There are a wide range of flutes available for you to choose from online.
There are many options when considering the best flute for your needs. However, which one do you select when looking at the best flute brands?
It is possible to make the choice online and be sure it is the right instrument for you.
Read this article to find out more about how to select the right flute for you whether you are looking for the best flute for the money or flute reviews to help you choose, this article will give you a great start point.
Contents
The Flute: All You Need to Know
Whilst the best flute brands give you many reasons to purchase their brand of flute, it can be hard to know what is right for you and even more difficult to decipher each of the product’s good qualities.
We have made it easier for you with these 4 things to know before you buy.
1. Too cheap is usually too good to be true.
Whilst there are many cheaper options on the market now. They are cheap for a reason.
Often the cheaper brands will break easily or develop faults quickly that will cost a lot of money to fix over time.
Think carefully about your budget to decide on your best options but do consider that spending a little more can often be beneficial in the long run.
2. Think about the size.
If you are a young beginner on the flute, you may not have the arm length to play a full-sized flute.
How can I know for sure?
Take a measuring tape and holding one end to your lips and the 16” mark in your right hand check whether your arm is bent at a right angle or less.
If it is then a full-sized flute is right for you. If not then you will need to consider other options until your arms are a little longer.
An alternative option could be a recorder or a wooden flute to begin on.
This way you can build up your playing skills without breaking the bank. There is also the slightly more expensive option of the curved head beginner flutes, which allow the same sound, pitch and playing experience as an ordinary flute just with less need for the length in your arms.
3. Alternative specifications.
Flutes can come with open keys as a modification. This is meant to improve sound quality for the professional player.
However, for a beginner this will only hinder their ability to make a note as precision of placement of your fingers then becomes crucial to producing the sound you want. Best to avoid this option for the beginning flautist.
Whilst this article is about the standard flute there are also alto flutes, piccolos and even bass flutes.
All of which are extremely different in pitch and playability. It is best to stick to the standard option until you are well-accomplished before moving on to the alternative options.
4. Well-known brands hold their value.
Popular brands are popular for good reason. It is clear that Yamaha and Mendini, whilst cheaper, have the reputation of good quality brands and therefore even when they sell second hand they tend to hold most of their original value.
Below we have reviewed only the popular branded flutes that will retain value.
How to Find the Best Flute for Your Needs
Whether you are looking for the best flute for high school students or the top flute brands it is important that you understand what your needs are.
Think carefully about how you will play your instrument: as a soloist or in an ensemble.
Ensure you know your budget and try a few different brands at your local supplier to give yourself some idea of what you are looking for.
So what’s the most important thing to note before buying?
The type of flute you need is most important to consider. Read the next section to find out what type of flute you will need.
Types of flute
The best flute for beginners is one that has been designed especially for beginners. Others will tend to make playing more difficult and will be made to support the proficient player.
Be careful to choose a flute that is not made by manufacturers who aren’t specialists in woodwind as they tend to be cheap in the first place but then often need lots of expensive repairs in early use.
When searching through the best flutes for intermediate players, you should consider your performance needs and how that will affect your choices.
If you are playing as part of an ensemble it is likely you will need a sound that blends in. However, if you are a soloist you want to look for a flute that will set you out from the crowd and allow projection over the accompaniment.
What about the ones made out of wood?
The best wooden flute for beginners is one that will help them learn to control their breathing. They will soon be able to move on to a full sized flute once they have got the hang of this.
Is the Flute an Easy Instrument to Learn?
Even the best flute brands can’t make beginning to learn the flute any easier. It requires coordination of both hands and fingers alongside breathing and a lot of puff. You may find when you start out that you can easily feel a bit light headed after a while.
Before long it will become easier and easier. You will be able to sustain your breathing and control the notes.
The finger patterns are much the same as a recorder’s first octave and if you nail one octave the rest are very similar.
The most important thing when beginning on a flute is to practice holding long quiet notes this will help you to control your breathing and lead to less likelihood of having dizzy spells.
At least you can refer to our flute reviews for help with choosing from the best flute brands for beginners.
TOP 6 Best Flute Reviews 2024
In these reviews you will find a short list of all our top selections for your next flute.
We have chosen a few from the good flute brands that will match the needs of most flautists. Use this list to get the most out of your next instrument purchase.
Student flute reviews
Mendini Closed Hole C Flute
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
Review:Â This simple option will allow a new flautist to blow notes without a large expense. The flute is a popular option as the best flute for beginners.
The Mendini closed C flute comes with double bladdered keys and a pack of extras including a case, a stand and books to begin your learning.
Pros:
- Cheap beginner’s flute.
- Great student option.
- Good tonal quality.
Cons:
- Not as durable as other options.
- Would need upgrading over time.
This is the best starter flute for new players. A player who is likely to use this instrument a couple of times weekly.
Mendini Cecilio Flute
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
Review:Â This gold-keyed flute offers a stylish look for someone looking for the best student flute with a twist.
You can enjoy an easy but beautiful tone from the flute at a reasonable price. This flute has double bladder pads of good quality. This is one of the best student flute options on the market.
Pros:
- Affordable flute option.
- Stylish design to set you aside from other flautists
- Great tone quality.
- Comes as a starter pack including a stand, books and a durable case.
Cons:
- Lacks durability.
This is the right flute for you if you are on a budget looking for a student flute.
Best flutes for intermediate players
Jean Paul USA FL-220 Student Flute
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
Review:Â brought to by one of the well-known student brands, this flute will offer you a better quality of tone and manufacturing than others in the same price range.
It has an excellent sound, ease of playing and good durability, which all add to the reason this is a great student or intermediate flute.
Pros:
- Will last past the first couple of years of playing.
- Excellent tone and sound quality produced with ease.
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive then beginner or student models.
This is the right flute for you if you are looking for a future with playing the flute and are on a budget. A long term option for any beginner flautist.
Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
Review: Brought to you by one of the world’s best flute brands, this silver-plated flute will offer the student an excellent blow.
A beautiful tone is offered from this instrument and the manufacturing makes it easy to play allowing the student to make progress in their performances.
Pros:
- Plays with a rich warm tone.
- Ease of play through placement of keys.
- Beautifully designed.
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than the beginner flute range.
This is the right flute for you if you are looking to move your performances from beginner to intermediate.
Best professional flutes reviews
Lazarro Professional Flute
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
Review:Â This professional C flute is made out of silver and nickel. This is a customizable option with an excellent tone and can be a great flute for the ensemble player and the soloist.
The great projection offered by this flute would make it the best flute for a marching band.
Pros:
- Custom colors available.
- Great professional instrument.
- Incredible well-balanced tone.
Cons:
- More expensive than most brands.
This is the right flute for you if you are a well-practised professional player ready to give yourself an instrument to improve your performances.
Gemeinhardt 3OSB Flute
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
Review: This open keyed flute is a fully silver instrument with a well-known manufacturer that puts quality in its instruments first. This is a great professional instrument, durable and gives an excellent tone quality to a player’s sound.
Pros:
- Easy pitching.
- Beautiful tonal quality.
- Excellent professional option.
Cons:
- An expensive option.
This is the right flute for you if you have the money to invest in a great professional flute brand. You will also be a competent flautist.
A Final Note
Selecting your next flute will involve knowing what you are looking for in a flute, choosing your flute using the information on this page and using our reviews to help you make that all-important decision.
So why not select your best option now from our reviews and get playing?
Soon you will have the best flute for your needs.