This virtual concert flute play two full octaves of music straight from your browser. You can interact with the instrument by clicking the note buttons on screen or using your computer keyboard. The sound produced resemble a real flute head joint and has a clean tone quality. What’s more, it doesn’t transpose any notes you might wish to play. It simply works within the standard pitch range. This means you can use the instrument to explore melodic lines or even practise fingering without the need for actualy equipment.
Just tap the buttons in the grid below the flute diagram to start. Every button is a note. When you press one, it light up the relevant keys on the visual model and plays the note. You can then use the visual feedback to learn the usual fingering for each note on the flute. The big text display change to indicate what the note is called and at what frequency it exists in hertz. The range covered by the grid extend upwards from middle C into the next octave above. The darker background notes are sharps, making them easy to pick out from the naturaly notes.
How to Use the Virtual Flute
For those who prefer something more tactile, you can use your keyboard. The notes are set up using the bottom row of letters and the one directly above it (from C4 (C5 in the lower octave)). So, C4 is played on the Z key; D is the X key and C sharp is S. This pattern repeat all the way up to M, which is B. The next note, C5 or the second octave C is played by the comma key. From here, the top octave (C5 to C6), is mapped onto the number keys and the Q row. In this layout, C5 is played on the Q key, C sharp is played on the 2 key, and D5 is played on W. You can easily run fast passages and not have to reach for the mouse while doing so. If there’s an automated sequence running at the moment then pressing a key on your keyboard will stop it.
To adjust things to suit how you want to play, there are various control buttons above the note grid. For example, the Scale Run button runs a basic C major scale up and down across both octaves. It is a nice little ear-warm-up and a way to get an idea of the instrument’s range. Pressing it again stop it in its tracks. The Greensleeves button plays the old song on the flute to show you how the fingerings alter from note to note. You can tap the button again as needed to halt proceedings. The Vibrato toggle enables a subtle wavering pitch effect on the sound emulating what would of been produced by a flutists’ natural breath. Switching this off returns you to a straight tone ideal for practising intonation. A typical use on the flute is shown by the B to C trill button. Here the flute player quickly alternates from B4 to C5 by simply keeping the thumb key pressed down and raising the left-hand index finger. It’s referred to as the simplest trill on the flute since so little movement are required.
If you’re playing via headphones or speakers you’ll want to use the slider on the control panel to the right to control the master volume. That way you have comfortabley levels whatever device you’re listening with. The Fullscreen button takes you to fullscreen mode where the diagram and keys is bigger for a better display on your screen. And if you’d like some fingering charts or keyboard mapping reference then hit the Help button.
This tool works best if you try playing some simple familiar tunes. Unlike using a mouse to click the notes, you’ll find that the keyboard help you to phrase and time things better. As you play, watch the fingering diagram. See which keys light up to represent the note you’ve produced. It builds the link between what you physically do and what you produce in terms of pitch. Students can use it to see how their fingering match the standard system. Because it’s a responsive and immediate instrument, don’t be afraid to experiment with dynamics. How fast or slow you play each note can vary.
The idea behind this widget is simplicity. It’s easy to use from the start. It offers an intuitive way to learn about music, whether you’re a student who needs to practice fingerings or a musician wanting a quick sound source. Spend some time getting used to the various controls. Determine what volume works best in your space. When you’re happy, play some of your favourite pieces and experience the realism and clarity of this flute tone.