How the vessel flute makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the vessel 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
A vessel flute is a type of flute with a body which acts as a Helmholtz resonator. The body is vessel-shaped, not tube- or cone-shaped; that is, the far end is closed.
Most flutes have cylindrical or conical bore (examples: concert flute, shawm). Vessel flutes have more spherical hollow bodies.
Other flutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a vessel 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 vessel flute?
It is classified as flutes (edge-blown) (Hornbostel–Sachs 421.13).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q11853199 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Vessel flute – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Patty Ho from Toronto, Canada – CC BY 2.0