While modern flutes are predominantly made of metals like silver, gold, and platinum, the traditional material for making flutes was wood. Flutes were originally made of wood, hence their classification as woodwinds.
Flutes produce sound when a musician blows air across a hole in the instrument, creating vibrations in the air column inside the tube. This vibration produces a musical note. The varying sizes, shapes, and lengths of woodwind instruments contribute to their distinct tonal qualities.