Native American Flute, like any instrument, requires to be properly taken care of.

A lot depends on the type of wood the flute was made of:

• Hard wood , high density ( oak, mahogany ) is more resistant to damage and temperature changes, has a clearer and sharper sound.

• Soft wood and lower density ( red Canadian cedar, bamboo ) have a warm sound, but require more care, are light and more sensitive.
  

Below are some things to keep in mind when own a Native American Flute:

• It is worth to periodically lubricate the flute with colorless oil inside and out. Suggested oils are grape seed oil or coconut oil. Soak a cloth or handkerchief with a few drops of oil and wipe the outside of the flute.
  
  We also let oil inside, either by pouring a few drops inside the flute or onto the rod, and then wipe well to make the oil layer as thin as possible.
  Remember to lubricate both the sound chamber (the one with the holes covered by fingers) and the air chamber (Slow Air Chamber).
  
  In this way we fill micro-dents and protect flute.
  
  Depending on the how often we play, we may do it once every 3-6 months to ensure that the flute is in good condition.

• As one flute maker says: “Flute on the floor is flute no more” Make sure that the flute does not fall, do not throw it, do not knock it, and it is best to store and transport it in a soft material cover.

• Avoid extreme temperatures. Do not leave the flute on the sun or close to radiators, in a warm car, etc. Also, make sure that the instrument does not freeze and stay outside during the winter. Soft wood flutes are more sensitive to atmospheric conditions, but all flutes should be looked after just like a human body. In other words, if we need a sweater, then the flute probably also needs to be in the cover at this time.
  
  Before playing, check that the surface of the flute is at room temperature. If its surface is frozen, we first warm up the flute by rubbing it with a piece of material (e.g. with a soft cover). When we heat it up, the flute is suitable for playing. Avoid playing the cold flute, as the introduction of warm air inside when the surface is cold can lead to an increase in pressure and ultimately damage the wood.

• You should avoid playing the flute right after eating . If we have just eaten, let’s brush our teeth or wait some time before playing the flute. If we play after eating, there may still be food particles in our blown air, which together with the moisture generated by saliva may cause the formation of fungi, mold and other unpleasant phenomena in the air chamber of the flute. It is a dark and humid place, so it requires cleaning.

How to start playing the Native American Flute?

Assuming you’ve already a purchased Native American Flute in your hands, follow these few hints to get you started well with this instrument:

1. Arranging hands.
Suggested hand placement depends on whether you are right-handed or left-handed. Right-handed people usually keep their left hand on top and their right hand on the bottom. Left-handed people put their hands upside down.

The 3 main fingers of each hand should cover the 3 holes – index, middle and ring finger.

2. Holes – 5 or 6?
Only 5 holes were made in old, traditional Native American Flutes. Currently, 6-hole flutes are more often made and we are also into this. It adds more possibilities as you can play more musical scales.

Therefore, to play the traditional scale, which for these flutes (NASF) is a minor pentatonic scale, you must keep the third hole from the top always covered by the ring finger. Once you gain the skill of navigating the traditional scale, you can explore other alternative scales using the 6th hole.

3. Setting “bird”, “block”.
Thebird or block is the name we use for the figurine at the top of the flute. It is responsible for the correct production of the flute’s sound. Its setting is responsible for the flow and air pressure between the slow air chamber and the sound chamber.

Set it so that its end is exactly on the edge of the hole that creates the sound (True Sound Hole). Sometimes to refine the lowest sound, with all covered holes we can move the block slightly (max 1mm) towards the mouthpiece.

After properly placing the block, we tie the strap tightly to immobilize the block and avoid air escaping from the sides. We suggest tying the strap single time so that it is easier to tighten it before each play.

4. First sounds.
Holding the third hole covered from the top, we begin playing by blowing air into the flute and gradually covering the holes from top to bottom one by one. Higher sounds (less covered holes) require more air pressure than lower sounds. Therefore, if we want to find the sound we want, we regulate the pressure of our air.

A common cause of squeaks and unclean sounds at this stage is the inaccurate covering of the holes, so we suggest playing in front of the mirror to see if your fingers are lying properly.

5. Playing the scale
When we get the first clear sounds, we can start playing the pentatonic scale. We move up and down the flute covering and uncovering our fingers one by one as if we were walking on a ladder. One comes out very easily, others need more time to master. It is important not to be discouraged and train persistently, because in the end once we get started it is an instrument with a very graceful sound :-)