Parts of a Flute: Labeled Diagram and What Each Part Does

A new flute arrives in a small case with three shiny pieces and a thin cleaning rod, and it can be hard to tell which end is which. Once you know the names of the parts, putting it together, playing it and cleaning it all make sense. This guide walks along the flute from the crown to the footjoint, the same way the diagram above does, so you will know exactly what a band director means by "line up your embouchure hole" or "check your footjoint."

The headjoint

The headjoint is the shortest piece with no keys on it. It is where the sound begins.

• Headjoint. The top section of the flute, closed at one end. It slides into the body. Many flute teachers have beginners make their first sounds on the headjoint alone before they ever put the whole flute together.
• Crown. The decorative cap on the closed end. It looks like it should come off, but it is screwed onto a cork assembly inside the headjoint that is set at an exact position. Leave the crown alone: turning it can move the cork and throw the flute out of tune.
• Headjoint cork. Hidden inside, between the crown and the embouchure hole. It seals the end of the tube, and its position affects the tuning of the high notes. The cleaning rod has a line etched near one end so a teacher or repair technician can check that the cork is in the right place.
• Lip plate. The curved plate on the headjoint where your lower lip rests. Its shape helps you aim your breath.
• Embouchure hole. The oval opening in the middle of the lip plate. You do not blow into it; you blow across it, so that the air splits on its far edge. That splitting air is what vibrates and makes the flute's sound. "Embouchure" is the word musicians use for the shape of the lips while playing.

The body

• Body. The longest piece and the middle of the flute. It holds most of the keys, played by both hands: the left hand nearer the headjoint, the right hand nearer the footjoint.
• Tenon joint. Where the headjoint slides into the top of the body. Flute joints are smooth metal, not cork, and they fit with a gentle twist.
• Keys. The round, cup-shaped covers along the body. Under each one is a soft pad that seals a hole in the tube. Pressing a key closes its hole; letting go opens it.
• Closed-hole and open-hole keys. On a closed-hole flute (sometimes called plateau keys) the key cups are solid. On an open-hole flute, five of the keys have a small hole in the center that your fingertip must cover. Most beginners start on a closed-hole flute because it is more forgiving while hand position is still being learned.
• Rods. The long thin bars running along the body. The keys pivot on them, and the rods link keys together so one finger can close more than one hole.
• Posts. The small pillars soldered to the tube that hold the rods in place.
• Thumb keys. On the back of the body, under your left thumb. One is the B key and the other is the B-flat key, also called the Briccialdi key. Your left thumb rests on them and moves between them.
• Offset G and split E. Two features you will see in flute descriptions. Offset G means the G keys for the left ring finger sit slightly out of line, which is easier to reach for smaller hands. A split E mechanism helps the high E speak more easily. Both are common on student flutes.

The footjoint

• Footjoint. The short piece at the end. It slides onto the bottom of the body and carries the keys for the lowest notes.
• Footjoint keys. Played by the right pinky. On a C footjoint, the most common kind on student flutes, the lowest note is middle C. A B footjoint is a little longer and adds one more key, which lets the flute play down to the B just below middle C.
• Rollers. On many footjoints, small round rollers sit on the pinky keys so the little finger can slide from one key to the next.

How to put a flute together

The keys on a flute are delicate, and almost every bent key on a beginner flute happens during assembly. The rule: hold each piece where there are no keys, and twist gently rather than push.

1. Take out the body first. Hold it near the top, where there are no keys, not by the key mechanism.
2. Add the headjoint. Hold the headjoint by its tube, not by the lip plate, and gently twist it into the top of the body.
3. Line up the embouchure hole. Turn the headjoint so the center of the embouchure hole lines up with the center of the first key on the body. Your teacher may adjust this slightly later to suit your lips.
4. Add the footjoint. Hold the footjoint by its end, away from the keys, and twist it onto the bottom of the body.
5. Line up the footjoint. Turn it so its rod lines up with the middle of the last key on the body. That puts the pinky keys where your right little finger can reach them.

Flute joints should never be greased. If a joint feels stiff, wipe the metal tenon clean with a soft cloth; dirt is almost always the reason. Taking the flute apart is the same steps in reverse.

Basic flute care

A flute needs a couple of minutes of care after each practice. It keeps the pads dry and the silver bright.

• Clean the inside every time. Thread a soft, lint-free cloth through the slot in the cleaning rod and wipe the inside of each piece to remove moisture from your breath. Never push the rod hard into the headjoint, where it could move the cork.
• Wipe off fingerprints. A soft cloth over the outside of the tube removes the oils that tarnish silver. Keep polish and cleaners away from the flute; the pads and springs do not like them.
• Wash your hands and wait to eat. Clean hands keep the keys clean, and playing right after a snack or sugary drink sends crumbs and sugar toward the pads.
• Store it in its case. Each piece has its own place, and a closed case keeps the keys from being knocked out of line.
• Keep it away from heat. A hot car can harm the pads.

If a key sticks, a pad looks torn, or low notes suddenly become hard to play, take it to a repair technician. Do not try to adjust the screws or bend a key yourself.

Flutes to learn the parts on

Every flute below has the parts described in this guide. Prices and stock update automatically.

Choosing a first flute? Our beginner flute buying guide explains what to look for, and the school band instrument guide covers every instrument your child might be offered. You can also browse all of our band and orchestral instruments. Learning more than one instrument? See the parts of a clarinet and the parts of a saxophone.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 3 parts of a flute?

The headjoint, the body and the footjoint. The headjoint has the lip plate and embouchure hole where the sound is made, the body holds most of the keys, and the footjoint holds the keys for the lowest notes.

What is the embouchure hole on a flute?

The oval hole in the lip plate on the headjoint. You blow across it, not into it, so that the air splits on its far edge. That is what makes the flute sound.

What is the crown on a flute for?

The crown caps the end of the headjoint and is attached to a cork inside that is set at a precise position. It should not be twisted or removed, because moving the cork changes the tuning.

How do you line up the parts of a flute?

Line the center of the embouchure hole up with the center of the first key on the body. Then turn the footjoint so its rod lines up with the middle of the last key on the body.

What is the difference between a C footjoint and a B footjoint?

A C footjoint goes down to middle C and is standard on student flutes. A B footjoint is slightly longer with an extra key, so the flute can play one note lower, down to B.

Why is the flute a woodwind if it is made of metal?

Instrument families are based on how the sound is made, not what the instrument is made of. A flute's sound comes from air splitting across an edge, like other woodwinds, rather than from buzzing lips in a cup-shaped mouthpiece as on brass instruments.