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Introduction to Native American Style Flute

Writer's picture: PatPat

Native American flutes are some of the most pure and magical sounding instruments that I have been able to add to my repertoire. Personally, once I first became entranced by their soothing tone I could not get enough. Flutes are one of the oldest instruments known to man kind; and the oldest flute ever discovered in modern history is over approximately 60,000 years old and from the area of Slovenia. So it is interesting to note that it's documented origins are historically Central Europe. In North America, bone whistles dating back approximately 2,000 years have been unearthed in Arizona and New Mexico, likewise flute has been apart of Pueblo culture for over 1,000 years. It should be noted that some of these flutes were a different style than today's popular Native American Style flutes - and produced sound by playing similarly to a reed woodwind. This style flute has become known as "Anasazi Flutes", however the term "Anasazi" has become controversial as a derogatory term for ancestors of the ancient Pueblos of the Southwest.


In 1931 archaeologist Earl Morris discovered four wooden flutes at cliff dwellings in Navajo territory dating back to the Basketmaker III period (500-750ce). These are some of the oldest flutes ever discovered in North America and are very similar in style to modern flutes. It is not exactly known when today's mainstream style of Native American flute came to be, but thousands of years old is not an extreme estimate. I have witnessed firsthand a flute from the early 1800s play absolutely beautifully, bearing resemblance to today's flutes (thanks to legendary New England flute player Hawk Henries for keeping that flute alive and going well!).




Flutes are a relatively easy instrument to learn and play. Most flutes are keyed in Pentatonic tuning though you will find flutes in many other tunings such as modes like Aeolian and Eastern scales like Hijaz (eastern Phrygian). When starting off your flute journey there are countless online resources and videos to help you get going. Personally I started playing flute by ear. I've picked up tips on how to add trills, vibrato, bends, and all that good stuff - but the basic foundation was learned by ear (note I am no Mozart - this instrument truly can be learned by anyone if they wish to put in the effort). Famed flutist Carlos Nakai developed a tablature system for the flute which bears his last name, this has also been super helpful on my journey of learning scales and other basic runs.


One important thing to note is the difference between "Native American Style" and "Native American" when it comes to both flutes and those whom play them. You will almost always see one or the other, and they are NOT interchangeable. "Native American Style" flutes are flutes of this traditional style that are made by people who do not belong to a federally recognized tribe of the US. This also applies to players under the same title. "Native American" flutes are flutes made by artisans who are enrolled members of a United States tribe, same with flute players. Although there is no tonal quality in the difference between the flutes or their players, some people prefer to stick to only Native American made. It is respectful and important to remember the difference when diving into the world of this style flute.


There are many things to keep in mind when purchasing a flute such as the key the flute is in, since each Native Style Flute is tuned to a particular key. The wood the flute is made out of is another factor, and more importantly the artisan who crafted the wood. There are many well known and lesser known artisans in the world of flute-making, and many have their own unique style. It is important to dabble around with sound samples from different manufacturers before buying a flute. Some artisans prefer to keep their flutes natural sounding and un-keyed, the way it was traditionally played as a solo instrument for thousands of years. Other artisans prefer to fine tune their flutes to play with other musicians in a concert tuning. Both styles are perfectly fine and sound beautiful if crafted properly - it is up to you which one to choose.


I am not sponsoring or being paid to promote any flute company or manufacturer, but I will point you in the direction of some flute makers who have been inspirational to me on my journey - and maybe they will be to you too. The first Native American style flute I learned how to play was in D Minor and from High Spirit Flutes, pretty much every flute player I have met started with High Spirits. They produce concert-quality flutes at an affordable price, they sound great, and are easy to play! High Spirits has flutes in every key, style, and price range for players - so they are a great starting point (they are also one of the longest running flute manufacturers in business). Another great flute maker is JD Flutes out of North Carolina, Jimmy produces quality, authentic Native American flutes that produce concert quality sounds. He uses non-toxic oil for the finish and does not overdue his stain - as a result his flutes can play for a very long time without wetting out, whilst keeping their tone. The term "wetting-out" refers to your flute becoming so filled with moisture (either from your breath or environment) that it no longer plays - you have to wait for the wood to dry. Both JP Gomez and Charles Littleleaf create some stunning flutes that are absolutely works of art, however the price range is not geared towards beginners. I also recently discovered Dana Ross with Falcon Flutes and those are amazing too - great sound, lightweight, beautiful craftsmanship, and amazing playability. The list goes on and on, but here are some good starting points that will hopefully lead you to find the proper flute!


I am also going to list some flute players that have been super inspirational as well, you can find their recordings on a number of resources. Number one for me is Robert Tree Cody, without a doubt his music is what really propelled me into the world of flute playing. Then the other legends like Carlos Nakai, Hovia Edwards, Andrew Vasquez, Kevin Locke, Keith Bear, Joseph Firecrow and many many more. Then there are the bands and artists who take the flute into a multi-piece exploration such as Spotted Eagle, Cliff Sarde & Carlos Nakai with "Enter Tribal" and a personal favorite of mine the band Burning Sky. David & Steve Gordon are also big influences of mine and utilize flute melodies for Sound Healing purposes. Then there are those who embrace their playing with wisdom and storytelling such as Hawk Henries and Kenneth Little Hawk. Each and every flute player spills some of their own culture and influences into their music, so I highly suggest dabbling around with different recordings!

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