Native American Flute for Beginners

Explore native style flutes, from branch and construction wood to plastic, in varying lengths. Shorter flutes yield higher pitches; longer flutes yield lower pitches, with G and F sharp.

Explore the Native American flute anatomy, including the mouthpiece, wooden block (nest) that produces sound, the air and sound chambers separated by a wall, and the finger holes.

Explore how a five-hole Native American flute with six finger holes can play minor and major pentatonic scales. Discover which hole counts as the sixth and why it's typically covered.

Mount the block above the true sun hole, aligned with the slope from the channel into the sand hole; remove periodically to clear condensation.

Explore tablature as a graphical representation of notes for the Native American flute, showing six finger holes with black (closed) and white holes open, and illustrating the minor pentatonic scale.

Learn the three basic Native American flute ornaments: grace note, a career, and a double talk, through simple instructions and demonstrations to decorate your music.

Develop finger muscle memory by rapidly opening and closing the lower holes to play quick note sequences, including grace notes and rapid cycles.

Explore the double tongue technique by speaking with your tongue as you play syllables like coo coo coo, adjusting speed from slow to fast on any note.

Learn how to follow songs from a song book for the native american flute, reading notes, breath marks, and ornaments such as grace notes, attacks, and trills.

Treat the flute as a personal instrument; avoid sharing, extreme temperature changes, and direct sunlight. Blow out moisture from the mouthpiece after playing to prevent fungus and cracks.