Which is louder? A piccolo or flute playing the same note?

Question

I'd think flute, since it's bigger, but idk some ppl say differently. I've never actually played piccolo before but i do play flute =D

Answer 1

The size of the instrument doesn't affect the volume very much- the piccolo plays higher notes (but not necessarily louder ones) because it is smaller.

However, because the piccolo is smaller, it takes less energy to play. Hence, it is easier to play the piccolo louder than to play the flute louder (which is why bands & orchestras usually only need one piccolo.)

To further complicate matters: it depends upon the note you're trying to play as well. The lowest D on the piccolo corresponds to the D on the 4th line of the treble clef staff for the flute. For this note, the piccolo doesn't project as well as the flute does so the flute can be played louder. On the other hand, if you try to play a flute high F (above the treble staff), you will not be able to make it play as loudly as the corresponding piccolo F (which would be on the 5th line of the treble staff).

Answer 2

If they are playing the same written note then the piccolo will sound one octave higher and a higher pitch caries further and faster than a low one - therefor, the piccolo would sound louder.

If the are playing the same pitch (in the equal octave such that the flute is playing one octave higher than written or the piccolo one octave lower than written), then they would sound identical in pitch and volume.

This is assuming the players are not trying to play one softer than the other. Because the piccolo is so much smaller, it's very easy to excite the air stream and therefor to intentionally play louder than on a flute.

Answer 3

The flute sounds an octave below the piccolo. The piccolo plays higher, which gives it an advantage when it comes to hearing the piccolo--have you ever noticed that bands only tend to use one or two piccs, depending on the ensemble size? That's because the picc sounds so high. The range is already ridiculously above the staff, it sounds an octave above written.
It's a matter of frequencies and perception, but I'm not a music technology expert. In general, the piccolo is easier to hear.

Answer 4

I play both and since the piccolo plays and octave higher than the flute, the piccolo would be louder most likely
If you played the same note in the same octave then both would be the same as long as both players are playing at the same volume