Subcontrabass flute

Subcontrabass flute
	Maria Ramey playing an Eva Kingma subcontrabass flute in G
Woodwind instrument
Classification	Transverse flute
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	421.121.12-71; (Side-blown Aerophone with tone holes and keys)
Playing range
	The G subcontrabass flute, notated in treble clef, sounds two octaves and a fourth below written; the tessitura is G1–G3. The C double contrabass flute, notated in treble clef, sounds three octaves below written; the tessitura is C1–C3.
Related instruments
	Flutes: Piccolo; Treble; Soprano; C flute; Flûte d'amour; Alto; Bass; Contra-alto; Contrabass; Subcontrabass; Hyperbass;

The subcontrabass flute is a member of the Western concert flute family. With the length of tubing ranging from 15 feet (4.6 m) (when in G) to 18 feet (5.5 m) long (when in C), it is the second largest instrument of the family after the hyperbass flute.

Subcontrabass flutes are made either in the key of G (pitched a fourth below the contrabass flute in C and two octaves below the alto flute in G) where it known as the double contra-alto flute or in F (pitched a fifth below the contrabass flute in C). Another type of subcontrabass flute is in C (an octave below the contrabass flute) and is commonly known as the double contrabass flute or octobass flute.

The subcontrabass flute is rarely used outside of flute ensembles. At present, the subcontrabass flute is only available as custom order from specialty makers such as Eva Kingma or Kotato and Fukushima. Higher quality instruments are made of silver- or chrome-plated metal, although polyvinyl is also commonly used.

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