How the double contrabass flute makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the double contrabass flute belongs to the flutes (edge-blown): an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating – flutes, recorders, whistles and panpipes.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The subcontrabass flutes are members of the Western concert flute family. Built in two sizes, the instrument in G or F, also known as the double contra-alto flute, has 4.6 to 4.9 metres (15 to 16 ft) of tubing, while the larger instrument in C, also known as the double contrabass flute or octobass flute, has tubing 5.5 metres (18 ft) long, and is the second largest instrument of the family after the hyperbass flute.
The subcontrabass flute in G is pitched a fourth below the contrabass flute in C, and two octaves below the alto flute; it is sometimes built a whole tone lower in F. The subcontrabass flute in C is a full octave below the contrabass flute, hence its "double contrabass" name. Its lowest note is C1, the lowest C on the piano.
Other flutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a double contrabass flute sound like?
As one of the flutes, its sound comes from the way an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating.
What type of instrument is the double contrabass flute?
It is classified as flutes (edge-blown) (Hornbostel–Sachs 421.121.12).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q5299990 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Subcontrabass flute – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Maria Ramey – CC BY 3.0