Flutes, while made of metal, are quite delicate. The tiny springs and small keys are easily snapped off, or simply misaligned so that air leaks out of the key. There's definitely an art to safely getting your flute put together and ready to play. Here’s how to assemble your flute without needing to head for the repair shop later.
First of all, let’s get familiar with the parts of the flute, if you aren’t already. There are three main components to a flute, which you will see pictured above: the headjoint, the first piece; the body, the middle and largest part of the flute; and the footjoint, the piece on the very end. There are two common types of footjoints, the C footjoint and the B footjoint. The one pictured is a B footjoint. It has three keys, whereas the C has two.
Before putting the flute together you may want to check the distance of your cork in the headjoint. Often the cleaning rod will have a nick in it, indicating the proper distance that the cork should be from the center of the lip plate hole. Insert the end of your cleaning rod, as demonstrated in the photo. The nick should be exactly in the center of the opening.
The first parts we assemble are the body and the headjoint. Grasp the body of the flute with your right hand, carefully holding onto the part above the keys as shown in the photo. Do not hold on to the keys.
Now, gripping the headjoint with your left hand in front of the lip plate, gently wiggle the headjoint into the body of the flute. You will not want to push the headjoint all the way into the body; most flutes are in tune when the headjoint is about ¼-inch or so from being completely pushed in.
Be careful to line up the lip plate opening on the headjoint with the keys for best tone when you’re playing later.
The footjoint is ready to join the rest of the flute now. Hold it at the end and gently ease it into place.
The footjoint should align with the body of the flute so that the footjoint bar is in the center of the last key on the flute body, as shown.
Congratulations… your flute has now been properly assembled and is ready to make beautiful music!
First of all, let’s get familiar with the parts of the flute, if you aren’t already. There are three main components to a flute, which you will see pictured above: the headjoint, the first piece; the body, the middle and largest part of the flute; and the footjoint, the piece on the very end. There are two common types of footjoints, the C footjoint and the B footjoint. The one pictured is a B footjoint. It has three keys, whereas the C has two.
Before putting the flute together you may want to check the distance of your cork in the headjoint. Often the cleaning rod will have a nick in it, indicating the proper distance that the cork should be from the center of the lip plate hole. Insert the end of your cleaning rod, as demonstrated in the photo. The nick should be exactly in the center of the opening.
Now, gripping the headjoint with your left hand in front of the lip plate, gently wiggle the headjoint into the body of the flute. You will not want to push the headjoint all the way into the body; most flutes are in tune when the headjoint is about ¼-inch or so from being completely pushed in.
Be careful to line up the lip plate opening on the headjoint with the keys for best tone when you’re playing later.
The footjoint is ready to join the rest of the flute now. Hold it at the end and gently ease it into place.
The footjoint should align with the body of the flute so that the footjoint bar is in the center of the last key on the flute body, as shown.
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