r/nativeamericanflutes

Just received my first flute, purchased from Charlie @bluebearflutes
This is not the only instrument I play, but is my first flute. Wow, even as a rookie, I can immediately spot the craftsmanship that went into making this instrument. I decided on the Old Style Eastern Red Cedar in the key of high B and I could not be more happy. Incredibly easy to play, smells of cedar, campfire, and leather, and it sounds superb. Looking forward to spending some time with it outdoors!

(last year) I think

my SO gifted a NAF for my birthday after being in love with the sound for some time. As much as i have tried i cannot get the flute to play well, i have managed to get it to sound okay covering all holes, and it took me a bit to be able to make it sound okay without covering the last hole. But the rest it seems impossible! As i have always seen online that it is a super easy instrument to play i am not sure if it is actually harder than it seems,as in each hole uncovered requires a different amount of air or other technique or if i am just useless. i do seem to be covering the holes well so idk what im doing wrong

Just thought I'd share some advice for people who just got a flute, never played any instrument and wanted to start simple and easy.

Stumble into something new!

This is a D flute that I made with a scenic wrap of an eagle over a river. Is this a terrible idea? Is this appealing to anyone? I realized it introduces an non organic element. And I'm not even sure how I feel about it. But I'd like honest opinions about its appeal or otherwise.

first off, thank you charlie for sharing your tools, technique and wisdom with the world. after 2 failures involving a dull chisel and haphazard use of a dremel, i made the burning tools you use out of an old birdfeeder hanger i found in my yard. this gave me my first success, executed with a 2x4 i ripped out of a very old house i was remodeling (the block is a piece or oak flooring from the same house)

my interest in flutes was piqued by a bombardment of I Am Sound ads on instagram. i’m into 3d printing myself, so i began printing available free models online and eventually tried CADing a few of my own. i suppose i owe him a thanks, too, despite my extreme aversion to spending $80 or more on a piece of PLA. i am by no means a musical person, and this all started as an engineering problem in my mind, and evolved into a deep respect for this ancient and storied instrument. there is now a flute of some sort in every room of my house, but this is my proudest. my next hurdle will be learning to use a lathe, and turning one with these exact dimensions with some nicer wood.