Yamaha YRF21II Fife

The Yamaha fife can be thought of as a cross between a flute and a recorder. Like the flute, it is played by blowing across the embouchure hole, although like a descant recorder the notes are played by simply covering / uncovering the holes with the fingers.

Inexpensive and made from durable ABS resin, teachers will often recommend a fife for younger children who are later expected to take up the flute.

Fife is believed to have originated in Eastern traverse flute which was introduced to medieval Europe and improved to the present style. In Europe and America, it is widely used in the folk music and drum and fife bands. Its earthy sound also attracts many people in Japan, where fife is popularly used as a melody instrument in drum and fife bands and as a starter instrument for those planning to take up flute or piccolo.