Best Flutes Reviewed: Best Flute For Beginners & Best Flutes For Intermediate Players Reviewed

Flutes are a popular instrument for beginner musicians; their proximity to a human vocal range means you can play most melodies on the flute without having to transpose the music. However, buying instruments can be a complicated process, especially if you are new to the instrument and the music industry as a whole.

There are many small differences between types of instruments that can sometimes be confusing. Not a problem, though, because this guide will tell you everything you need to know about buying a flute and what you need to look out for before you buy!

types of flutes for beginners

Product Reviews: Best Flute Brands

1. Best Intermediate Flutes – Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute for Student

There is no brand in the music industry more recognizable than Yamaha, but this is because they are of excellent quality and unique features on their instruments that make them many people’s go-to.

The Yamaha YFL-222 is a good quality instrument for a student who is looking to become serious about the instrument over time. This particular model has features that make the operation easy for beginners, such as neoprene key bumpers and foot joint marking, which will make it much easier to produce a good quality sound even if you are brand new to the flute.

The expensive price tag is more expensive than some beginner flutes, but it is often said that you will get the most value out of your dollar when you buy a Yamaha because they tend to last for a very long time and retain their value longer than some other brands.

The flute itself is made out of nickel-silver, which is more durable (really great for kids and teens) and less prone to breaking while retaining excellent sound quality.


2. Best Flute For Beginners – Gemeinhardt Flute (2SP)

Another great brand when it comes to woodwind instruments is Gemeinhardt. They are often less expensive than a Yamaha but are still considered to be great quality for beginners looking to progress quickly in the flute.

This particular flute has the plateau model, which is the type of closed-hole model for beginners that trams the fingers to eventually be able to play an open-hole flute which is the traditional flute of professionals. Additionally, the keys are placed slightly more forward on this instrument to help beginners be able to reach the keys properly while maintaining good tone quality.

This model is quite economical at around 200$. Especially if you are brand new to the flute, it is of good quality but won’t set you back too much, and you will definitely be able to get many years of playing out of this instrument.

This model has a silver-plated finish which will still give you decent tone quality without being too expensive. This is the best flute for beginner, and one of the best beginner flutes on the market today!


3. Best Students Flutes – Prelude FL711 Student Flute

If you’re concerned about durability, the Prelude flute will certainly be a good fit. Its silver-plated body and mouthpiece are triple coated to ensure long-term use and are resistant to scratches and dents. Its keys are also more durable than your average beginner/intermediate flute, which makes this a great option for young flutists.

The price can seem expensive for a flute without some of the features you will find on other instruments in that price range. If durability and long-term use are your priorities, this is a good option. However, if you are looking for a flute that will be able to handle beginner and intermediate playing, there may be better options.


4. Best Flutes For High School Students – Eastman Student Flute Model EFL210-0

On the higher end of student models is the Eastman. Each brand of flutes are known for their specific tone and quality of sound within professional circles, and many professionals recommend the Eastman brand for its rich tone quality, even as a beginner.

This flute is certainly an investment, but because of its quality and design, it will be able to grow with a player as they move from beginner to intermediate, meaning you won’t have to buy a new flute once you graduate from beginner.

This model features Y-arm keywork, which will extend its durability. The two types of keywork are Y-arm and French Pointed arm. The Y-arm directly connects the key to the base, which means there is less chance of a key breaking off or coming to lose.

This flute is composed of nickel-silver, which is closer to what a professional flute is made out of and thus will have a richer tone than silver-plated flutes. If this is something that is important to you as a beginner, investing in a flute-like will likely help you adjust your tone and playing to be better over time. This is also one of the best native American flutes.


5. Best Professional Flutes – Lazarro 120-NK Professional Silver Nickel Closed Hole C Flute

If you’re looking for a flute without knowing how committed you or your child is going to be to playing the Lazarro brand, the flute is a great option. It’s very inexpensive and has all the features of a true beginner flute that will help you decide if this is the instrument for you.

This particular flute isn’t going to last as long as some of the others that are bigger investments, but it will certainly do the job while you decide if you would like to invest in a better flute. It has the closed-hole style and C foot base, which are quintessential features for beginners, so it is a great learning flute.

Another reason to potentially go for this flute is if you are looking for one to take with you on the go and don’t want to risk bringing your more high-quality one with you.

Because of its cheaper price tag, it won’t be such a loss if you were to drop or dent this one. or if it was lost. Many beginner and intermediate players opt for this flute as their practice flute and keep their better one at home for their own rehearsals.


Buyer’s guide

good flute brands

How much does a good quality flute cost?

The answer to this question entirely depends on how much you are going to use your instrument and for what. It is important to keep in mind the features you want and what level of durability is important to you. As well as the sound quality of your instrument.

Most professionals would say that a good quality flute for a serious player will range from 1500-2500$. Flutes within this price range will likely be made of silver which produces better tone quality than the cheaper alternatives, as well as have a brand-specific sound. Each high-end brand of the instrument has unique qualities to the sound their instruments produce, and thus it is important to consider which brand you want to go with.

It’s important to note that this price range is for intermediate flutes; while some beginner flutes will also fall in this price range, you do not need to pay 1500 for a decent quality beginner flute if that’s not what you need.

A good quality flute for a student who is going to be starting from a beginner and moving into intermediate over a few years often ranges between 500-1000$ dollars. However, it is important to remember that quality sometimes does not rise exponentially just because you spent 500 or 1000 more dollars on a flute.

A 500$ flute will be of good quality and last a long time, while a 1000$ flute will probably last just as long and can often have the same quality of the material. This rule often doesn’t apply if you are looking for a certain brand, especially the more well-known ones, because you are often going to pay more because of the brand itself.

beginner flutes for sale
Mozart’s magic flute

What flutes do professionals play?

Professionals will often describe their flute brand’s tone and sound quality that makes them choose that particular flute. There are often minute differences between brands that really make a difference for professionals, especially depending on whether they are a solo performer, a small group performer, orchestra member, or all three.

There are, however, some universal qualities that professionals always look for in their flutes. Most professionals will only be using silver or nickel-silver flutes; this is because silver provides a richer tone and is more flexible in the sounds you can make with a professional level of breath control.

Professionals will also opt for open-hole flutes and B note end pieces; This is because once your hand positioning reaches the expert level, you can make more complex sounds and play more notes with this style.

Professionals will also have more than one flute and will tell you that different instruments will do different things for them. Some purchase an alto flute (lower notes and tone) and use that for specific pieces. Many also have professional flutes from multiple brands because they are able to recognize which sound quality and tone will work best for the type and style of music they are playing.

Which flute should I buy?

Out of all the flutes reviewed in this article, the one with the most value for your money and best quality is the Gemeinhardt 2SP. This flute is made out of nickel-silver and thus is closer to the ones that professionals use, and it has features that many others within its price range don’t have.

The special positioning of the keys as well as durable Y-arms do easy work for beginners and ensures that the flute won’t break with normal wear and tear, k is certainly still an investment, but it will give you the most use and is a good price for the quality of the materials used.

Beyond specific recommendations, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing your flute.

good beginner flute

Decide between silver-plated and nickel-silver

The material you choose is indicative of how serious you are about pursuing playing the flute. If you are simply trying the instrument and don’t know how it is going to go or if you would like to progress past beginner, you should opt for the silver-plated flute.

If you are serious about learning the installment and are looking for a flute that will transition with you from beginner to intermediate, then a silver-nickel or even silver flute will work best.

Look for important beginner’s features

There are features of flutes that will help you if you are a beginner, and you should look for them before purchasing your flute. These are features such as closed-hole keys. C note end pieces and beginner key placement.

You may not have the best success if you accidentally choose a flute that does not have the specific features that help beginners; therefore, it is extremely important to make sure that the flute you pick is appropriate for your playing level.

Know how long you will need your flute

If you are looking to invest in a flute, it is probable that you want it to be able to work for years to come and retain its value for as long as possible If you are buying a flute and don’t want to get another one for a while make sure to get one with features that will help beginners and intermediates, so you don’t have to switch once you progress in playing.

Also be sure to remember that some flutes will last longer than others, but that past a certain point it is not worth it to spend a ton more money for the same quality. Most well-built flutes (no matter their price tag) will last for the same amount of time, so if durability is the most important thing, choose a model that promises longevity.

Conclusion

Knowing the different qualities and features of flutes before investing in one yourself is incredibly important. Hopefully, this article has provided the insight necessary to know which flute to buy when you’re ready!

Remember to ask yourself how serious you are about learning the instrument and how long you want it to last before determining which features are the most important for you. You will certainly be able to find the best flute possible for your situation if you use this guide and stick to its recommendations!

Best of luck in your journey as a flutist, and thanks for reading!

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About Maggie Holding

Hello! My name is Maggie and I am a proud Editor/Author for PlayTheTunes. Coming From South Carolina, USA, my whole life I've sang and played the guitar and flute! I love music with a passion, and am ecstatic to help others in their own music journey!