Contrabass Flute

Just picking up this monster instrument can be a challenge, but a fun one!

As you might guess, this is an extremely expensive piece of equipment, so you will probably find it only in university music departments or well-funded flute choirs.

It is pitched two octaves lower than the C flute, but there are also instruments produced in the key of G. These are an octave lower than the alto flute in G.

It takes a lot of air to get a tone on the contrabass, but as always, the relaxed embouchure is important.

The instrument has made a great contribution to the flute choir by providing a low quality to the overwhelming soprano sound of the flute.

Probably the best known maker of contrabass flutes is Eva Kingma.

Can you imagine traveling with one of these instruments? Or cleaning it out and putting it back in the case?

To play this gargantuan flute, a relaxed embouchure is paramount, plus lots of air. Although the same in theory as the standard C flute, this instrument is quite different to actually play well.

If you get the opportunity to play this flute, be sure to take it.

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