Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. This video will give you details about the miscellaneous little tweaks of making a native american flute. Wooden flute sheet music woodsounds native american. Native american flute design and construction edwardkort. This page provides some plans for making native american flutes.
Native american pvc flutes are dangerous flute maker. Charley covers all the important parts and is very detailed in his aproch. Plains flute, native american flute photos, maps, videos. For this type of flute, the air stream is directed across a hole from the outside of the instrument. This book leads the reader down the path of flute making which its creator had originally taken and with the. 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. However, the formula does not have sufficient correlation to have value in predicting flute design.
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 least 2,500 years nakai 1. January 6, 2015 this work is licensed under the median age of players was 63 years. Instead, you are just going to learn how to make beautiful sounds on your love flute. How to learn to play native american flute flute craft. First, heres a cutaway view of the inside of a naf. 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.
Others use modern carving gouges, knives and sanding paper to make the flute by hand. If you own a pvc flute, throw it away before it can give you cancer or cause liver damage. Jul 15, 2015 excellent book on making native american flute. These two pages provided the starting point for many flute makers of the early 1970s. Have students assess recorded performances by class members, following the criteria developed by the class, and make recommendations for improvements. In its most basic design, a native american endblown flute is a pipe with five stops and a fipple flue, with a block. 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. This time honored tradition is how they have been made for the last 8000 years or so.
This system uses notes on a musical staff to represent finger positions on a flute. Measurements and techniques for making native american. How to build native american flutes out of pvc native. Originally, the length of the flute would be determined by various locations of the body, for instance the length. Native american flutes in stock native american flutes. Sep 28, 2014 measurements and techniques for making native american flutes youtube stay safe and healthy.
How to hold your flute before you start playing lets learn a little bit about your flute. How to build a simple north american style flute by. 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. 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 book leads the reader down the path of flute making which. This is pattern after the native american love flute serious. With the help of this book, i am on my fith flute and they keep getting better and better. This web page shows shows details for the design of the fipple splitting edge, sound edge of a native american flute naf. Making a nativeamericanstyle flute from start to lathe.
The art of native american flute making by charlie mato. They are also designed to be read straight through, providing a graded, buildingblock approach. A block on the outside of the flute directs the players breath from the first part to the. For ease of playing and a deeply satisfying sound, few musical instruments surpass its appeal. To attract a special womans interest, a man might play the flute near where she lived.
Here is a wonderful exercise that i learned on my flute path from paul butler, woodwind player extraordinaire. Native american flute, the shakuhachi is endblown rather than transverse although its sound mechanism differs in design from most. Also in the 4th grade projects gallery you can find an. He will illustrate the basic steps required to make a wooden flute. January 5, 2015 also correlated the physical measurements of a subgroup of 33 participants with revised edition. How to build native american flutes out of pvc ehow. Air blown into the mouth piece is forced down the air channel and split by the fipple.
Making a nativeamerican style flute from start to lathe. Even the number of holes varied from flute to flute. Measurements and techniques for making native american flutes. Carlos nakai, douglas spotted eagle, john vames, mary youngbood and more. A typical native american flute has a relatively large. 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. Native american flute tabs green lion musical instruments. This is often a case for hobbists and small flutemakers, and to people who make their flutes out of branches. These are just a few of the measurements and techniques for making native american flutes. The best way to learn to make native american flutes is to learn from someone who already makes them. The kit comes with prehollowed and predrilled flute halves, reed material, illustrated instructions and more. Practice playing the native american flute with advice from a. Native american flutes in stock we currently have around 30 native american flutes available from stock.
Native american flute resource download page flutesonline. The flute is designed to make playing it as easy as blowing and as natural as singing. The native american flute is a very simple instrument to play. 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. Second, these tools will be part of your starter workshop for crafting future north american type flutes. The practice is so simple and so perfect for native flutes.
Spacing the distance between holes about a fingers width roughly conforms to a. You might also be interested in plans to make a flute. This system was first written about in art of the native american flute, by r. Each chapter is a typically based on a separate article, so each of the chapters can be read independenly. Please read the information on our page regarding the hazards of pvc.
The plans are on a single sheet, distributed originally in pdf. The traditional flute was not tuned to specific keys as were instruments of the settlers from europe. In contrast with orchestral instruments, the designs of native american flutes are highly variable, with a very wide range of pitches, tunings. 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. Today, a native american style flute is made in various ways. Customization of native american flutes with the goal of. For novice players, i often suggest three holes closed, three holes open. It is based on articles written over the past several years by clint and vera, together with various coauthors. Carlos nakai and james demars, canyon record productions, 1996. We used to make pvc flutes, but after we did some research we stopped making them.
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. Options are our standard kit or double flute kit which makes 2 standard. According to various legends the flute was given to the indian people by the creator for enjoyment, to ease loneliness and for courting. The native american flute is a tube divided into two sections by a solid area of wood inside the tube. 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. 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. All native american flutes are based on the five note pentatonic scale. Nakai tablature has become the standard method for writing music for the native american flute. It is called a flute because it does not contain a reed used to vibrate air to make sound. Measure the asbuilt bore profile and wall thickness.
Native american flutes are made in a style known as endblown flutes, or fipple flutes. One is located at the top, and then the bottom air chamber where the finger holes are found. Except the only power tool that you will need is a dremel tool and a few other hand tools. Nicholas pell 23 february 2010 then move up to 220grit, then 400, 600, 800, and even up to 2,000grit if you really want. How to learn to build native american flutes flute craft. Flute care odell borgsintermediate native american flute. Btoc kind joyful notes of native american style flutes atx. How to build native american flutes out of pvc native american flutes are made in a style known as endblown flutes, or fipple flutes. This is a do it yourself version of our very popular western cedar native american flutes.
Together with the plans were these comments by john. 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. Numerous transcriptions can be found in moving within the circle. The native american flute is still used as an instrument in many new age music recordings today. How to make native american flutes winds wonderhowto. Making a traditional kiowa love flute from scratch is a moderately challenging project for an experienced woodworker. They were published by walter ben hunt 18881970 in and later in.
Heres another cutaway view and an xray of the upper part of a naf. When made correctly, the sound of a cane flute has a nice quality. This study surveyed ergonomic issues in 308 native american flute players. This collection of flutes includes both plains flutes and a fine selection of our very best instrument, the woodlandsstyle flute. Find over native american flute groups with 4552 members near you and meet people in your local community who share your interests. 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.
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. Native american indian flutes next to the drum, the most important native american instrument is the flute. The native american flute yule 2010 workshop notes by craig phoenixwolf introduction to the native american flute. The secret to making native american flutes youtube. It is based on articles written over the past several. The native american flute is a woodwind instrument with origins as old as 2000 years ago. See our gallery of native american style flutes resulting from the above native american style flute making steps by the craftsman of these flutes. With the standard kit, it is possible to create a traditionally tuned or a 440a432a444a tuned flute. Western cedar native american flute making kit bluebearflutes. The native american flute is no different from any other instrument in that it requires practice. 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. Ironically, because native american flute construction was significantly different than the construction of african, asian or european flutes, it is now very difficult to find a flute that was carved by an actual american indian person.
In this expert video series, let werner john show you how to make this incredible instrument. The art of the native american flute by r carlos nakai and. 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. After all, unless you visit the shop, you cannot play the flute and examine it from every angle. Some people stick to the old traditional methods with very limited tools. 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. Native american flute simple english wikipedia, the free. 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.
The native american flute is designed to be blown into and allow the flute to direct the air correctly. 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. From his knowledge, you will learn about various native american style flutes and how to make them sing. Song books native american flutes, flute accessories and. The description of the native american style flute making process above results in completed flutes such as the one pictured below.
Voice the flute and measure sound mechanism parameters. 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. Full instructions, sandpaper, leather lace as well as predrilledburned fingerings if you prefer are all included. Contemporary native american music and dance and music of the native north american for the flute or recorder. Learn about the large native american horizon flute with expert music training tips in this free online instrument instruction video clip. They are relatively cheap instruments to buy, but if you want some. It also correlated the physical measurements of a subgroup of 33 participants with the largest flute they found comfortable. Shop and buy the art of the native american flute sheet music. Unlike the fipple flutes, and embrasure blown flutes, the north american style flute is. Odell borgsbeginning native american flute lessons part 1.
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