Wood flutes and piccolos are some of the most beautiful, versatile, and sought-after musical instruments.  For centuries, concert flutes have been made of wood, providing an incredibly dynamic, emotive sound that continues to capture the imagination of musicians and audiences alike.  Here are a few things you should know about wood flutes and wood piccolos:

The Feel of Playing Wood Flutes and Wood Piccolos

Playing a wood flute or piccolo can often provide you with a deep level of personal satisfaction, as they are known to help deliver an incredibly expressive, nuanced sound.  The tone of wood can elicit a variety of emotions and moods – from haunting and sorrowful to joyful and celebratory.  With a much lower material density than metal flutes, the wood concert flute will respond differently to your air and articulation, opening a new range of tone colors.

The Different Types of Wood

There are numerous types of woods used in crafting flutes and piccolos, each with its own qualities.  The woods picked for flutes generally have a high density compared to other woods. As each wood has unique characteristics, choosing a type that aligns with the sound you hope to create is important.

• African Blackwood (Grenadilla) is the most popular choice. It yields a bright, strong, focused tone with plenty of volume.  The timber is hard and heavy, making it more stable and resistant to saliva.  The hardwood tree grows in Eastern Africa where it is known as Mpingo, and takes about 60 years to grow to maturity.  The African Blackwood trees are now being managed for sustainability for ethical harvesting.
• Cocus Wood is a dense tropical hardwood of the West Indies, sometimes called the Jamaican Rain Tree or Brya ebenus. It was a preferred material for flutes in Europe in the 19^th century but has been harvested to virtual extinction.  A slightly softer wood, it possesses an exceptional tone renowned for its brightness and subtle overtones.
• Boxwood was the common wood used in earlier flutes, as it was an accessible evergreen native to western and southern Europe. It has a fine grain structure and is lighter in timbre to offer a sweet, mellow voice with singing qualities.  As a softer wood, it requires more care to avoid warping.
• Rosewood refers to a number of richly hued timbers and possesses good tonal properties – slightly softer than grenadilla, but still quite projecting. All rosewoods are strong, heavy, and develop an excellent polish.  Its supply is poor from overexploitation.
• Mopane (mopani) trees grow in the far northern areas of southern Africa. It is a hard, heavy, oily timber, and it is naturally resistant to pests.  Its tone is considered as rich and powerful as grenadilla, but a bit warmer like cocus wood.  Its higher density in comparison to other woods makes its workability in turning attractive to instrument makers, and is more resistant to splitting from humidity changes.

Maintaining a Wood Flute or Piccolo

Proper care and maintenance are critical for ensuring the longevity and performance of a wood flute.  Wood flutes should be stored in a climate-controlled environment, shielded from sunlight and humidity, to avoid warping, cracking, or other damage to the wood.  Regular cleaning and oiling of the wood will help to preserve the instrument’s natural finish.  Consider keeping your wood flute or piccolo in its best shape with the regular maintenance included in a Flute Care subscription.

Overall, wood flutes and piccolos offer a unique appeal and beautiful sound that is unmatched by synthetic instruments and separate from metal instruments.  With the right care and maintenance, a wood flute or piccolo can last for your career, providing you with inspiration from its warm, rich tone for years to come.