How to Play the Indian Flute

The American Indian flute produces a spiritual sound that is positive and uplifting. With just a few tips and a little practice, you can learn to play the Indian flute and enjoy the warm, comforting tones and peaceful atmosphere this beautiful instrument creates.

Things You'll Need

• American Indian flute American Indian flue fingering chart Simple sheet music (optional)

Instructions

1. Get to know your American Indian flute. They come in come in five- and six-hole varieties. The flutes are the same except for the addition of another note. American Indian flutes are typically keyed in C. Native American Indian flutes can also be keyed in D,E, A and F#.

2. Learn the notes your American Indian flute will produce. You can purchase a fingering chart from your local music store or view one online (see resources).

3. Practice blowing the notes in consecutive order, starting with the first hole and working your way to the sixth, then back again. This will produce a minor pentatonic scale. Much of the American Indian flute playing relies heavily on this scale. Playing these notes in this way will produce the familiar American Indian flute musical passages we're all familiar with.

4. 

   Learn to read Indian flute fingering charts. They are diagram based. A dark circle indicates a hole is covered with a finger when played, a white circle indicates a hole is played open, and a half- or quarter-shaded hole indicates to play a particular note with a half or quarter of the hole covered, respectively.

5. Practice trilling. This is the act of rapidly covering and uncovering a hole to produce a rapid fluttering sound between the open and closed note. This technique is intrinsic to the American Indian flute playing style.

6. A small O at the mouth of the Indian flute diagram indicates to overblow the note. Essentially, this means to blow the note harder. This is another key factor in the playing style of an Indian flute. Practice doing this to achieve the right effect. It isn't as easy as it seems. If you blow too softly you will not move the Indian flute to the next register, but if you do it too hard, you will cause your Indian flute to squeak.

7. Have fun with your Indian flute. Be experimental. Take it into a stairwell or a small room with good acoustics. The echo of the Indian flute in those places combined with the playing techniques you've learned here will produce an authentic American Indian flute sound that will lift your spirits and enchant anyone listening to you play.

Resources

• Traditional American Indian Flutes
• Walking Spirit American Indian Flute Chart