fippleflute

A fipple flute is a wind instrument in which sound is produced by directing the player's breath through a duct, or fipple, to a sharp edge that splits the air stream and excites vibration in the instrument’s bore. The fipple forms a controlled airstream, making the instrument easier to play and giving a more consistent tone. Pitch is varied primarily by opening and closing finger holes along the bore.

The best-known examples are the recorder family and the tin whistle. Recorders are typically wooden or plastic and feature a mouthpiece with a central fipple block that creates a duct leading air to a labial edge. They come in several sizes and produce a range of pitches depending on which holes are covered. Tin whistles, or penny whistles, are simple metal instruments with a small fipple and a set of finger holes; they are inexpensive and widely used in folk music.

History and development: fipple flutes date to medieval Europe, with the recorder evolving significantly during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The tin whistle emerged later, in the 19th century, in Britain and Ireland, and became a staple of traditional and educational music. In the 20th century, there was renewed interest in early music and in folk traditions, contributing to ongoing production and use of fipple flutes.

Construction and design: typical fipple flutes have a mouthpiece housing the fipple, a bore, and finger holes. Materials range from wood and ivory to plastic and metal. Bore shape influences timbre, with recorders often featuring a conical bore and whistles a more cylindrical bore.

Use: valued for simplicity, robustness, and suitability for beginners and folk ensembles, while offering a distinct, reed-like edge-dependent tone compared to open flutes.