8 Best Flutes for Musicians of All Levels You Need to Know About

The Yamaha YFL261 is our Editor’s Choice for the best flute on the market. Backed by its 5-year limited warranty, this flute is perfect for students and first-time players trying to get a hang of the instrument.

Designed with nickel-silver, this classy look and open-holed playing style is a great choice if you‘re looking for a high-quality piece on the market.

From its sweet fluid-like sound to its powerful projecting tone, the Yamaha YFL261 can be played in concerts, in performance bands or solo with a loud and reverberating tone.

Its build is also great for students because of its durable construction. Along with its warranty, you can feel assured that it‘s safe to take it here and there from lessons and back home again. It also comes with a hardshell case and cleaning rod, making it great for transporting and maintenance—which is key when caring for an instrument of this caliber.

With its silver-plate finish it also looks good up along multiple instruments. The various components are also designed with a nickel-plated finish, making it an extremely attractive instrument.

The Yamaha YFL261 plays with an open-hole style, with c-foot, and offset G, as well. The undercut and beveled embouchure hole makes a clean attack in its sound and the power-forged keys help increase the durability of the product—as well as the stainless steel springs.

What makes it special?

• Comes with hardshell carrying case and rod
• Backed by a 5-year warranty

What cons did we find?

• Might be too difficult for beginners to play

For the upgraded player, the Azumi AZ3 flute is a perfect professional flute for a seasoned sound and flourish. The flute is played with offset G and features a sterling silver Z-professional cut head joint. This helps give the flute the capability of that quick response while playing and emits a fuller and richer tone.

From its refined design, the professional look of the Azumi AZ3 flute sets it apart from others on the market. The flute also boasts improved key strength that makes it truly worthy of professional use and countless hours of practice.

The Azumi AZ3 flute also comes included with a case for storage and transportation, as well as essential cleaning items for maintenance. For professionally tuned quality and balanced harmonics, this flute can be your next flute—with a great design that delivers stunning performance.

Designed with sterling silver, the Azumi AZ3 flute is made from the best of materials—like other professional flutes. However, even though it is seemingly designed for a professional, it comes with student-friendly features that can help playability and encourage practice.

From open holes between A, G, F, E, and D keys to the promotion of natural hand positioning, this is a great choice if your student has smaller hands

A learning student can also benefit from the split E mechanism which enhances the responsiveness of the high E.

The Azumi AZ3 flute is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.

Why is it special?

• The sterling silver construction can last for a reasonable time
• Effortless to play in tune
• It delivers an excellent tone
• This step-up flute’s professional features give you the experience required to play professional flutes

What are the flaws?

• Pricier than most intermediate level flutes
• Need to upgrade to a professional flute since this one is intended for middle-level students.
• You can only receive a warranty if you buy it directly from the manufacturer.

The PFP105E piccolo is rated as one of the best piccolo flutes on the market.

Designed with Grenaditte, the material of the flute was specifically picked to try and get the tonal characteristics and sound as close as grenadilla wood as possible.

The PFP105E piccolo gives off a warm and full overtone, backed by a bubble-style headjoint to really centralize on the sound.

If you’re looking to play or perform in a concert and want to portray a big sound, the PFP105E piccolo is known for its projection, quick response, and a strong upper register.

With a length of 14 inches, the piccolo is small but mighty. Fortunately, the material of the design is also imperviousness to fluctuations in temperature, which can be great if you live or play in a changing climate. That feature alone also contributes to its durability and how long it will last for a lifetime.

You can also rely on the PFP105E piccolo to deliver a precise pitch—all across the range.

Even for beginners, this flute was made with ease-of-play and use in mind. Since it has a split E mechanism, it can allow a beginner to get used to switching up keys while playing.

If you’re a student heading to and from lessons or if you’re a higher level player who needs to make your way to perform in concerts, the PFP105E piccolo comes with a case with a padded a case cover, making it highly portable and easy to transport.

What do we love it for?

• Designed with professional, solid construction.
• Comes with carrying case
• Comes with split E mechanism for beginners
• Can withstand humidity and temperature changes

What were we disappointed with?

• Might be a bit advanced in price for beginners

Featuring a close-hole position, the Yamaha YFL-222 is one of the best choices for a beginner or student flute.

Rated as one of the best for beginners, this Yamaha flute is a high-quality instrument designed with the durability of nickel silver and backed by a 5-year warranty. Although it’s particularly high-priced for a beginner’s style, just recognize that you’ll be investing in a hobby that you hopefully will be playing for years to come (or your child will be).

The quality of this build will make the mechanical problems much more reliable than other serviceable beginner flutes out there. So, this is also rated as a great upgrade intermediate flute for someone who have been playing for a while.

You can also expect the Yamaha YFL-222 to emit a pleasing playing response and tone through the range, which is great for a beginner student to learn how each note should sound and get used to that particular reach.

The Yamaha YFL-222 also has screw key adjustments that have resistance inserts. This makes the playing sound extremely accurate—perfect for someone learning how to play. It also is smooth with transitions and adjustments, which means that a beginner player can get the hang of learning how to change notes.

The features also prevent the keys from loosening gradually as most other budget options will. You can also benefit from the alignment on the foot joint, which can guide and correct inexperienced beginners.

Why are we impressed?

• Great choice for beginners for playability
• Includes a sturdy plastic case perfect for transporting to and from lessons
• The shoulder hook makes instrument easier to hold

What negatives must you be aware of?

• If you’re an extreme beginner, this is too expensive and an impractical choice

The Selmer Prelude FL711 is one of the best beginner flutes on the market—not only because of its various features but also because of its strong structure and durable build.

Designed with the beginner in mind, you definitely want a high-quality instrument if you’re planning on taking it to and from lessons and back. With its ribbed construction and silver-plated quality, the Selmer Prelude FL711 comes from a brand that has a sturdy reputation.

The flute also delivers not only with construction but also on playability and performance. Since it is specifically tailored and designed for beginners, the inexperienced player can take advantage of its learner-friendly offset G-key and plateau holes.

It is designed with a standard silver-plated body—perfect for withstanding the bangs and bruises it may get in the hands of a young child. The silver-plate material also is relatively allergy-resistant, which makes it that much more appealing.

The smart-polished finish of the Selmer Prelude FL711 gives this beginner flute a professional finish and also makes the flute easier to clean.

The construction of the design is also extremely lightweight, which encourages longer playing time and helps younger students feel more comfortable with performance.

Finally, although it is only backed by a 1-year limited warranty, it comes with its own carrying case, which helps in the transportation to and from lessons, classes or performances.

Why are we impressed?

• Lightweight yet durable construction
• Smart-polished finish and sleek look
• Carrying case included

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Might be a bit overpriced for beginner flute

The Kaizer FLT-1500NK is our budget pick for the best flutes on the market. Although it is highly affordable, the nickel-silver material seals its quality design and high-performing sound.

With the combination of versatility, functionality, and playability, the Kaizer FLT-1500NK is a great design for a beginner student—especially those who are a bit younger and a little less careful.

If you’re looking for a budget flute that has all the features and traits of high-quality performance, the Kaizer FLT-1500NK should be your pick. From its smooth action to its improved springs and quality intonation, the features are packed to prove its quality.

The Kaizer FLT-1500NK also comes with 16 closed-hole keys, an offset G with split E, a detachable foot-joint, and plateau keys that make it all easier to play for beginners.

You can even enjoy the easy use of the beveled embouchure and professionally-padded keys. Your purchase of the Kaizer FLT-1500NK doesn’t just come with the flute, it also comes with the entire beginner’s kit to help you not only nail those notes but keep high-quality maintenance. From the molded case to its maintenance kit, from its cleaning rod to its polishing cloth, from its gloves to its joint lubricant, it has everything you may need to rock your first concert.

What makes it special?

• Comes with full package and high-quality assembly
• The build is built-well with high-quality pads
• Delivers a pleasant tone

What cons did we find?

• Some say that the joints are too tight
• G-sharp keypad possibly doesn’t cover the entire hole

If you’re done with your budget-pick beginner flute and are looking for an upgrade, the Jean Paul USA FL-220 is your next best choice. For this upgrade, your high-quality design is backed by features like closed holes for ease of use and the carrying case and cloth included.

Whether this is your main flute or you’re going to be investing in it as your practice instrument, the Jean Paul USA FL-220 can suit all your needs—from beginner to intermediate.

For high-quality performance and build for an affordable price, the intonation of the Jean Paul USA FL-220 is rated high and backed by the brand name. How does this flute get its power? From its durable metal keys that allow for an even response and consistent playability.

The Jean Paul USA FL-220 also comes with thoughtful design to make playing a breeze, with its embouchure plate design, it makes the instrument easy to play for learners. It is also quite easy to hold with its plateau keys and offset G-key. These two features make it especially easy for learners with small hands to hold.

Not only does it comes with the already mentioned case and cloth, but it also includes gloves and cleaning rod.

Why are we impressed?

• Comes with carrying case and cloth
• Backed by brand name for performance
• Ease of use for beginners

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Not the strongest body, made from nickel

If you’re looking for that real natural sound, the Native American Flute Walnut is the best wooden flute on the market and rated high on our guide.

With its handmade build, the design of the Native American Flute really sets it apart from other flutes out there. With real wood inlays, the flute delivers the key of low D. Measured at 24 inches long, the Native American Flute seems relatively hard to play—but is surprisingly easy for fingering and delivering a sweet sound.

This is a great choice for a player who needs to be able to perform with a deep tone at a professional level but using little air—since the sensitivity and responsiveness of the flute are pretty good.

Although the flute stand isn’t included, the high-quality make of the entirely handmade by Cherokee Indian Americans in the USA really makes the flute unique.

Simple enough to play for beginners, the secure sound and ease of use are features that really make it worthwhile to invest in. Depending on the manufacturer, the Native American Flute Walnut also comes with a carrying bag, CD, DVD, and songbook.

The holes are also quite small and easy to play for a beginner or someone with relatively small fingers.

Why did it make our list?

• Leather binding and hand-crafted for originality
• Delivers a smooth, sweet tone
• Easy to play for small fingers

What is not ideal about it?

• Octave comes out of tune