The Flute

The flute is a long, thin instrument that makes a sweet sound. Most flutes today are made of silver metal. Players blow air across a hole to make music. The flute has been around for thousands of years.

How to Play the Flute

To play the flute, you hold it sideways across your mouth. You blow air across a small hole at one end. Your fingers press keys along the flute to change the notes. It can take a while to learn to make a good sound.

A close-up of an old Chinese painting showing people playing flutes.
A close-up of an old Chinese painting showing people playing flutes. (Anonymous Song Chinese artist after the original by Gu Hongzhong / Wikimedia Commons)

The Flute Through History

The flute is one of the oldest instruments ever. Very old flutes made from animal bones have been found that are 40,000 years old. Long ago, flutes were made from wood or bamboo. Today's metal flute was invented in the 1800s by a man named Theobald Boehm.

Fun Facts

  • The oldest flute ever found is more than 40,000 years old.
  • A piccolo is like a tiny flute that plays very high notes.
  • James Galway is one of the most famous flute players in the world.

Did You Know?

The flute is the only orchestra instrument where the player does not blow into a mouthpiece, but across a hole instead.