Laurel Piccolo Silver Plated Keys with Case The piccolo, a transverse flute pitched an octave above the concert or standard flute, is a development of the late 18th century. It is about 33 cm long and plays from D5 to B7-flat. Its range is nearly three octaves, reaching the highest pitches in the modern orchestra. It has a bright sound that can be heard easily, even in thickly scored orchestral passages.