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Flutes & Piccolos

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Flute Buying Guide: Learn, Compare, and Find Your Fit


How different film and opera scores would sound without the flute section’s soaring ascents and lush trills! These sweet and iconic woodwinds have been lifting spirits with their cheery lilts for thousands of years. From leading traditional Celtic and Indian music to signaling marching orders on American and German battlefields, the influence of the flute and its predecessors on music history cannot be overstated.


Fortunately for flute lovers today, these aerophones are more prevalent than ever. Artists as diverse as beatboxer Greg Pattillo and Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson have helped bring the flute into the limelight of modern music production. Flutes have even earned a prominent place in folk metal groups Eluveitie and Kranium and jazz albums ranging from Eric Dolphy’s Out to Lunch! to Yusef Lateef’s opus The Golden Flute.


Your Flute Journey Begins at Sweetwater


Are you an established player or one who’s just starting their journey? You’ve come to the right place. Sweetwater is proud to have helped kick-start the careers of many flautists with our vast selection of pro- and entry-level instruments. Just use the shop filters on this page to see flutes from the industry’s most trusted makers, including Yamaha, Pearl Flutes, Jupiter, Wm. S. Haynes, Di Zhao Flutes, and more. You can also filter by price, playing level, body material, key type, and more to find the exact flute for your needs. Give it a try!


The Flute as a Popular Band Instrument


As one of the most popular instruments in the woodwind family, the flute serves a vital role in many marching bands, orchestras, and concert bands across the world. Flutes, like other woodwinds, produce sound when air is blown into the instrument. Flutes don’t have reeds, so to produce sound, a player must blow into an opening in the instrument, known as the embouchure hole.


Types of Flutes and FAQs


What is a flute?


The flute is a reedless woodwind instrument that produces sound as players blow a steady airstream across the embouchure hole. Pitch is controlled through the opening and closing of keys along the instrument’s body.


What are the registers of a flute?


A professional flute in experienced hands has a typical range of C4 to C7 (around three octaves beginning at middle C). For more information on the flute's higher-pitched cousin, the piccolo, check out our selection of piccolos.


What’s a good beginner flute?


Whether you’re a student learner or an adult who’s just starting out, we stand behind the following flutes for their value and educational foundation:


  • Yamaha YFL-222
  • Wm. S. Haynes AF480 Amadeus
  • Jupiter JFL700A
  • Tromana FL300

Getting Started with Your Next Flute


Ready to purchase your next flute? Sweetwater makes it easy. If you don’t know where to begin, reach out to our knowledgeable Sales Engineers. They’ll help you choose a flute that aligns with your goals and budget.


If you're new to the flute or interested in learning more, Sweetwater's Flute Rental and Buying Guide and Flute Quickstart Guide are great places to start. These guides cover everything from the fundamental parts and joints of a modern flute to care, posture, financing, and more. Check them out!

Why shop Flutes & Piccolos at Sweetwater.com?


With a massive selection of Flutes & Piccolos, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, 24/7 access to award-winning support - and more - Sweetwater gives you more than any other retailer! If you have any questions about Flutes & Piccolos, make sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.