What is the difference between the flute and the concert flute?

Answer 1

As a Flute is a non-transposing instrument, you don't need to worry too much about 'concert pitch'.

If you think of the piano being the decider of pitch. If you play a Bb on a non-transposing instrument, it will sound the same as a piano Bb, however on a transposing instrument, for example a Clarinet, it would sound like a piano's Ab.

If someone says 'play a Bb concert scale' it means play a Bb scale at 'concert pitch' (i.e. the pitch of a piano). This would mean a clarinet would play a C scale and it would sound like a concert Bb scale because it is a transposing instrument.

For a flute, a 'Bb concert scale' would just be a Bb scale (i.e. Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A)

A 'B concert scale' would just be a B scale (i.e. B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#)

Answer 2

The concert flute is just one kind of flute. It is in C and has a C foot joint, tuned to A = 440 Hz.

Other types of flutes include the B flute (can play one semitone (B) lower), or other flutes may be just tuned to another pitch.

Answer 3

An alto flute has a lower pitch than a concert flute. It's made and shaped differently, but is still a member of the flute family.