How to Play Native American Flute Songs

Native Americans also created a variety of other folk art items, including headdresses, pottery and jewelry.

Many cultures throughout history have used music as a form of expression and for ceremonies. Native Americans used a variety of instruments including drums, vocal chants and also flutes to help pray to their gods when they were low on food or experiencing a drought. Though the playing of Native American flutes is rare, there are still a variety of resources you can use to help learn how to play a Native American flute song.

Things You'll Need

• Native American flute
• Native American flute tabs
• Access to Native American flute mp3s/songs

Instructions

1. Find a Native American flute tab. Tabs are musical documents that instruct you on how to play an instrument. Tabs are used for guitars, drums and a variety of other instruments. In the Resources section, there is a link to a website that has Native American flute tabs.

2. Select a song and find an mp3 version of the song, or choose a song from the tab list and then find a recording of the song in an mp3 version or on a website. In the Resources section, there is a link to a website that you can use to listen to Native American flute songs. Use this link to find an mp3 version of the song you selected from the tabs.

3. Use the tabs and the mp3 to learn the song. Native American flute tabs are read from left to right and display the holes of the flute in columns. The blackened holes designate the holes you need to cover with your fingers. Adjust your finger placement for each section of the tab, then listen to the song to figure out the tempo and how long you should play each section.

4. Practice. Once you have used the tab and the mp3 to map out how you need to play the song, practice the song until you do not need to look at the tab or listen to the mp3 to play it.

References

• GC Flutes: Easy Breeze
• GC Flutes: Flute History

Resources

• GC Flutes: Sheet Music
• Flute Tree: Native American Songbook