Effect of Material on Flute Tone Quality

Three keyless flutes of identical internal dimensions were made of thin silver, heavy copper, and wood, respectively. They were played out of sight of musically experienced observers, who were asked to determine only whether tones were alike or different. No statistically significant correlation between the listeners' scores and the material of the instrument body was found. Flutists who played the flutes, using an arrangement to eliminate visual or tactile clues, were unable to identify again a previously selected instrument.