A flutophone may look like a toy, but it is a legitimate pre-band instrument belonging to the wind family.

The benefits as a first instrument are multifold. It is inexpensive, made of durable and lightweight plastic, and requires little breath force, unlike an actual flute or clarinet. Its mouthpiece is familiar to most, and it is used like a common referee’s whistle.

Basics

A flutophone is shaped like a clarinet. It has a foot-long cylindrical body with holes along the length. The instrument has one hole along the underside. The thumb of the left hand is used to cover this hole when playing. The index, middle and ring finger of the left hand are used to cover the upper three holes, and the pinky is not used. The right thumb lays on the thumb rest along the underside, while the index, middle, ring, and little finger of the right hand are used to cover the lower four holes.

To play the instrument, cover the appropriate holes corresponding to the fingering for the note, and blow softly through the mouthpiece. The amount of breath used helps create changes in loudness, softness, and emphasis of the notes.

The mouthpiece is detachable and can also be used to tune the flutophone. Pulling out the mouthpiece will lower the pitch. Pushing it in raises the pitch.

To play middle C, all the holes, including the one at the bottom, are covered.

A flutophone is a stepping stone for helping young children learn the concept of reading sheet music.

Flutophone vs Other Instruments

Similar to a concert flute, a flutophone is pitched in C. Other popular instruments that are pitched in C include the piano, violin, oboe, bassoon, and harp. You can play a full chromatic scale on a flutophone.

It is often a starter instrument because young children enjoy playing an instrument that is relatively easy to learn and simple to play.

Difference Between Flutophones and Recorders

A recorder, also known as a block flute, is another beginning instrument common among young children. Its history dates back to the Baroque musical period of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The flutophone, was invented in 1943. The two instruments play similar notes. The most significant difference is that the flutophone is a little easier for younger children to use. Young children can start on flutophones and then graduate to recorders smoothly.

Flutophone Recorder

Breath control Flutophones are easier to play because it requires less air control. Recorders need more control and force to play.

Tone Flutophones have a less refined tone due to its whistle mouthpiece, which can give it a shrill quality. Recorders have a softer tone with more concert band quality.

Finger Holes The finger holes of the flutophone have grooves making it easy to tell if you are covering the holes properly. On recorders, the holes are smooth.

Versatility A flutophone can play fewer notes than a recorder. A recorder can play all notes.

Price Flutophones are a little less expensive, costing approximately $5. Recorders cost about twice as much, approximately costing $10.

Wind Instruments

Flutes and Descriptions About Them

Classification of Musical Instruments: the Sachs-Hornbostel System

Introduction to Learning Guitar for Beginners

Instruments of the Modern Orchestra

Learning 7th Barre Chords and Chord Inversions on Guitar

Classification System of Musical Instruments

Marching Band Instruments

Top 10 Belle and Sebastian Songs

Top 24 Composers of the Romantic Era

Jazz Instruments Used in Ensembles

100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time

Top 25 Beatles Songs

100 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s

The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s

Learning the 7th Chords on Guitar

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A flutophone may look like a toy, but it is a legitimate pre-band instrument belonging to the wind family.

The benefits as a first instrument are multifold. It is inexpensive, made of durable and lightweight plastic, and requires little breath force, unlike an actual flute or clarinet. Its mouthpiece is familiar to most, and it is used like a common referee’s whistle.

Basics

A flutophone is shaped like a clarinet. It has a foot-long cylindrical body with holes along the length. The instrument has one hole along the underside. The thumb of the left hand is used to cover this hole when playing. The index, middle and ring finger of the left hand are used to cover the upper three holes, and the pinky is not used. The right thumb lays on the thumb rest along the underside, while the index, middle, ring, and little finger of the right hand are used to cover the lower four holes.

To play the instrument, cover the appropriate holes corresponding to the fingering for the note, and blow softly through the mouthpiece. The amount of breath used helps create changes in loudness, softness, and emphasis of the notes.

The mouthpiece is detachable and can also be used to tune the flutophone. Pulling out the mouthpiece will lower the pitch. Pushing it in raises the pitch.

To play middle C, all the holes, including the one at the bottom, are covered.

A flutophone is a stepping stone for helping young children learn the concept of reading sheet music.

Flutophone vs Other Instruments

Similar to a concert flute, a flutophone is pitched in C. Other popular instruments that are pitched in C include the piano, violin, oboe, bassoon, and harp. You can play a full chromatic scale on a flutophone.

It is often a starter instrument because young children enjoy playing an instrument that is relatively easy to learn and simple to play.

Difference Between Flutophones and Recorders

A recorder, also known as a block flute, is another beginning instrument common among young children. Its history dates back to the Baroque musical period of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The flutophone, was invented in 1943. The two instruments play similar notes. The most significant difference is that the flutophone is a little easier for younger children to use. Young children can start on flutophones and then graduate to recorders smoothly.

Flutophone Recorder

Breath control Flutophones are easier to play because it requires less air control. Recorders need more control and force to play.

Tone Flutophones have a less refined tone due to its whistle mouthpiece, which can give it a shrill quality. Recorders have a softer tone with more concert band quality.

Finger Holes The finger holes of the flutophone have grooves making it easy to tell if you are covering the holes properly. On recorders, the holes are smooth.

Versatility A flutophone can play fewer notes than a recorder. A recorder can play all notes.

Price Flutophones are a little less expensive, costing approximately $5. Recorders cost about twice as much, approximately costing $10.

Wind Instruments

Flutes and Descriptions About Them

Classification of Musical Instruments: the Sachs-Hornbostel System

Introduction to Learning Guitar for Beginners

Instruments of the Modern Orchestra

Learning 7th Barre Chords and Chord Inversions on Guitar

Classification System of Musical Instruments

Marching Band Instruments

Top 10 Belle and Sebastian Songs

Top 24 Composers of the Romantic Era

Jazz Instruments Used in Ensembles

100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time

Top 25 Beatles Songs

100 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s

The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s

Learning the 7th Chords on Guitar

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

A flutophone may look like a toy, but it is a legitimate pre-band instrument belonging to the wind family.

The benefits as a first instrument are multifold. It is inexpensive, made of durable and lightweight plastic, and requires little breath force, unlike an actual flute or clarinet. Its mouthpiece is familiar to most, and it is used like a common referee’s whistle.

Basics

A flutophone is shaped like a clarinet. It has a foot-long cylindrical body with holes along the length. The instrument has one hole along the underside. The thumb of the left hand is used to cover this hole when playing. The index, middle and ring finger of the left hand are used to cover the upper three holes, and the pinky is not used. The right thumb lays on the thumb rest along the underside, while the index, middle, ring, and little finger of the right hand are used to cover the lower four holes.

To play the instrument, cover the appropriate holes corresponding to the fingering for the note, and blow softly through the mouthpiece. The amount of breath used helps create changes in loudness, softness, and emphasis of the notes.

The mouthpiece is detachable and can also be used to tune the flutophone. Pulling out the mouthpiece will lower the pitch. Pushing it in raises the pitch.

To play middle C, all the holes, including the one at the bottom, are covered.

A flutophone is a stepping stone for helping young children learn the concept of reading sheet music.

Flutophone vs Other Instruments

Similar to a concert flute, a flutophone is pitched in C. Other popular instruments that are pitched in C include the piano, violin, oboe, bassoon, and harp. You can play a full chromatic scale on a flutophone.

It is often a starter instrument because young children enjoy playing an instrument that is relatively easy to learn and simple to play.

Difference Between Flutophones and Recorders

A recorder, also known as a block flute, is another beginning instrument common among young children. Its history dates back to the Baroque musical period of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The flutophone, was invented in 1943. The two instruments play similar notes. The most significant difference is that the flutophone is a little easier for younger children to use. Young children can start on flutophones and then graduate to recorders smoothly.

Flutophone Recorder

Breath control Flutophones are easier to play because it requires less air control. Recorders need more control and force to play.

Tone Flutophones have a less refined tone due to its whistle mouthpiece, which can give it a shrill quality. Recorders have a softer tone with more concert band quality.

Finger Holes The finger holes of the flutophone have grooves making it easy to tell if you are covering the holes properly. On recorders, the holes are smooth.

Versatility A flutophone can play fewer notes than a recorder. A recorder can play all notes.

Price Flutophones are a little less expensive, costing approximately $5. Recorders cost about twice as much, approximately costing $10.

A flutophone may look like a toy, but it is a legitimate pre-band instrument belonging to the wind family.

The benefits as a first instrument are multifold. It is inexpensive, made of durable and lightweight plastic, and requires little breath force, unlike an actual flute or clarinet. Its mouthpiece is familiar to most, and it is used like a common referee’s whistle.

Basics

A flutophone is shaped like a clarinet. It has a foot-long cylindrical body with holes along the length. The instrument has one hole along the underside. The thumb of the left hand is used to cover this hole when playing. The index, middle and ring finger of the left hand are used to cover the upper three holes, and the pinky is not used. The right thumb lays on the thumb rest along the underside, while the index, middle, ring, and little finger of the right hand are used to cover the lower four holes.

To play the instrument, cover the appropriate holes corresponding to the fingering for the note, and blow softly through the mouthpiece. The amount of breath used helps create changes in loudness, softness, and emphasis of the notes.

The mouthpiece is detachable and can also be used to tune the flutophone. Pulling out the mouthpiece will lower the pitch. Pushing it in raises the pitch.

To play middle C, all the holes, including the one at the bottom, are covered.

A flutophone is a stepping stone for helping young children learn the concept of reading sheet music.

Flutophone vs Other Instruments

Similar to a concert flute, a flutophone is pitched in C. Other popular instruments that are pitched in C include the piano, violin, oboe, bassoon, and harp. You can play a full chromatic scale on a flutophone.

It is often a starter instrument because young children enjoy playing an instrument that is relatively easy to learn and simple to play.

Difference Between Flutophones and Recorders

A recorder, also known as a block flute, is another beginning instrument common among young children. Its history dates back to the Baroque musical period of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The flutophone, was invented in 1943. The two instruments play similar notes. The most significant difference is that the flutophone is a little easier for younger children to use. Young children can start on flutophones and then graduate to recorders smoothly.

Flutophone Recorder

Breath control Flutophones are easier to play because it requires less air control. Recorders need more control and force to play.

Tone Flutophones have a less refined tone due to its whistle mouthpiece, which can give it a shrill quality. Recorders have a softer tone with more concert band quality.

Finger Holes The finger holes of the flutophone have grooves making it easy to tell if you are covering the holes properly. On recorders, the holes are smooth.

Versatility A flutophone can play fewer notes than a recorder. A recorder can play all notes.

Price Flutophones are a little less expensive, costing approximately $5. Recorders cost about twice as much, approximately costing $10.

  • Wind Instruments

  • Flutes and Descriptions About Them

  • Classification of Musical Instruments: the Sachs-Hornbostel System

  • Introduction to Learning Guitar for Beginners

  • Instruments of the Modern Orchestra

  • Learning 7th Barre Chords and Chord Inversions on Guitar

  • Classification System of Musical Instruments

  • Marching Band Instruments

  • Top 10 Belle and Sebastian Songs

  • Top 24 Composers of the Romantic Era

  • Jazz Instruments Used in Ensembles

  • 100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time

  • Top 25 Beatles Songs

  • 100 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s

  • The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s

  • Learning the 7th Chords on Guitar

Wind Instruments

Wind Instruments

Flutes and Descriptions About Them

Flutes and Descriptions About Them

Classification of Musical Instruments: the Sachs-Hornbostel System

Classification of Musical Instruments: the Sachs-Hornbostel System

Introduction to Learning Guitar for Beginners

Introduction to Learning Guitar for Beginners

Instruments of the Modern Orchestra

Instruments of the Modern Orchestra

Learning 7th Barre Chords and Chord Inversions on Guitar

Learning 7th Barre Chords and Chord Inversions on Guitar

Classification System of Musical Instruments

Classification System of Musical Instruments

Marching Band Instruments

Marching Band Instruments

Top 10 Belle and Sebastian Songs

Top 10 Belle and Sebastian Songs

Top 24 Composers of the Romantic Era

Top 24 Composers of the Romantic Era

Jazz Instruments Used in Ensembles

Jazz Instruments Used in Ensembles

100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time

100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time

Top 25 Beatles Songs

Top 25 Beatles Songs

100 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s

100 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s

The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s

The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s

Learning the 7th Chords on Guitar

Learning the 7th Chords on Guitar

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies