The alto flute’s range in notes and hertz
| Sounding | Written | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical low | G3 | C4 | 196.00 Hz |
| Practical high | G6 | C7 | 1568.0 Hz |
| Extreme high | C♯7 | F♯7 | 2217.5 Hz |
Above G6 is an altissimo register up to D♭7. The alto flute is in G, so a written C sounds the G below.
Written and sounding pitch
The alto flute is a transposing instrument: it sounds a perfect fourth lower than written, which makes it a G instrument. So the range on its part is C4–C7, while the notes you hear are G3–G6. To convert a part, use the concert pitch to G chart. The transposing-instrument tuner reads out the written note as you play.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the alto flute’s:
- Violin · G3–E7 37 notes shared
- Viola · C3–D7 37 notes shared
- Cello · C2–A6 37 notes shared
- Mandolin · G3–D7 37 notes shared
- Harp · C2–A6 37 notes shared
- E♭ clarinet · G3–C7 37 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Alto flute tuner — tune by microphone, with the alto flute’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of an alto flute?
The alto flute’s normal range runs from G3 to G6 — 196.00 to 1568.0 Hz, about 3 octaves. At the extremes it reaches G3–C♯7. Its part is written C4–C7, because it sounds a perfect fourth lower than written.
What is the lowest note on an alto flute?
G3 (196.00 Hz).
What is the highest note on an alto flute?
G6 is the top of the normal range, and C♯7 (2217.5 Hz) is reachable at the extreme.