Blue Bear Flutes - How Long Should the Track or Air Chamber Be When Making a Native American Flute?

[@jeannemyers489]

Thank you for the continued education about our flutes Charlie. It helps us novice flute owners better understand the function of our flutes. It can help make us better players too! 🎵

[@peterpeersman4931]

so wonderful the way you play

[@BlueBearFlutes]

🙏😊🙏

[@wade4452]

Thank you as always. Blessings

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@wade4452 You're welcome! Thank you for watching! Keep an eye out for the next video, it's going to be amazing!

[@craftinganewworld1674]

I use orange beez wax polish on my flute tracks. I put a dab on and set the flute in front of a heater until the wax has melted in the bamboo. After it's melted, I use a bamboo tool that's fire hard, and very smooth to pressure polish the track. Gives me a really smooth track. 🙏 Your videos are very helpful, and I appreciate you sharring. ☀️🌟

[@independentmind1977]

Thanks Charlie for sending me this way from Reddit. This is a great companion to the book

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Ironically my friend, the videos came first before the book! Of course we have made so many videos since then but it is what inspired it's writing. Thanks so much for checking us out!

[@deborahlevey8527]

Hey Blue Bear Flute ,it's me again , Debbie do ,I made some flutes out of bamboo like you showed us .fixing to buy a lathe machine n table top saw.hoping I can learn step by step how to make a American native flutes ,with your help ,I know I can do it....❤

[@idontlikeit.7822]

The best advice ever….just play the flute….long ago and far,far away the Scotsman that taught me blacksmithing would say, don’t be a chicken, Hit it!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@idontlikeit.7822 🙏🏼😄🙏🏼 Great Advice!

[@naiman4535]

Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience in flute making with us, Charlie! As a flute maker myself, I can definitely say that the Slow Air Chamber is the most controversial part of the Native Flute. Some say that it enhances or makes special breath effects on the NASF possible, but I feel that this could be due mainly to the wide bore diameter in relation to the air column length. As for the length of the track or flue, I used to make my tracks longer, but now I make them shorter because I feel that the shorter the track, the less of a chance there is for turbulence to creep into the air stream - but maybe burning the track in is the best way to solve that problem, regardless of the track length. The air that passes down the track or flue has often been called a laminar air stream, and because it is a single, solid flow of air, it seems like the narrower that you make the track or flue, the deeper you can make it; conversely, the wider the track or flue, the shallower that it has to be made. Heck - there are so many complexities involved in making the whole sound production mechanism that many flute makers feel, myself included, that once you hit on something that works for you, by all means, stick with it, and don't change or modify it unless you really have to.

[@ColeMu]

I did binge a good deal of your videos and managed to make a flute out of the bamboo growing in my yard after 4 tries. Sadly it chose to keep splitting so my quest continues in making them. But thank you for all of this information.

[@ChrisLeeW00]

I have had similar trouble with bamboo harvested fresh. I have heard from other makers that the bamboo should be seasoned, either by allowing it to dry on a shelf for a few months, by running it over a fire or torch until it lightly browns, or doing both before removing any of the inner nodes and turning it into a flute. Cutting holes while its still green seems to be a gamble with wood and bamboo from what I’ve seen.

[@josephnebeker7976]

Sometimes the most informative video for people who think everything matters is to say, "Not everything matters"!

[@agoogleuser3787]

Cool new video!!

[@simonbar7665]

Big like

[@paulsolovyov2403]

Wow this is the best flute KZbin channel. so far the most detailed and elaborate explanation and analysis thank you you've made my day. There is one thing what if we make the track in a triangular form so that the entering point is two or even three times wider than the regular sized exit point to increase it's volume (in the proper meaning) so there's more air contained and processed entering the wide entrance and then being pressurized when it comes out the narrow point. Of course in this case the track length should be bigger. perhaps it might compress the sound make it more stable or sharper... I have to try it right now) have to go thank you

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Your idea is similar to what I do on a daily basis however my triangle is in a different direction. I advised you to try it and see what happens! 🙂 Thanks so much for watching! (M😉)

[@sethwinegar]

Thanks for the video Charley, I finally feel at peace with understanding the air chamber. Darn thing made me not rest at night with all the confusing information out there.

[@larryshortridge5094]

Very valuable information, thank you.

[@mikegillihan9944]

Great video, thanks! I love what you’ve done with the Googol flute. I can’t imagine streamlining your process to the point that you can sell an item of that quality at that price point, that must have taken a lot of work. Amazing.

[@imadharrouk3766]

Thank you again and again!!

[@americanpatriot2979]

Thanks Charlie. A'HO

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks for watching my friend! Please be sure to check out our other videos! And more to come!

[@johnmartin9090]

I've made the pvc flute with your great information and instructions. Can't wait to create a bamboo flute in the near future. I have beautiful and large bamboo on my land.

[@reiki11]

Charlie! Thank you for your explanation of airflow. Love my Googol!

[@radagastjones9339]

Thank you so much for continuing to share your knowledge about these wonderful instruments. I've been a student of yours for many years, but about 5 years ago I took a path that led me to building cigar box guitars, ukuleles, even violins and dulcimers. I needed this short reminder in order to start making flutes again. I have missed the joy the flutes brought, not just to me, but others as well. I am very grateful for the gifts you have shared with us all, Charlie.

[@nelsonpalmer4831]

Thank you once more for clarity

[@elkbud9572]

Thanks from France 🙏👍

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Merci mon ami! N'oubliez pas de regarder mes autres vidéos !

[@harleyv1969]

Charlie I have watched quite a few of your videos, (you have a lot) and I followed your instructions in every aspect that I could. The flute turned out fantastic sounding and pretty cool looking, even, but what I really learned is that if you make the bore bigger and out of round on purpose just to see what happens then the hole pattern is now a 'your on your own' from here out situation. The super glue and sawdust is very handy, works better and easier than I thought it would. It saved my flute and I learned a lot by just going for it. Tremendous satisfaction in the end result 👍thanks for all your videos you make, God bless!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hey my friend, thanks again for your kind words! Coincidentally I do have a video on what to do if you change the size of the inside of the flute and how it affects your hole pattern. Its title is something like how to change a pattern to fit your flute. If you can't find it, email me. 😄

[@harleyv1969]

@@BlueBearFlutes excellent! I'm going to find it 👌😁

[@AlvinHanson1708]

Cool

[@duaneroberts8753]

Thank you for this video Charlie, you've answered a very important question.....yeha noha....

[@BlueBearFlutes]

You're welcome my friend! Of course the question may be there however don't get hung up on it. The reason I didn't make this video for such a long time is because it is not a super important part of the process.

[@tomcartmill401]

Charlie: That makes sense and feels right. 😁

[@royboggs3849]

Thnx Charlie! You’ve been extremely helpful! 👏👏👍👍👌👌👌👌

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you so much my friend!

[@mattbe2337]

Hi Charlie. Thank you so much for excellent information in this and all of your videos I have watched. I received your book on making flutes at the beginning of January and am loving the process of making an instrument I am teaching myself to play. Thank you and Jessie for your excellent tutorials.

[@TheBottegaChannel]

I always heard of the slow air chamber called the back pressure chamber and had it explained to me as " it functions similar to how the air bladder of a bagpipe works, allowing for a steady play session.", but that's only from info gleaned off of online research. That said, amazing video. I'll have to remember the info for my next prototype.

[@artemi-music]

thanks a lot for this video, it was interesting to know about your experience.

[@chicodecoster]

Thanks 🙏 for sharing my Brother.

[@ajtaranto1989]

I was driving by a cucumber field the other day and right in the midst of the field there was a Nun doing squats. Had to take a double take, I have never in my life seen something so suspect, have you? That silly enough for ya :) Thank you Charlie for signing the book I bought from you, Ive made many times the cost of that book with the knowledge I gained from it.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

😅🤣😂

[@AlvinHanson1708]

I read pine is the best wood material that doesn't warp like oak or cedar.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I would not necessarily say that Pine does not warp or that cedar does. Honestly often times it has to do with where the knot holes are.

[@francescop5767]

thank you Charlie..you are the best

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you my friend for watching!

[@Tamaquashad]

Hi Charlie, First thanks for everything I’ve made a ton of flutes since first emailing you a few years back, I’ve also been the only flute player for my tribe and you have been a massive help. I’ve been a lurker on many flute forums and such and never actively involved, but I seem to always come back to your videos and teachings as they seem the most traditional/logical in my eyes. Anyway, what is your opinion on some of the opinions about traditional flutes being tuned Diatonically, I’ve seen some posts of people claiming they’ve visited museums and found old flutes with diatonic tuning and would love to hear your thoughts!

[@ChrisLeeW00]

A resource I found online is in flutopedia, search “Map of Native American Flute Tunings” (I would post a link but I’m not sure KZbin allows it). This page has a chart of different tunings both historical and modern. Hope that helps!

[@ArminHirmer]

very interesting, as usual

[@kentalaga8450]

Excellent topic Charlie! When I began my flute making journey I often postulated about the importance of the slow air chamber and if it's needed at all. Other flute makers I've talked with, about my skepticism the SAC, told me that it is necessary for the flute sound quality and the dimensions of their idea of the perfect and necessary SAC. I've experimented with different lengths and widths of the SAC and I didn't notice any dramatic change(s) in the sound quality of the flute. I've made flutes with the embouchure/mouthpiece being the SAC or vice versa, again of various lengths and diameters and they play and sound pretty darned good. I guess it all comes down to what works for the individual flute maker and making flutes that play easily and sound pleasant to the ear.

[@RickyD1968]

Awesome Video !!!

[@bread-ih9lm]

Slow air chamber seems like it would have advantages to circular breathing. Flutes and recorders are a bit harder to do the technique with. Aside from that it probably would make your air usage more balanced and go further.

[@weswalker1208]

Thank you for everything you do

[@Chrisamic]

The term you are looking for in respect to what the track is supposed to do is "linear flow". It won't matter how long the track is, providing it is long, smooth and straight enough to ensure linear airflow when it his the labium. It is the linear flow speeding up as it breaks into turbulent flow when it hits the labium that creates the tone. I've been working on one inch for my Irish whistles, but that is just an arbitrary figure that gets the job done so I can concentrate on the more difficult questions...

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I guess it goes to show, even after making over a million flutes, there is still something new to learn. I'm just wondering if there is like a club or group or something where people think up these new ways to describe the simplicity of a historical musical instrument!

[@Chrisamic]

@@BlueBearFlutes Yes, the club is called Physics. Physics can't make a better sounding flute or whistle but it's great for understanding how a flute works, and communicating the basic bits like how the sound is created or understanding why we do things the way we do. It's the understanding that can lead to a better flute, whether it comes from decades of experience or a physics book. Another way to think about it is that the same physics can describes any similar instrument whether it be a flute, a pipe, a whistle or an ocarina. They are all the same even if they have different shapes and in most cases different tuning and pitches.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@Chrisamic @Chrisamic You'll have to forgive me as I was speaking of the clubs with which I belong. Unfortunately there are few if any members. Two of these such clubs are called "logic" and "language." I will admit that the language club has a vote up at present to change the name to "communications" however I haven't voted quite yet. In any case, I may have mentioned something in my last comment with regards to "millions of flutes". You're completely correct in that I have met numerous people over the years who have used the language of physics to design flutes though they have failed miserably. Myself, without using this language at all (physics), have created a great many flutes as well as a life around said creation of such flutes. I have used these skills to teach millions of people around the world to do the same. I do have a question for you to pros at your next club meeting however, is any of this even possible - that which I have described to you - without a membership in your club? It could be perhaps that this particular club that I have created doesn't discluded or discourage those who don't speak your language? Just a thought. 😁 *also a little extra note... if physics can't make a better flute, please remind me of the reason to use this language at all if not for the sole purpose of the disclusion of new members?

[@Chrisamic]

@@BlueBearFlutes Ha, we belong to the same club, just different branches. Science is logic in as much as I don't believe anything without proof. Common sense also dictates that science doesn't know much about music, or the spiritual connection we have with it. A computer can design a flute but at best it will be just a flute shaped object. It's the artist that turns a flute design into a musical instrument for a different type of artist to play.

[@williamjohnson476]

Another excellent video :) I would love to see your approach to making a rim-blown type flute and a transverse flute (like the wooden ancestor of the silver flute, fife maybe?). I am running into more references and depictions of these types of Indigenous Flutes.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hey my friend, sorry I made you wait all this time for that video! 😁 I have been promising myself I would get to it ASAP and so I will. As you probably already know it's much harder to play those types of flutes than it is to make them!

[@williamjohnson476]

​@@BlueBearFlutes Haha, what's years in the grand scheme of spirit? Glad you're still givin'er Charlie and look forward to experiencing the right time for the video to come out :)

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@williamjohnson476 I hope you're doing well my friend and always look forward to hearing from you!

[@wildernesboy]

Alright Charlie, How about showing us how you make your acorn,turtle, snake ocarinas?

[@aetheralmeowstic2392]

You know, one thing I was wondering is if it'd be possible to develop a version of the Native American flute with a full Boehm key system.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

You certainly could! I have made just about one of everything! The only reason I don't offer everything is simply because I like to stick with original!

[@jerrycandelaria8845]

Hey Charlie I actually have two questions I wanted to make my own out of whatever piece of wood but I noticed does the sound hole or shaft tube have to be larger if you have a larger girth pipe my second question is I noticed on the sound block is it better to cut into the sound block to make the groove or to cut into the pipe to make the groove between the air hole in the sound hole or experiment between both

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I believe this video may answer both of them. Let me know! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZzOXoSQe5Kjj68

[@nicolautuleise]

Hi Charlie, First of all I'd like to thank you for all the videos and all the input about making Native American flutes, without you I would not be where I am now as a flutemaker. I have an issue for which I only find very few ressources online and I was wondering if you can help and/or make a video about: my workshop is in the cellar and now (being in winter in Germany) it is quite cold there (around 10 degrees Celsius): How do you tune a flute at this temperature so it is in tune at room temperature? Is there some kind of formula? One thing I found on your facebook group is that the tuning varies by 3 cent for every 2 °F (being around 1 °C) of difference. So in my case 10 degrees colder = -30 ct? Is that correct? Quite a long comment now 😅. Thanks for your help!

[@juliocesarechevarria8008]

amigo podría poner los subtítulo en español gracias desde Argentina

[@user-fc1nq1je9x]

Please explain what's inside the flute as far as under the track and how should the blow hole end be ?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I briefly explain what it is in a river cane flute here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h364iGVnn6eAjsksi=GtgA-zcnDKqsMUkX And you can see it in a wooden flute here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5SbfGOkmreCeJo

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I believe I've used the word "partition" in about 90% of my videos, however the word is sanemos with "plug", "blockage", a "stop" or "restriction".

[@RidgeRunner5-]

Hello Charlie, hope you and yours are doing well. Question, can the sharp edge of the sound hole be too sharp?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

No however if you are getting jumping octave and other signs that it is too crisp, very lightly bevel the edge of the track as it goes into the sound hole. I do have a video on this. Please email me and let me know how it works for you.

[@adolfharleydavidson4544]

Thank you very much, and could you tell us the measurement of the last hole up to the inner tube (sorry, I have translated it with google) I try to make one of your flutes but they don't work for me, I don't know if it will be when translating into centimeters

[@alexdenton6586]

Does the contact form on your website work?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Absolutely! I just tested it myself. If you contact me through it, usually I reply within 24 to 48 hours. In other words, if you message me on the 29th, I will likely message you back by the 31st.

[@RucoMedia]

Can't the track be sealed with beeswax preparation?

[@_.-GRATEPHIL_.-]

✨🙏✨🎵🌳🎶=😁

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Lovely my friend