flute, many flutists increase the airspeed in the higher octaves.

Why do flutes require more air than other instruments?

Larger flutes require more air. The alto, bass and contrabass being successively larger than the concert flute, both in diameter and in length, require successively larger volumes of air to play along with proper support of the air column to achieve a pleasing and projecting tone.

What notes do you start with on a flute?

Start slowly with some long tones on notes on notes such as A, G and F in the first octave, to determine the air stream width and speed necessary to produce a good tone. Remember that playing the larger flutes requires more air than playing the concert flute.

How do you set up an alto flute head joint?

Some alto and bass flute players set up the head joint to place the straight section of the head with the embouchure hole almost directly above the main tube of the instrument, while others prefer to place the curve toward the player’s body with the head joint on the same plane as the main tube of the flute.