Members of the western concert flute family or private collections. This distinctive sounding instrument is rarely found at present. A few American publications for flute choir currently include a part for an E (soprano) flute, an instrument pitched a minor third higher than the standard C flute. In these publications, an alternative part is provided either for the C flute or for the piccolo. The standard concert flute is by far the most common member of the flute family. The flute is used in many ensembles including concert bands, orchestras, flute ensembles, occasionally jazz bands and big bands. The instrument is pitched in C and has a
Members of the western concert flute family range of just over three octaves starting from the musical note C (corresponding to middle C on the piano), however, some experienced flautists are able to reach C. Many professional flutes have a longer B-foot joint, which can reach B. The "flûte d'amour" or "flauto d'amore" is pitched in either A or B and is intermediate in size between the modern C concert flute and the alto flute in G. It is the mezzo-soprano member of the flute family. It is sometimes referred to as a tenor flute. The range of the instrument is from A to E. The B