Playing The Native American Style Love Flute
John Stillwell
Flute Craftsman
"You do not need any technical knowledge about music or sound dynamics in order to play and enjoy your Native American Style flute. However, as you progress deeper into your playing you may want to broaden your knowledge.
The Love flute, though a simple instrument, opens the door of the musical world. In that world are all kinds of new experiences and lots of new information.
In order to help you better understand this world, I am including a few guidelines and a complete Tutorial.
"
Daniel Phillips
"E pluribus unum"
Vidiographer & Aprentice
"Working with John has been a life changing experience for me"
Jessica Rice
"E pluribus unum"
Web Developer & Photographer
"Creating somethning with people I love is what life is about.
"
Factors Effecting Tonal Quality
Native American Style Flute Facts and Dimensions
The Importance of the Slow Air Chamber in the Native American Flute
Tonal quality is an elusive subject. This is in part due to differences
of opinion between individuals as to what exactly is a pleasant or
appealing tone. The tone of one flute may be preferred over another by
one individual. Another person listening to the same two instruments may
have a different preference. So, to a certain extent tonal quality is
subjective. I have learned not to be judgemental when it comes to the
sound of my flutes. Someone else will love a flute whose tone I do not
personally appreciate. I have seen this over and over at flute shows.
And, when people come to my shop to audition instruments they make
choices that I might not make.
of opinion between individuals as to what exactly is a pleasant or
appealing tone. The tone of one flute may be preferred over another by
one individual. Another person listening to the same two instruments may
have a different preference. So, to a certain extent tonal quality is
subjective. I have learned not to be judgemental when it comes to the
sound of my flutes. Someone else will love a flute whose tone I do not
personally appreciate. I have seen this over and over at flute shows.
And, when people come to my shop to audition instruments they make
choices that I might not make.
I know that there are those who would like to have as much information
as possible about Ancient Territories Native American style flutes.
After all, unless you visit the shop, you cannot play the flute and
examine it from every angle. So here I have provided photos and
dimensions of the outside and inside of a typical flute. Dimensions may
vary slightly from one flute to another..
as possible about Ancient Territories Native American style flutes.
After all, unless you visit the shop, you cannot play the flute and
examine it from every angle. So here I have provided photos and
dimensions of the outside and inside of a typical flute. Dimensions may
vary slightly from one flute to another..
The Native American style flute - also called the Love flute - is
technically called a ‘dual chambered duct flute’. This type of flute has
two separate hollow chambers separated by an area of solid wood. The
chamber closest to the mouth end of the flute is called the slow air
chamber. The chamber that terminates on the lower end of the Love flute
is called the barrel or sound chamber of the flute..
technically called a ‘dual chambered duct flute’. This type of flute has
two separate hollow chambers separated by an area of solid wood. The
chamber closest to the mouth end of the flute is called the slow air
chamber. The chamber that terminates on the lower end of the Love flute
is called the barrel or sound chamber of the flute..
Making Your Own Native American Style Flute
I know that there are many of you who would like to make a Native American style flute. That’s how I got started. My thought was ‘I’m a woodworker, why to spend the money if I can make one myself’. This started me down a path that continues to this day.
Knowing how to make things out of wood is one thing. Knowing how to make a musical instrument that has the proper sound is another. I had to make quite a number of Love flutes before I began to understand the dynamics of sound creation. I am still searching to discover more about how to create the perfect Love flute tonal quality.
The absolute best way to get started in Native American style flute making is, of course, to study with an accomplished flute maker. When I decided to make my own flute I was prescient enough to seek out someone to help me. Having a teacher makes a huge difference in the steepness of the learning curve. When you have an experienced flute maker as a teacher you have access to a body of knowledge in dynamic form. When you make mistakes – and you will – the teacher is there to show how to correct them. Or to show you how to do it right the next time.
Those of us who make Native American style flutes professionally seem to agree that the second most efficient way to start making a flute is to reverse engineer a good Love flute. Reverse engineering is the process of carefully studying an existing flute. Then you try and make as exact a copy as possible of that flute. With reverse engineering, you have a functioning finished product to study and compare with your flute in progress. Measurements of all the dimensions and angles are there in front of you. Of course, this means that you have to buy or borrow a good Native American flute. But in my opinion, it is well worth the cost. I have been told that aspiring flute makers have taken one of my flutes and cut it in half lengthwise to be able to study the interior of the Love flute in order to more perfectly reproduce the flute.
