flute

A woodwind instrument that is held horizontally and sounded by blowing across the mouthpiece of the instrument, much like blowing into a bottle to produce a tone. It consists mainly of a cylindrical tube 66 cm. long  and 2 cm in diameter. The modern flute is made of metal and is a non-transposing instrument with a range of middle C (C4) to C 7 three octaves above that. Experienced performers can extend that range even higher.

 

Other instruments in the flute family include piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute.