This is just a basic diagram of the Native American
flute based on the "woodland" Cherokee flutes that
my initial design was based on.You blow into the mouthpiece
and your breath is pressurized by the Slow Air Chamber then
travels into the flue and is split by the fipple before entering the
sound chamber. By covering and uncovering the tone holes the last hole
uncovered becomes the "end" of the flute and as you uncover tone holes
the flutes pitch becomes higher in the pentatonic mode 1&4 no matter what
the key of the flute. Now for flutes with different tunings the scale and finger patterns become a bit more complicated but my flutes are "melodic" and require no special technique to play
The arrows start at the mouthpiece and show direction of travel
to the splitting edge of the fipple.
The "block" is usually tied on with leather thonging (mine are)
but I have seen all kinds of stuff used. Buck skin or suede ties work well.
I have labeled the parts of the flute so you can
become familiar with them before you place an order or to
better understand your instrument you already have been playing.
I have learned over the years that each flute is different
and reacts differently to temperature changes etc. And tonal
qualities can change from flute to flute due to the types of wood
combinations or single wood densities.But the basics are always
the same and no matter what a native american flute is made of
if its made with quality and precision it will give many years of enjoyment.
please note the diagram dimensions are exagerated for instructional purposes.
questions? contact me
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