5 Things I wish I had Known when I Started Playing the Native American Flute
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- In this video I will discuss the 5 things I wish I had known when I first began delving into the world of the Native American Flute. Back in those days, there was no internet or CZcams to turn to for help and it required a lot of word of mouth and personal experience to advance into the expert you see today. My first flute was not the typical flute of today, but a very old type that was passed down by my grandfather who was Cherokee and who learned from his family. Not many people know of this flute outside of the specific Native community that I come from and a mention in a couple of very old first hand accounts written in very old books.
That aside, if I had been able to see into the future these are 5 things I wish I had known back in those days so I could have avoided some errors right off and so I could have helped other in their journeys as well.
1. Cost - You don't need a lot of money to afford a good quality sounding flute
2. Wetting Out - Not all flutes are created equal when it comes to wetting out
3. Six Hole Flutes - The history of they why is an important part of understanding your flute
4. Questionable Advice - Some people give advice based on their own experience which may be more of their own inexperience
5. Credibility of Teachers - Some people have found a way to overcharge for something you are capable of learning for free! Don't be taken advantage of!
Please remember to SUBSCRIBE. If you like what you have seen in this video or if you want to know more, PLEASE check out my other videos. Let me know what you think in the comments, but as always please keep it more positive than not.
Visit us at www.bluebearflutes.com - Jak na to + styl
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and skills with us. I have learned a lot just by watching.
Like the website too.
Am in process of making my first flute, using knowledge acquired from you.
Thank you again and may God continue to bless you and your family.
Thank you Charlie! From London, England 🇬🇧 ✨🪈✨💗✨🌍✨🙏🏼✨ Beginner here ✋🏼💚🪈💚🌳
I was just there two weeks ago!
You are so kind and a light to the world and i am just finding my path to the native American flute, so thank you for helping me learn♡ I am struggling with a cancer diagnosis recently and am 56 years young,they say 'when the student is ready the teacher will appear'and here we are😊 I hope i am able to learn this beautiful sound and find my peace in the darkness around me. Blessings to you and yours always my brother
Teresa
❤
Thank you 🙏🏼 for another great video, Charlie. Your sense of humor cracks me up! I love the air quotations around “flute instructor”…people can take themselves SO seriously. 😝
😆
I love native american flute because it's design is unique. The air chamber going through the tunnel hitting ths spot and this two chamber method is what I believe makes native american flute unique.
❤ thank you for your guidance 🙏 🪶
You're so very welcome! Please be sure to check out my hundreds of other videos!
Wonderful contribution for people who try to make and play their own instrument
Thanks for sharing, Charlie!
I have started, on my own, trying to connect with my cherokee heritage. Besides my great uncles, I have had to rely on people like you to learn. I have made several flutes since first watching your videos about a year ago. My kids, cousins, and I would like to thank you for all of your help in preserving these cultures. ᏩᏙ
I'm hoping to share more in addition to flute making soon! Thank you so much for watching!
Just wanted you to know that I just received my drone & flute kit and is awesome, also want you to know that I value your teachings and the time you invest in passing on the wisdom you gained from your ancestors..
May God Bless you
Sincerely; Luis Edgardo Encarnacion from Philadelphia PA
Thank you for your kind words Luis! I'm confident your kit will be built with wonderful results!
I just ordered a A flute, I have one by another maker, it’s a six hole but it’s a really nice flute nothing fancy but nice . Then I started watching your videos and you know what your talking about and I saw the video where another maker sent his to you to fix it.
And it sounded great , so I ordered my 5 hole Mid range A made of cedar. Can’t wait to get it .
I can't wait to hear how you like it! Thanks for your order and for your kind words!
I know this video was posted a year ago, but it's new to me and I always enjoy and learn from your videos. Since you teach muggles, I guess I am a muggle. 😄
🤣🧙♂️
Hi Charlie, what like about my river cain flute that you made for me, is how easy it is to keep clean. Above all,…. Your flutes make the most sense. 🎅🏻
🙏🙏Thank you! Thank you!🙏🙏
Your kind words are appreciated!
I love your Approach What i got from this is no flute is the same all flutes are unique
Just like people! Thank you so much for your comment and for watching!
Great information, presented with good humour and no nonsense - Thank you!
Native People HAD glue made from animal hovers and also tree sap ( evergreen Conical trees ) .
I really like your videos Charlie. Good information along with some healthy sarcasm.
I grew sunflowers this summer and plan to rewatch your video and try to make flutes from the stalks.
I do have a video making a flute out of a sunflower stalk! 😁
Thank You Charlie... it's been a while since I wrote, but still have many flute that you "taught" me how tp make. Some of them turned out really well, but others were my learning from my mistakes flutes. I appreciate your honesty about those matters, you are so kind not to trash others while still getting your point across. In the future, I will have more time to make more flutes. I am still learning from you, and still a fan! Ga li e li ga (I am thankful)
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching! Please check out some of my other videos on making and playing the Native American Flute!
Thank you
Well Charlie, it would have been good to know those things earlier (chuckle chuckle chuckle). Besides I like my six hole flute with the sixth hole above the fifth hole (no covered holes). All kidding aside, this is a great first video for people who have had little contact with your flutes Charlie. Thank you for sharing and not being one of those who charge fortune to teach. Tom
Hi, Charlie. I figured out how to make tuning much faster for me. A friend gave me a 6 hole flute. I immediately put tape over the third hole down. The flute was badly out of tune, flat. When I started widening the first hole I realized that I was spending a lot of time, clumsily, being sure my fingers were completely covering the holes to check the note. So, I taped all the holes and removed the tape as I moved up the flute holes. This way I can be sure the tuning is correct. I hope this helps beginners like myself. I'm pretty sure you already know this technique. Michael
Endorsing J.K. Rowling with that shirt 👌 subbed bro
I also endorse Scott brand toilet tissue, Fruit of the Loom underwear and Colgate mouthwash!
Thanks. I’m now binge watching your videos 🏴😆
Thank You!
"You can put your mouth around it like a straw and look like a big doofus" lawl,
Legendary.
I can't wait to receive my flute. I'm glad I got the 5 hole flute so I don't have to hold one. :) I love your videos and your great service. I've tried the harmonica and I'm pretty good at it but the native american flute completely resonates with my soul and to finally find a flute makes me extremely happy. My question is what happens if that piece comes off and I can't tie it? Sorry, I'm new haha. Anyhow, thank you for you for being amazing!
Thank you for your insights.
Thanks for all the great content ! That's the only thing anyone should say.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills.
You bet my friend!
Great video Charlie well done! :) I always enjoy watching and learn something every time, thanks! #Heart
Thank you! Always great to hear from you my friend!
You crack me up 😂❤
Another great video. Thank you Charlie. Love the tshirt. Made me laugh. Will check out your instragram like you suggested. Your website is very helpful. Be well.
Thanks again my friend!
That shirt though! Haha
😄
Pipers fingering (I'm a bagpipes player) doesn't work for me very well, because the chanter of a bagpipes is really thin and the holes have a very different shape, speed is the key to a bagpipes so, flat fingers is the only way to go, not so much on the flute , also the way bagpipes work has nothing to do with flutes of whatever kind, so I am learning a new fingering, not very hard for a piper indeed, though, the biggest difference is that, pipes have no or little fingering expression, flutes have, it makes all the difference to express the emotion of a piece of music/soul. But trill notes are very natural to me (we call them "grace notes" or "embellishment). The major difficulty I meet, is that my pinky is tryinng to play a hole that doesn't exist:) but I feel confortable with the extra middle hole of my 6th holes flute compared to 5 holes ones, I wouldn't feel so confortable with . So if you are a bagpiper, give the flute a go guys, you'll feel quick at home without the need to spend 2 grand on the instrument. All the pipers I know, (here in Belgium) whatever the kind of pipes they play, love the Natives' flute, why ? Because it is related with our shared soul's Source, Celtic roots or Native American's one, one and the same. Great video. Merci mon Ami
LoL Charlie just keep putting it out there sir great stuff.
Oh and breathe dude lol
Think I stopped to take a breath last Tuesday!
Love the video. Just started to play the NAF. It all makes sence what you say. Is therer a place in The Neherlands where i can buy your flutes?
My website bluebearflutes.com !
@@BlueBearFlutes I understand but buying from the US cost me double the price included the tax 🤗
@ChiTherapie I understand. Unfortunately it is easier for huge companies to bring us cheap imports than for small time artists to offer their works! Maybe that will change in the future, although I believe the future will be more like the movie "hunger games"!
Great insights Charlie, thanks for sharing.
Since you threw it out there, I have a little problem with one of my flutes that you be able to diagnose. I have a western red cedar flute in D4 that I made a while back, and although I love the sound overall, it has a "dead note"....when I lift off the bottom hole for the F it sounds "dead". It's in tune but sounds somewhat muted....kinda reminds me of a "dead" guitar string, still tunes but just isn't "all there", if that makes any sense......any ideas?
Hey my friend, the best thing to do would be to send me a picture of the entire flute - fingerings up - so that I can see the length. It sounds like it may have a minor issue with the length versus placement of the fingerings.
@@BlueBearFlutes Thanks Charlie, I responded to the email but not sure if it went through, I sent the pics through messenger as well just to make sure.
Thanks my friend...any help appreciated!
I have 2 gorgeous flutes, aromatic cedar. The low c seems fine. The f#, to me seems to have a slight "vibration"? Both made by same maker. The f# in question looks slightly different near the ? (Sorry, the open part). Not sure if this affects sound. Would have to show you. It's been bugging me. I emailed the maker but he seemed to to not really get it. Seems part is missing.
Thank you, it's been a while, but I enjoy your videos.
Thanks for watching! Please email me a picture of them through my website. 1 picture of each with the block/totem tied on and 1 with it off. I'm sure it can be fixed!