Native American Flute

[genek]

Does anyone know where I can buy patterns for the Native American Flutes (A thru key of G) Tina found out that her Great Grandmother was a full blooded Cherokee Indian and was a infant on the trail of tears. Do to sickness she was left with a family in Kentucky who raised her. Tina wants me to make her the flutes so she can learn to play them and to teach others how to play.

[Brady Watson]

Right here (http://bit.ly/1tdzVxn) & here (http://flutopedia.com/plans.htm)

-B

[Thomas Cook]

I wondered if anyone had attempted a native flute on a shopbot before. I am an enrolled member of the Mohawk tribe of Akwesasne and one of the main reasons I've looked at a shopbot is to do modern native made items.

I have not seen patterns online for making flutes but I can point you to a very nice gentlemen like yourself who may be able to help find what your looking for. Walt and his wife run a wonderful small business selling native instruments online and there company is called flutesonline.com (www. flutesonline.com). I've purchased two flutes from him already and that may be the best way to get started. Having a professionally made flute will show you how it's made and then you can experiment with the hole locations for the key.

I recommend an F# to start. It plays a beautiful haunting sound that is distinctly Native American. It is easy to play but difficult to master :)

Here are my instruments including my flute:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IR-Qsiqo4AU/VE7Hv-FPI_I/AAAAAAAAFXA/tPEhRS7eO-U/s1600/IMG_0166-786319.JPG

[scottp55]

Eugene, Once spent several hours with a Penobscot player that sold flutes in his store. We tried all the ones in his store over that time, and then I guess he liked me as he called the flute maker of His flute. Had supper at the flute makers house as he had me try several he had kept for himself as he watched me breathe and showed me what to look for. It would have taken a few months for him to get to making me one, and I was on the road that year and a half, so we decided to wait. Found this one near Lake Powell that matched everything he had said after trying dozens. Broke it in on a houseboat halfway up the Lake playing to Anasazi cliff ruins. Very haunting sound and I barely have to breathe for a note.:)
Be glad to take measurements for Tina. Sending a tape in mail of how to play(If I can find it). (I play the Tibetan "singing bowl" better:)
Cheap flutes are JUST that and almost impossible to get decent sound out of. A good flute is almost impossible to play bad, I'm a case in point.

[genek]

Brady The contact you provided I had e-mailed a week ago several times. Still have not heard back. thanks anyway.

I bought Tina the F flute, but she wants all keys and she wants me to make each one out of some Cheery that has been in her Great Grandfathers barn (the husband of her Great Grandmother who was full Cherokee) since her dad was a child. From what I have seen of the flute I bought. I think it will be easy to do the basic shape and the chambers on the shop bot. The sound holes will have to be hand cut and the outside rounded over with a round over bit. Then each tone hole drilled at the correct position. I think all of the flutes could be made on the shop bot then glued together and rounded over. If I can get the planes will post how I made each and how hard each is.The flute that I bought the sound chambers were cut out on a table saw then smoothed over... I took a bore scope and looked inside. The flute was made in two sections then glued up.

[genek]

I wondered if anyone had attempted a native flute on a shopbot before. I am an enrolled member of the Mohawk tribe of Akwesasne and one of the main reasons I've looked at a shopbot is to do modern native made items.

I have not seen patterns online for making flutes but I can point you to a very nice gentlemen like yourself who may be able to help find what your looking for. Walt and his wife run a wonderful small business selling native instruments online and there company is called flutesonline.com (http://www. flutesonline.com). I've purchased two flutes from him already and that may be the best way to get started. Having a professionally made flute will show you how it's made and then you can experiment with the hole locations for the key.

I recommend an F# to start. It plays a beautiful haunting sound that is distinctly Native American. It is easy to play but difficult to master :)

Here are my instruments including my flute:


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IR-Qsiqo4AU/VE7Hv-FPI_I/AAAAAAAAFXA/tPEhRS7eO-U/s1600/IMG_0166-786319.JPG

Mr. Cook I think all the Flutes can be made on the shop bot (basic shape) some hand work will still be required. Your Rattler, is that made from Cow or buffalo horn. The ends for the Rattler could easily be made on the shop bot. even the handle. If you will send me the Dimensions I will draw it up for you and send them to you. You would still need to do some hand work to round over the handle. What is the leather adorned object.
I agree with you on the haunting sound, Tina has already learned to play it quite well, ( first few days.. I wanted to ware earplugs. but where she is a natural Musician and can play by ear or music. ( used to be able to play by music) She is mastering the flute quit well. Some of the songs she does on the f flute brings chills to ones back.
I have not seen her so excited about music in years. Tina is a very good pianist and singer, before she started losing her eye sight she had songs that hit the top ten charts in country Gospel. This has re-sparked her love for music and I plan on making her the flutes as she has requested. No matter what it takes.

[Thomas Cook]

Gene,

The horn rattles are bull horn as I just don't feel right getting buffalo after they were hunted out. It is made by a craftsman on my reservation in Canada. If your interested in making some I can provide you drawings or 3D models (I'm a mechanical engineer by trade) and would love to get them in a shopbot format. Thank you for the offer.

The leather object on the bottom is a elk skin native hand drum. Scott also has some beautiful examples of drums with his amazing flute. I think your wife may also enjoy the drum, it is very therapeutic.

I am glad your wife has found the native flute and it brings her such joy. Even tho I am still a youngin' to you older and wiser folks, I can still see the older we get the more we enjoy the simpler things in life.

Thomas