How do pipe organs produce sound with flue pipes and reed pipes?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Pipe organs produce sound through two primary types of pipes, both powered by pressurized air supplied by a wind chest.1

Flue Pipes

Flue pipes function similarly to recorders or whistles. When a key is pressed, air travels into the pipe and is directed against a sharp edge, known as the labium. This causes the air column within the pipe to vibrate, producing a tone. The pitch is determined by the length of the pipe, while the quality of the tone is influenced by the pipe's shape, scale, and material.21

Reed Pipes

Reed pipes produce sound through the vibration of a brass reed. In a typical beating reed pipe, air enters the boot and forces a thin brass tongue against a metal frame called a shallot, momentarily closing an opening. The elasticity of the brass causes the tongue to spring back, and this rapid, repeated pulsation of air creates the note. The pitch is determined by the effective length of the reed, while the attached resonator—a tube of varying shape—stabilizes the pitch and defines the instrument's characteristic timbre.23