How to Play the Flute in Bb (B Flat)

Series Summary

A member of the woodwind family, the flute is a reedless instrument that plays music when air is blown over the opening or an edge. Early flutes were made of bone and date back 30,000 to 50,000 years in certain parts of the world. There are different types of flutes including piccolo, treble flute, concert flute, soprano flute, bass flute, hyperbass flute and contra-flutes. The concert flute is the most common flute and is played using the fingers to push down “keys” that let air escape from certain holes. Each combination of keys makes a certain note. These flutes all vary in octave, range and pitch. There are bamboo flutes and double flutes that are made using organic materials and played by covering holes with your fingers.

In this series of videos, learn more about playing the flute in the key of Bb from our expert. An experienced player, she first teaches you about what a musical scale is and and how a flute actually sounds. You will learn scales easily by watching these videos and also learn how to play chords on the flute. Tuning your flute is often necessary to get the right sound. Other common theory tips for flutes are addressed in this series as well. Get tips on private lessons and instructional books and learn how to play the flute!

Video Transcript

"To I would be talking about how to play a B flat major scale on the flute. I will be covering what a major scale is. Which is a group of 7 notes from the 12 pitches which are put together in a series of whole and steps patterns. I would talk about what the major scale is. The notes of the major scale in B flat. I will go over the fingerings for how to play the B flat major scale on the flute. I will also talk about different chords that are made out of the B flat major scale. I will be playing some examples for you and showing how to recognize the B flat major key when you are playing music and to use this scale to be able to move fluently around in the key of B flat major. Hopefully you would be able to hear B flat and play things around it at the end. "