There are 3 sections of a Flute
Just like people have joints that help us function as people so do flutes. If you or your child is thinking about playing the flute, it’s a great thing to familiarize yourself with the different sections of the instrument so you can know the terminology to mention while shopping for an instrument.
The flute has three main sections, each is called a joint:
Head Joint
This is the section of the flute that is on the mouth and has no keys. The head joint has several important pieces. The tuning cork can be adjusted for the right intonation of your flute. The embouchure plate, the place where you place your lips, is also found on the head joint. The curved lip plate shape is easier to blow than a straight lip plate.
Arguably, the most important part of the head joint is the mouth hole. Without it, the flute wouldn’t make a sound. This hole can either be a rounded rectangle or an oval shape, and the larger mouth hole is better for low notes, while the smaller hole is better for high notes.
Body Joint
This is the middle section of the flute that connects to both the head and foot joints. The keys on this joint are pressed to create a certain pitch. It is of top importance that the keys are in good condition in order to create the best sound. Some flutes also come with a tuning slide, which is recommended, especially if there are any plans to play as a part of an ensemble.
Foot Joint
This short section of the flute only contains a few keys. There is a rod on this piece that needs to be aligned with the center keys on the flute body.
Make sure that you or your student is familiar with the parts of a flute and consult your teacher to assemble it in the best way for you.
