Awesome Flute

Pam Brown is a classically trained flutist. She’s also got a thing for guitar effects pedals and digital loopers. In this clip, she shows how she combines these unexpected music-making tools to make rock music with a twist, using the technology to perform a familiar riff from the Muse track Hysteria. Want more? Enjoy a little Rage Against the Machine.

A typical flute measures 26 inches long, but there are various smaller and larger versions. In this video from Chinese TV, musician Zhang Qihui plays a series of wind instruments, starting with a tiny one that fits in her hand, working her way up to a massive instrument that needs two people to cover its holes while she blows.

Ariana Flute has some pretty great covers up on her YouTube channel, including this version of Danny Elfman’s theme song to The Simpsons. It sounds pretty awesome played on the flute, and the piano accompaniment by Ella Piknjac ain’t too shabby either. The only thing missing is Lisa on the saxophone.

We have no way of knowing if he missed any notes, but to our untrained ears, flutist Armin Gheitasi’s 300 bpm, sub-45 second performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee is the fastest we’ve ever heard anyone play any wind instrument.

He’s got a flute it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories… Musician Danilo D’Ambrosio performs an unexpected cover version of the Guns N’ Roses classic Sweet Child O’ Mine using a variety of wind instruments, including a couple of recorders and whistles.

The idea of an AC/DC tune being played on flute seems like an unnatural fit, but in the able hands and lips of musician Miquelmar, it works perfectly – with the help of a loop box to amp up his rhythm section. His Bohemian Rhapsody cover is worth a listen too.

It’s been floating around the YouTube ether for an eternity, but Alejandro Sayago’s 2011 performance of DragonForce’s speedmetal hit Through the Fire and Flames is too good to pass up. We can’t decide if his fingers, lips, or lungs were most likely to fall off by the end.

Teacarina? Ok, sign us up for 10. From Legend of Zelda inspired to more inventive and artful options, look no further than the quality craftsmanship of St. Louis Ocarina for all your earthen-flute needs.

Playing the flute is difficult enough, but beatboxing and playing the flute at the same time should be left to the pros, like Nathan “Flutebox” Lee, who’s adept at both disciplines. Bonus track here.