The double flute is an ancient type of wind instrument. It is a group of flutes that belongs to more than one modern category in the Hornbostel Sachs system, which is a way to classify musical instruments. These flutes may have two parallel pipes connected by a single duct. Some double flutes are called "double vertical flutes" and do not have a duct. Others are called double-transverse flutes.

Double flutes are different from double pipes, which are reed instruments.

Background

Flutes use hollow pipes to create sound, while pipes with reeds make sound by vibrating reeds. The ways these two types of instruments produce sound are different.

Double flutes can be grouped into two types: those with a melody pipe paired with a drone pipe, and those that can play the same melody at the same time in two different pitches.

Some examples of double flutes include:
• certain types of Native American flutes
• the Bulgarian dvoyanka
• the Indian and Pakistani Alghoza
• the Iranian and Pakistani Donali (a pair of fipple flutes)
• the Russian double svirel (a pair of fipple flutes)

Some examples of reed pipes that are not double flutes include:
• the ancient Greek aulos or Roman tibia (double-reed pipes, played in pairs)
• the Indian and Pakistani pungi (reed pipes)
• Mijwiz

Gallery

• The Aztec double flute makes sound by blowing air through holes at the top of each pipe using an air channel.
• A European version of this instrument was used during the Renaissance.
• Renaissance recorders were sometimes played in pairs.
• Renaissance-era 3-hole tabor-pipes were played together in pairs.