It's easy to play the Native American Flute.

The Native American Flutes (NAF) I am performing on are build by Odell Borg, who founded High Spirits  in 1990. His work-shop is located in the beautiful South Arizona town of Patagonia.

Q.:    Which Flute size do I recommend?:

A.:    For Beginners (above age 10 years old) I am recommending to buy the A-minor Native American Flute. 
The main reason is, that the distance between the holes is not too big and can be manged by almost all people. The sound is brighter than the F#m-NAF, but still warm and soothing. There were a view students who's hands are to small for the A-minor NAF, or for children below 10 years old, but that is rare. Only in this case I recommend the D-minor NAF.  The A-minor NAF has a sound that carries further. The tone "A" is the tone of the 6th chakra and relates to royal blue, the third eye, seeing things as they are. The Am NAF and higher pitches are great for the outdoors and easy to pack. They have a fresh and warm sound to play along with guitar, drums and percussion.

A.:    For Advanced students with pre-knowledge in wind-instruments, and/or if you have big hands/long-fingers, try out the traditional pitch F#-minor NAF. The tone "F#" relates to green (turquoise), the 6th chakra, the heart-chakra, enhancing having space, love, empathy helps to build  nourishing relationships. I would not recommend to start with a lower key then “F#”, because most lower keyed flutes have problems with reaching the 2nd octave, by over-blowing root tones. The F#-minor NAF has a really beautiful warm/alto sound and is great for meditation, relaxation getting in contact with the space of the heart, creating beautiful melodies.

This Finger Chart offers YOU to fill in the fingering for the 2nd Octave! Select from the offered alternative fingering below and create so YOUR FLUTES finger chart. To make sure the "C" or the "B,C" are in tune, use a digital tuner:

(Click on picture to download PDF)

How to play the Native American Flute?

1. To make covering the holes easier, fatten your fingers and use the finger pads rather than the tips to cover the holes. With either hand, cover the top two finger holes with your index and middle  fingers. Use the index, middle and ring fingers from the other hand to cover the bottom three holes. Use the ring-finger from the top hand and your little fingers and thumbs to support the flute, all fingers are touching the flute body.

2. Creating Music:
If you are new to playing flute, start with just one tone: Close only the upper 3 holes (3rd hole is covered by leather band) with the left hand and the 3 right hand holes keep open. Play some long tones and some rhythms just with this one note. EASY IS RIGHT! Now ad just one tone by closing the highest hole of the right hand. And again just play around with this 2 tones for a while. Keep on adding tones until you can play the whole scale, but remember just adding one tone a time and playing different combinations before moving to the next tone. Before you know it you will have a song. Songs can be created with very few notes & keeping it simple and repeating 3-4 tone patterns and ending a phrase with a long tone helps to create haunting melodies of your own. There are no right or wrong ways to create music.

3. Techniques: Breathe – Beyond closing all the holes, playing a flute is about applying the correct amount of air pressure rather than air volume. On smaller flutes like this one, you will need to generate more air pressure than on larger deeper toned flutes.

4. Fingering: Sliding the finger off the hole slowly will draw the note out (bending the note). Covering only half of the hole will create a different note.

5. Rhythm: Every song has a rhythm. With the flute the rhythm is created with the tongue by simulating the letter “T”. Repeat the letter “T” with your tongue into the flute & then slowly back off & be become more subtle with it.

For more details - Downloads:

001 - How to play the Native American Flutes (6 holes)
002 - How to play the Native American Pocket Flute (5holes)    VIDEO-Am-Pocket-Flute      
         Introduction - Vibhas 2018    VIDEO-Gm-Pocket-Flute
003 - How to play the Spirit Flutes     
004 - Empty NAF Tablature (TAB)      6-holes-4x9    6-holes-4x12      

Here are a view free songs with sheet music including Native American Flute Tabulature and a VIDEO link to High Spirits or other Friends of the Native American Flute. The PDF-TABULATUR can be played on all kind of pitched flutes, while the video has to be played along with the right pitch. Hope that helps to get started:

1. Blowing In The Wind - Traditional Folk Song (see note X1) - PDF - VIDEO-Dm-Flute  
2. Corn Planting Song - Traditional Hopi Song - PDF - VIDEO-AM-Flute   
3. Danny Boy - Traditional Irish Song -  PDF - VIDEO-Gm-Flute   
4. Death Song - Traditional Cherokee Song - PDF - No-Video
5. House of the Rising Sun - Traditional - PDF - VIDEO-Dm-Flute
6. Hush Little baby - Traditional - PDF - VIDEO-Bm-Flute
7. Jingle Bells - Traditional Christmas Song - PDF  - No Video
8. Over The Rainbow - For NAF - PDF - VIDEO-Bm-Flute
9. Paddling Song - Traditional Lummi Song  - PDF - VIDEO-Cm-Flute     
10. Papago Crop Sowing Song - Traditional - PDF - VIDEO-Am-Flute
11. Silent Night - Traditional Christmas Song - PDF - VIDEO-F#m-Flute          
12. Spirit Dance Song - Traditional Sioux Song - PDF - VIDEO-F#m-Flute  
13. Sunset Song - Traditional Zuni Song - PDF - VIDEO-Gm-Flute   
14. Twinkle Twinkle -  traditional Children Song - PDF - VIDEO-Bm-Flute    
15. Wendeyaho - Am -Traditional Cherokee Song -  PDF  -  Am-Mp3 
15. Wendeyaho - Bm -Traditional Cherokee Song  -  PDF  -   Bm-Mp3  -  VIDEO-Bm-Flute  -    (VIDEO-Gm-Flute)   
15. Wendeyaho - F#m - Traditional Cherokee Song - PDF  -  F#m-MP3  -   VIDEO

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