This solid area is called the plug and it separates the slow air chamber at the mouth end of the flute from the sound chamber or bore at the far end of the flute. Odell borgsbeginning native american flute lessons part 1. Native american like pvc flute the pvc flute below is acoustically similar to traditional native american courting flutes, though no claims are made regarding similarities in style, etc. This time honored tradition is how they have been made for the last 8000 years or so. These are just a few of the measurements and techniques for making native american flutes. This book leads the reader down the path of flute making which its creator had originally taken and with the. How to build native american flutes out of pvc ehow. This is often a case for hobbists and small flutemakers, and to people who make their flutes out of branches. How to learn to play native american flute flute craft. This is a do it yourself version of our very popular western cedar native american flutes. In this first lesson i am not going to try and teach you about notes, scales, intervals, tempo, theory or any of the other technical facets of music making. A typical native american flute has a relatively large. Wooden flute sheet music woodsounds native american. He will illustrate the basic steps required to make a wooden flute.
How to make native american flutes winds wonderhowto. Native american flute simple english wikipedia, the free. Sheet music for 6hole native american flute in simplified finger diagram notation this is an eclectic collection of 36 popular songs and themes that are familiar and easy to play on any properly tuned 6hole native american style flute. All native american flutes are based on the five note pentatonic scale. It is called a flute because it does not contain a reed used to vibrate air to make sound. They are relatively cheap instruments to buy, but if you want some. The practice is so simple and so perfect for native flutes. One is located at the top, and then the bottom air chamber where the finger holes are found. Native american flute design and construction edwardkort. Also in the 4th grade projects gallery you can find an. Full instructions, sandpaper, leather lace as well as predrilledburned fingerings if you prefer are all included.
How to learn to build native american flutes flute craft. Shop and buy the art of the native american flute sheet music. To attract a special womans interest, a man might play the flute near where she lived. Btoc kind joyful notes of native american style flutes atx. Practice playing the native american flute with advice from a. This page provides some plans for making native american flutes. Customization of native american flutes with the goal of. The kit comes with prehollowed and predrilled flute halves, reed material, illustrated instructions and more. For this type of flute, the air stream is directed across a hole from the outside of the instrument. The native american flute is a very simple instrument to play.
See our gallery of native american style flutes resulting from the above native american style flute making steps by the craftsman of these flutes. Western cedar native american flute making kit bluebearflutes. The plans are on a single sheet, distributed originally in pdf. They were published by walter ben hunt 18881970 in and later in. With the standard kit, it is possible to create a traditionally tuned or a 440a432a444a tuned flute. The best way to learn to make native american flutes is to learn from someone who already makes them. Now, you dont need to go crazy with sanding, but realize that the smoother the inside of the flute, the smoother the sound will be in the end.
The art of the native american flute by r carlos nakai and. This web page shows shows details for the design of the fipple splitting edge, sound edge of a native american flute naf. Native american flutes are made in a style known as endblown flutes, or fipple flutes. The native american flute is a woodwind instrument with origins as old as 2000 years ago. In contrast with orchestral instruments, the designs of native american flutes are highly variable, with a very wide range of pitches, tunings. Foremost, is that it channels and directs the proper airflow to the thipple or cutting edge.
Below is a picture of an ancient territories native american style flute that i have cut in half lengthwise. Air blown into the mouth piece is forced down the air channel and split by the fipple. Spacing the distance between holes about a fingers width roughly conforms to a. Originally, the length of the flute would be determined by various locations of the body, for instance the length. According to various legends the flute was given to the indian people by the creator for enjoyment, to ease loneliness and for courting.
Plains flute, native american flute photos, maps, videos. Native american flute tabs green lion musical instruments. The secret to making native american flutes youtube. These two pages provided the starting point for many flute makers of the early 1970s.
Today, a native american style flute is made in various ways. For novice players, i often suggest three holes closed, three holes open. Some people stick to the old traditional methods with very limited tools. They are also designed to be read straight through, providing a graded, buildingblock approach. Making a nativeamericanstyle flute from start to lathe. The description of the native american style flute making process above results in completed flutes such as the one pictured below. Native americans with the musical knowledge of the flute passed on to them from their elders, became great leaders in the movement and reawakening of the joys of the flute. It is based on articles written over the past several. If you own a pvc flute, throw it away before it can give you cancer or cause liver damage. This study surveyed ergonomic issues in 308 native american flute players.
Todays most widely manufactured and recognized native american flute is the plains flute, sometimes also called the love flute, courting flute, cedar flute or twochambered duct flute. Voice the flute and measure sound mechanism parameters. This book leads the reader down the path of flute making which. Measurements and techniques for making native american. Numerous transcriptions can be found in moving within the circle. The art of native american flute making by charlie mato. Flute care odell borgsintermediate native american flute. Donn shands you are probably wondering why i am going to all the trouble to walk you through the tools and where to find them. It also correlated the physical measurements of a subgroup of 33 participants with the largest flute they found comfortable. Native american flutes in stock we currently have around 30 native american flutes available from stock. If you are a beginner native american flute player, this is great for you since you will be learning to play one of the easiest. Nakai tablature has become the standard method for writing music for the native american flute.
Instead, you are just going to learn how to make beautiful sounds on your love flute. For ease of playing and a deeply satisfying sound, few musical instruments surpass its appeal. Together with the plans were these comments by john. This video will give you details about the miscellaneous little tweaks of making a native american flute. Carlos nakai, douglas spotted eagle, john vames, mary youngbood and more. We used to make pvc flutes, but after we did some research we stopped making them. Making a traditional kiowa love flute from scratch is a moderately challenging project for an experienced woodworker. Options are our standard kit or double flute kit which makes 2 standard. This system was first written about in art of the native american flute, by r. Native american style flute facts and dimensions i know that there are those who would like to have as much information as possible about ancient territories native american style flutes. Sep 28, 2014 measurements and techniques for making native american flutes youtube stay safe and healthy. When made correctly, the sound of a cane flute has a nice quality. Please read the information on our page regarding the hazards of pvc. The native american flute is a tube divided into two sections by a solid area of wood inside the tube.
Find over native american flute groups with 4552 members near you and meet people in your local community who share your interests. The native american flute is designed to be blown into and allow the flute to direct the air correctly. Native american flutes in stock native american flutes. Charley covers all the important parts and is very detailed in his aproch. With the help of this book, i am on my fith flute and they keep getting better and better.
Jul 15, 2015 excellent book on making native american flute. Learn about the large native american horizon flute with expert music training tips in this free online instrument instruction video clip. History and construction from the oral traditions and ancient pictographs of the various native north american tribes, we know that the type of flute which has evolved into the modern native american style flute has been in existence, in one form or another, for at. January 6, 2015 this work is licensed under the median age of players was 63 years. However, the formula does not have sufficient correlation to have value in predicting flute design. How to hold your flute before you start playing lets learn a little bit about your flute. While many native american flutes are made of bamboo or river reeds, some of the most beautiful are carved of woods like cedar, maple or spruce. You might also be interested in plans to make a flute.
Here is a wonderful exercise that i learned on my flute path from paul butler, woodwind player extraordinaire. Carlos nakai and james demars, canyon record productions, 1996. Have students assess recorded performances by class members, following the criteria developed by the class, and make recommendations for improvements. Measurements and techniques for making native american flutes. If you own a pvc flute, throw it away before it can give you cancer or cause liver damage if you have any questions call us 14175356032. Measure the asbuilt bore profile and wall thickness. Native american flute, the shakuhachi is endblown rather than transverse although its sound mechanism differs in design from most. The native american flute is a flute that is held in front of the person playing it, has open holes for the players fingers, and has two separate parts.
Making a nativeamerican style flute from start to lathe. Unlike the fipple flutes, and embrasure blown flutes, the north american style flute is. First, heres a cutaway view of the inside of a naf. Of course blue bear flutes 5 hole flutes play the same amount of notes as any other 5 or 6 hole native american flutes and are what i personally recommend for anyone wanting to play native american flute today. Beginner instructions for the native american flute frequently asked questions and answers about native american flutes free sample songs as pdf files from our song books series for native american flutes.
It is based on articles written over the past several years by clint and vera, together with various coauthors. Contemporary native american music and dance and music of the native north american for the flute or recorder. The native american flute is still used as an instrument in many new age music recordings today. From his knowledge, you will learn about various native american style flutes and how to make them sing. In this expert video series, let werner john show you how to make this incredible instrument. Native american pvc flutes are dangerous flute maker. In its most basic design, a native american endblown flute is a pipe with five stops and a fipple flue, with a block. Except the only power tool that you will need is a dremel tool and a few other hand tools. Others use modern carving gouges, knives and sanding paper to make the flute by hand. How to build native american flutes out of pvc native american flutes are made in a style known as endblown flutes, or fipple flutes. After all, unless you visit the shop, you cannot play the flute and examine it from every angle. The native american flute yule 2010 workshop notes by craig phoenixwolf introduction to the native american flute. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Native american indian flutes next to the drum, the most important native american instrument is the flute.
The traditional flute was not tuned to specific keys as were instruments of the settlers from europe. Song books native american flutes, flute accessories and. Nicholas pell 23 february 2010 then move up to 220grit, then 400, 600, 800, and even up to 2,000grit if you really want. Each chapter is a typically based on a separate article, so each of the chapters can be read independenly. Native american flute resource download page flutesonline.
The flute is designed to make playing it as easy as blowing and as natural as singing. A 34 inch bore is used on native american style flutes in the key of b and c side to side at maximum width 1 916 inches. Native americanlike pvc flute the pvc flute below is acoustically similar to traditional native american courting flutes, though no claims are made regarding similarities in style, etc. How to build a simple north american style flute by. The native american flute is no different from any other instrument in that it requires practice. Heres another cutaway view and an xray of the upper part of a naf. Song books we have songbooks with both traditional and contemporary songs compiled by some of the most notable native american flute authors and players in the world. This system uses notes on a musical staff to represent finger positions on a flute. With a few articles, a book or two, some instructional videos often available on youtube, you can learn almost everything you need, including various decorations and special effects.
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