Members of the western concert flute family Members of the western concert flute family The western concert flute family has a wide range of instruments. The piccolo is the highest-pitched member of the flute family, with a range an octave above that of the concert flute. It is usually the highest-pitched instrument within orchestras and bands. The piccolo has a stereotype for being difficult to play in tune; its small size makes it difficult to construct an evenly tuned scale. The treble flute is pitched in the key of G, a fifth above the concert flute. The instrument is rare today, only occasionally found in flute choirs
Bass flute Dutch flute maker Eva Kingma has created a vertical design for the bass flute which allows the weight of the instrument to be supported by the floor. Many composers are beginning to write more pieces for the bass flute. These include Katherine Hoover's "Two for Two", Bill Douglas's "Karuna", Sophie Lacaze's "Archelogos II", Mike Mower's "Obstinato" and "Scareso", Gary Schocker's "A Small Sonata for a Large Flute", Lorenzo Ferrero's "Ellipse" and "Shadow Lines", Sonny Burnett's "Stone Suite", Catherine McMichael's "Baikal Journey" and Ennio Morricone's "Secrets of the Sahara". Other important works include Tristan Murail's "Ethers" for solo bass flute and