How does a flute change notes?

A flute changes notes by varying the length of the air column within the instrument. This is done by opening and closing tone holes along the length of the flute. When a tone hole is opened, the air column is shortened, which raises the pitch of the note. Conversely, when a tone hole is closed, the air column is lengthened, which lowers the pitch of the note.

The flute also has a key system that allows the player to easily and quickly open and close the tone holes. This key system consists of a series of levers and rods that are connected to the tone holes. When a key is pressed, it opens the corresponding tone hole, and when a key is released, it closes the corresponding tone hole.

By varying the length of the air column and opening and closing the tone holes, the flutist can produce a wide range of notes. The lowest note that a flute can produce is the C below middle C, and the highest note that a flute can produce is the C three octaves above middle C.