What Native American Flute to Buy

Which Native American flute should I buy?

Return to Previous Page
To see and hear our flutes in stock click here.
My wife and I have flutes from a various different makers and then each line comes in many keys, and on top of that most keys are made with a few different woods. So understandably making a decision can be difficult.    All these products are made in the USA.

Makers

If you are just beginning, for your first flute, I would lean toward the High Spirits flutes because they come with an excellent instructional CD and book as well as fingering carts. They also have a leather tie over one of the holes making it a 5 hole flute till you are ready to remove it and experience a 6 hole flute. The Quite Bear flutes are very bright and responsive, a real pleasure to play. Quiet Bear flutes are in my personal collection. Quiet Bear makes a "student" grade flute in the key of A and G and they are a great instrument for the price and if you want to just "test the waters" so to speak. Quiet Bear flutes will also make a custom flute just for you. They just do not include the CD, book and 6th hole cover. If you already have the CD & Book this is moot point. If you are considering multiple instruments over time I would get one of each to round out your collection.
| About High Spirits Flutes | About Quiet Bear Flutes |

Keys

As far as the key, I would suggest you get the lowest key (biggest flute) you can use. The dimensions and finger hole spacing is noted with each flute and they are listed in order of size. Even people with small hands can play an "A" flute and "normal" size hands can play the "G" & F#" as well. These have a nice deep sound.

Even if you've never played a woodwind before you should quickly adapt to most any key except the lowest ones. If you have any woodwind experience you will be able to master any native American flute. Flutes in the highest range (D, C) have a piping, Irish whistle quality, while flutes in the lowest range have an airy, hollow mellowness to them. Experience has shown us that people usually want the deepest tone that is comfortable to play. The A and G flutes are good middle of the road flute keys, still very easy to play and have a nice deeper sound than the smaller ones. The F#, E, low D and lower, being larger flutes, need more practice to master. They are not so difficult to play as it is a matter of breath control. Again, most players I know have many flutes of different keys and woods.
I would recommended the key of A or G for people who never played an instrument before.

If price is the only consideration the Quite Bear student flute in the key of A or G is the way to go. They are a wonderful bargain. The High Spirits flutes in "D" & "C" are made with the same techniques and care as the expensive larger High Spirits flutes.

FAQ on native American Flutes

Click here

Native American Flute Wood
For a beginner the main thing about wood to consider is the durability. The harder woods, walnut, birch, cherry hold up well to the elements and bumps. Generally hard woods have a clearer tone and are more responsive. Softer wood like cedar is fragile, but smells nice and creates a warmer, mellow tone. But for beginners subtle tone differences like this this is not really an issue.
You can also have a flute custom made of special wood just for you, for more information click here.
It is a personal preference as to which is better and many or most Native American flute players have some of each.
Warning: Most people who purchase a Native American Flute love it so much they buy more flutes in various keys & woods. You can't say I did not warn you.

5 or 6 Hole Native American Flute?
The High Spirits flutes are 6-hole flutes and come with a leather tie that easily converts them into a 5-hole flute. When comfortable just remove the leather tie and experience the use of the 6-hole. So you are not faced with this choice with one of our flutes.
The Quiet Bear flutes are all 6 hole and do not come with the hole cover.
All the flutes are based on the minor pentatonic scale. When used as a 5-hole flute it is in the minor pentatonic scale.
When the 6th hole under the leather tie is exposed the flute will play the relative major key in both the Diatonic and Chromatic scales.
A 5-hole flute is easier to play because it is based on the pentatonic minor scale. (5 notes to the next octave)
A 6-hole flute allows for an extended range of the instrument and different scaling.

Native American Flute Care
There is very little maintenance to a Native American Flute. When finished playing, just suck air in backwards through the mouthpiece to remove the humid air & moisture. If it is very wet, remove the bird or block to allow more air to circulate and shake it out. Keep your flute out of direct sunlight and store in a bag when not in use for a long period. You can also apply a natural oil to the inside once a year or so. We have a natural oil for wooden flutes in our shopping center.

Return to flutesonline.com home page

Note: A note about Native American flutes - just as a "French horn" is a particular type of musical instrument, "Native American flute" refers to a particular type of musical instrument and does not imply that it was made by an enrolled member of a federally-recognized tribe. Although the flutes made by the makers I sell are owned, used and endorsed by many prominent Native American musicians, these flutes are not "Native American made" as specified by the U.S. Government. If it is your desire to own a flute made by an enrolled member of a federally-recognized Native American tribe, then I recommend such makers as Charles Littleleaf.

| FAQ on Band Flutes |