what is a fife
A fife /ËfaÉªf/ is a small, high-pitched, transverse flute, that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore.The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in military and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer.he word fife comes from the German Pfeife, or pipe, which comes from the Latin word pipare. The fife is a simple instrument usually consisting of a tube with 6 finger holes, and diatonically tuned. Some have 10 or 11 holes for added chromatics.