Alto flute

[Melrudin]

Is alto flute in the key of 'c' like a normal flute? In our pit orchestra music, one of the flute parts is supposed to be played by an alto flute which we don't have. So I was wondering if I should play it or if it's not in the same key so I shouldn't.

Thanks!

[fluttiegurl]

Alto flutes are in the key of G. It will not work on your C flute unless you transpose it.

[bigboki]

Alto flutes are in the key of G. It will not work on your C flute unless you transpose it.

Would you be so kind and explain what exactly "in the key of G" means.
For example, if you have a score for alto flute, I suppose it is written with treble clef. And there is note G. Then if I play it on "normal" flute (soprano flute I belive is correct expression) I will have one fingering.
Now, will alto flute play that G as a G? With probably different fingering? Does Alto flute have completely different fingering then soprano flute?

Or fingering for G on soprano flute, will give D on alto flute (since soprano flute is "in C" and alto flute "in G" which is "quarta" bellow C).

Thank you in advance,
yours Bojan

[fluttiegurl]

Your later statement is correct. There are some useful alternate fingerings that some use on alto flute, but in general, the alto is played pretty much the same as the C flute. For instance, if you see a G on the Treble staff, you would finger that G the same as on the C flute. However, it would not sound like a G it would sound like a D. The alto is tuned to a fourth below the C flute. To play a note that sounds like a G (as on the piano) on the alto, you would have to play a C.

This is the same concept as playing a duet with a clarinet in B-flat (for band/orchestra students who may have heard this).

The term C flute is used to refer to the "regular" or concert flute. There is a flute that we call a soprano flute, which is somewhat rare. It is keyed in E-flat and is smaller that the C concert flute, but not as small as a piccolo. They are usually found only in flute choirs today.

[Melrudin]

Alto flutes are in the key of G. It will not work on your C flute unless you transpose it.

Thank you very much.

[bigboki]

Thank you very much for your great answer. I have only one more question.

For instance, if you see a G on the Treble staff, you would finger that G the same as on the C flute. However, it would not sound like a G it would sound like a D. The alto is tuned to a fourth below the C flute. To play a note that sounds like a G (as on the piano) on the alto, you would have to play a C.

This is the same concept as playing a duet with a clarinet in B-flat (for band/orchestra students who may have heard this).

Does that mean, that every music written specifically for Alto flute, they file have written note G and you will finger G but you will sound D?

Or for B-flat clarinet (whole step bellow C), they wil for example have note A (in treble clef) and you will finger for A but you will sound G?

The term C flute is used to refer to the "regular" or concert flute. There is a flute that we call a soprano flute, which is somewhat rare. It is keyed in E-flat and is smaller that the C concert flute, but not as small as a piccolo. They are usually found only in flute choirs today.

Thank you so much for this clarification, I thought C concert flute is the same term as a soprano flute!!!

Yours Bojan

[Claiken]

this is interesting. i wish i had an alto flute just to mess around with... lol

[Jamie_Babie]

I also play clarinet (Bb) and have just gone to try this out with a tuner.

As i see it,
When you see a C on the stave, you play the C fingering on the clarinet (very similar fingering to flute, when in upper register), but it says Bb on the tuner.

Perhaps it's because the fingerings are the same but due to different lenght tubes it plays a different note. And on brass instrument (assumming the fingerings are the same on all brass instruments) they play different notes too, as the lenght of the tube varies depending on the instrument.

Well that's my view.

[fluttiegurl]

You are correct. This tuning system is simply due to the lengths of tubing used to manufacture the instrument. If the tube were longer (for flute) in order to maintain the key of C, it would be a bass. Yes, the notes on the alto will always stay the same. It takes some time getting used to, especially if you have perfect pitch I know an international student who tried the alto, and could not do it because she was listening for the note she was playing.

[bigboki]

thank you so much for clarification and explanation. Not in my wildest dreams I could imagine, that there are instruments, and the music is written in "one" way, and you play it on that instrument and then it "sounds" some interval up or down...

I almost want to ask why it is like that, why it is simply not written as it should SOUND when played on that instrument, but I will restrain myself and simply take it as a fact...

You are correct. This tuning system is simply due to the lengths of tubing used to manufacture the instrument. If the tube were longer (for flute) in order to maintain the key of C, it would be a bass. Yes, the notes on the alto will always stay the same. It takes some time getting used to, especially if you have perfect pitch I know an international student who tried the alto, and could not do it because she was listening for the note she was playing.

Sincerely yours
Bojan

[ick27]

The reason why transposing instruments exist is because it makes the performer's job easier. For instance, when playing alto flute, if you see a G written on the music, you simply finger a G as you would on concert flute. If the instrument did not transpose, you would essentially have to learn to read music all over again, since you would have to re-associate all the fingerings you've already learned.