The Flute Family

This is what most flutists play in bands and orchestras. They are made out of many materials, including silver, gold, platinum and wood. Players chose the material according their preference of sould. The standard range of the C Flute is c1-d4, depending on the player and instrument.

Piccolo

Most flutists also play this instrument used in band and orchestra. It is the smallest of all the wind instruments. They are usually made out of silver or wood. Silver piccolos are generally used for outdoor performance or marching bands. Wood piccolos are the standard for most concert bands and symphonic orchestras. The piccolo is a transposing instrument and plays one octave higher than the flute.

Alto Flute

Not used as often as C flute and piccolo, most often used in special ensembles, such as jazz groups

and flute choirs. There are a few orchestral pieces written with Alto Flute parts including Stravinski's "Rite

of Spring" Alto Flute is in the key of G, therefore it sounds a fourth lower than the C flute.

Bass Flute

Even rarer than the Alto flute, is basically limited to flute choir and the occasional solo. Probably the most famous solo for Bass Flute being the sixth movement in Claude Boling's "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano". The Bass Flute is also a transposing instrument, sounding one octave lower than the C Flute.