Native American flute

Man, you’re tackling a big field. With your skill you can handle it. Every year I spend 3 days next to a flute maker. The engineering that goes into it is amazing. My only problem is, his work iis outstanding but he can’t play to save his life. Spend 3 days next to a bad flute player, you’ll understand :-)

-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability

Cool project. Good looking craftsmanship, but the nuances are lost on this poor, tone deaf woodworker.

-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington

Great looking flute Jim. I have this on the “to do” list. A fellow turner has made one and was showing me his router setup last week and is starting on his second flute. I am in Monte’s category,, I can’t play either.

You just keep cranking out the projects. Love the variety that you do. Later.

-- Mike, Missouri --- “A positive life can not happen with a negative mind.” ---

Guys, I can’t play either but this Indian flute maker in Arizona said anyone can learn to play music on a flute. I want to play by ear but I did have to learn about Keys, and sharps and flats,octaves and cents.
I can play taps on this one!! Not too many notes to copy!!

Mike, if you get to building one, see if you can find a copy of flute making by Bill Hayes. He even shows the fixture to hold the flute for routing the 2 chambers using a 7/8” core box bit. I’m going to make one for the 2nd one. He said that he uses a flue depth of .032” and the step for the sound hole should be .016”- half way in the air stream. He shows a 3” slow air chamber in the DVD but he said they are now going to 4” or 4.5” for less turbulence. The method for tuning is different than I though it would be but he says that is the way it is done so I followed it…..........Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!

Nice!

I think you’re calling that Belt Hook a “Bird”...
... sorry… I can’t see a Bird in it…
... looks like a belt hook… a hook to carry it on your person when you’re not fluting… LOL

Taps… That’s a GOOD simple song to play!

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Jim, you have some very nice projects and this is one of them.

helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

You should be able to get to the F# if that’s what you really want but G plays better with guitar and lots of other instruments. Shoot for F# on the next one (once started, you just can’t quit flutes). Amazing grace works real well and “The Rose” by Bette Midler is a really great one too. Keep at it. Your flute looks great! I have two sets of holes on a couple of my early ones too!!! Just gives them character! Keep on routing and tuning!!

-- Dennis, WV

Hi Joe, that little piece with the flat bottom and the chimney is always called the bird, no matter what the shape. I think it something the Indians called them that and it stuck. I made some flat ones with diffrerent shaped chimneys trying to get rid of those overtones but this one seems to be the best performer although not right. I got “taps” down pretty good by ear!!

Hi Dennis, you make me feel a whole lot better with your note!! I will make this a G flute in the next few days.
Good idea with Amazing grace. I can play it slow and keep correcting myself until I hit them all correctly!
I’ll start the next flute in the spring when I get back in the shop…if I don’t get side tracked on something else!!
....................Thanks, Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!

Jim: I’ve made several Flutes, and I play, so when you get out here we can share notes, Ah share notes no pun intended. Anyhow someone told you that anyone can play the flute and they are right, The Native American Flute is as easy as playing a Kazoo. I cannot read or hear notes so I never play the same song twice.

-- Lizardhead---Yeah but it's a dry heat--Tempe, Az

OK, where’s the sound button so we can hear how good your flute sounds. If it sounds as good as it looks, you’ve got a winner.

-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com

WOW that is great Dave. I look forward to seeing you again and now we have more to do!!

Hal. it works but does not sound as good A I’d like!.................Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!

Another great project Jim,

-- Bob C, Australia. I love sharing as long as it is not my tools

It’s a beautiful instrument. Your work is amazing—I think you can make just about anything.

I’ll try to find the book; I play the metal kind of flute and think it would be neat to try to make one in wood.

best regards, Doe

-- Mother Nature talks, I try to listen

Jim, seems to me you nailed the F# like you wanted. You said it played Gflat with all holes closed; ergo, you have it. F sharp IS G flat.
I have a sneaky suspicion you play keyboards by ear and play on the black keys like I do, in the key of F#.
Beautiful job on the flute. (Your bird looks more like a scorpion to me ;) )

Thanks for the post, and have a good’un
Joe

-- rejo55, East Texas If there were no trees, there wouldn't be much wood.

Thanks Bob and Doe!!
Joe, someone else said that too about f# being G flat, but I was trying to hit F# right on with the meter. It was a real heavy F# like about almost +45 cents and G flat was about – 30 cents. I don’t play any instrument but often wished I did. I was going to make the bird look like an eagle with a walnut bottom and a clear sycamore piece on top like an eagle’s head. But I found this beautiful thin piece of spalted beech and that was that! It is like a scorpion’s tail….............Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!