How to Re-Tune a Native American Flute that is out of tune with Charlie Mato-Toyela

Sometimes people may obtain a flute that is not quite in tune or doesn't play. Don't let it discourage you from making the flute play the way you want it to. In this video we will re-tune an out of tune 6 hole flute and make it into a beautiful sounding 5 Hole flute in the key f A. Visit us on the web at www.bluebearflutes.com

[@ronduff4325]

Actually unless I know the maker , I never buy , or trade for a Flute unless I can play it first . Some people buy them because they look pretty . I've played your flutes , I know you make a beautiful playing Flute .

[@stopminecraftviolence5513]

You're basically the Bob Ross of flute making. You have a really relaxing voice.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

+StopMinecraftVIOLENCE Thank you very much. You'd be surprised at how many times I've had someone tell me that :)

[@moncorp1]

Happy little flutes

[@cotus99]

This video covers a lot of important steps and tips on Tuning a Flute EXCELLENT VIDEO. I want to let you know that your videos are still a tremendous help in (2023). I've made 3 different flutes out of 1 bamboo stick "L-M-S" This is my 1st try making my own flutes. Your video(s) is extremely helpful. Thank you Chalie and thank you Jesse.

[@trmwyldshade1482]

Wow! It went from itching powder on my eardrums, to a songbird next to a stream. That's a lot of knowledge. Thank you.

[@coolweirdgreat]

I'd like to thank you for making these videos. Being able to learn the skills to make my own flute from local materials has been a really enriching learning experience which may not have happened without you. Thank you for not being greedy. Although the price of one flute is set being able to learn a new skill is priceless. Thank you.

[@tomboese367]

THIS is the ONE I needed to see. You done good! God bless you well.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

😅 Glad you got some use out of it!

[@enriquecancino7519]

Hi, Tony. I just retuned a bamboo flute I made a while ago using the tips in this video and I'm pleased to report that the flute sounds wonderful. The piece of bamboo I used was floating in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the main island of Hawaii a few years back and after much drying and waiting, I was able to work on it and made the 5 hole flute in the key of low Eminor. Thanks for all your work and the sharing of your knowledge which fits my philosophy of Native American Flute making as I started out making flutes and pan flutes from the Andes mountains (I'm originally from Chile, by the way). Keep up the good work and peace always.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks for watching Eric!

[@mrbrown6421]

Absolutely awesome. Excellent. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! After watching your videos this afternoon, I selected some dry cane and made my 1st flute (never attempted before). It played, but I didn't understand the physics under the block nor how to tune it. Thanks for filling in those gaps. Tomorrow, I'll fix my 1st flute, and make my 2nd. Just excellent in so many ways. Central Florida Mr. Brown 10/28/2018 THANKS FOR THINKING!!!!

[@nvdawahyaify]

I read an old document about flute making and it said that the flutes used to be made to the measurements of the makers body. the distance from the sound hole to the first fingering was the width of the fist, as was the distance from the end of the flute to the last fingering. the fingerings were one thumbs width apart and the whole flute with the mouthpiece was the distance from the tip off the middle finger to the armpit, or the length of the forearm depending on the material used.

[@josephgarduque]

Charlie, tuning a flute is more complex than I thought, Thank you for sharing...I do need to make more time to see and practice what you are teaching

[@E3C6H9]

His videos have helped me a lot, be sure to post your news channel is very good. I'm sure like me here in Brazil by many people around the world are learning from their videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge this is a very important quality God Bless and.

[@rayres8436]

Fantastic, Thanks so much for this and all your videos. I have a flute very similar to the one you are working on. Mine was thank goodness in better shape. I am a Energy healer and medical intuitive. I have tuned it perfectly with your help and use it in my meditations and practice. I plan to build a bird flute soon in an original ancient style. Thanks for the very helpful knowledge.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Roger Ayres Thanks Roger, I am so glad to hear I have been able to help you.

[@kevinski000]

Great video Charlie, I really learned alot. Thanks

[@robertlangley258]

You are a master flute maker, thanks for your videos.

[@clayc124]

Very cool video. A master at work!

[@ROY-COLLEY]

Well that kinda looked real Technical. You had your work cut out there Charlie. But sound a hell of a lot better now. 👍

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

@ 22:02 ref/ Mr. Ross, Bob was someone I know in Spirit. Not some make-believe bullshit phenomenon the mind of men create but the One God, one Spirit who I'll let KZbin ponder. As for you and this video; superb. Details shared with patience are priceless. Merry Christmas

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks! Please be sure to check out some of my other videos!

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

@@BlueBearFlutes See sea, Si Senor Bear of Azure.

[@hartleybanton6058]

thank you for this video it confirms a lot of mysteries these flutes provide.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

+Hartley Banton Thanks for watching!

[@Trauma-Bewusstseinsforschung]

Thank you so much for your great Tips and instructions...it helps me a lot - i love the transparence in the way what you showing :-D

[@BlueBearFlutes]

😉

[@Landotter1]

The wall thickness was so thick that you could undercut the holes without making them bigger. Another thing I made that helped a lot, was I put a slot hole at the end of a dowel and made rag patches, like a gun barrel cleaner and rammed the bore after each hole. The saw dust, as you know makes a huge difference and can throw the tuning way off. it also cleans all burs off the bottom of the holes. It also is good for getting excess oil or finish out of the bore. I dipped my flutes. Your methods are quite different than mine but obviously work for you. Very concise and well done video. Even making and tuning my own flutes, I learned a lot from you, so thanks. Maybe someday, I'll pick flute making back up. I want to make the real deep flutes, bass A and lower. Tooling is a problem with those. Extra long and 2 inch bore.... I have squeezed a bass A from a 1.5 in bore though.... :-D

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Landotter1 Thank you for watching. We can all learn tricks from one another.

[@senchalhatton9690]

Thanks for the highly informative video, it answered a lot of questions I had as a newbie! My experienced sister sent it to me. I'm sure it saved her from a lot of breath she'd rather use to play her own drones, then have to answer a million questions! lol!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

+Senchal Hatton Thanks for watching!

[@Muertexxx123]

Great job

[@alanrock2656]

AWESOME THANKS SO MUCH

[@CathyJohnson]

Wow, after watching that I'm not sure I want a tuner after all! :) Good thing I'm not going to be a professional flutemaker...I'm just making things for my own pleasure. I did learn some great tips, though, and thank you!

[@larryshortridge5094]

Man, that's good work.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks! Be sure to watch, share and like my other videos!

[@agoogleuser3787]

Glad I watched this. 16:20 - I have seen this on other patterns in my research, brother. I am not sure where it comes from, but thank you for explaining this, as I was wondering about it. Maybe that is where it is coming from? But I am really picky on sound so I binge watch stuff like this. And research a lot. This was helpful. I will now dig into it a bit more. Let you know what I find.

[@anuwitaksornariyanon5021]

Good. Thank you

[@Sp1S]

Nice work man 🙂

[@surogading9940]

Thank you 👍🙏🙏

[@garyjordan3181]

Great videos I tried my hand at making flutes and got discouraged because they came out too raspy sounding🥺 now I see that if I burn the holes in that would fix alot of the problems. Great stuff will be watching all of your videos. And I will get back into flutes again. Thank you

[@garyjordan3181]

Oh by the way I am on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation Hoopa CA. Way up North close to the Oregon board.

[@dianeknox6049]

❤ good man, respect

[@BlueBearFlutes]

🙏🏼🙂🙏🏼

[@michaelfox73]

Hey there Charlie, I have a question somewhat related to the topic discussed here in your video. Is it easier to retune a flute tuned to 432 to a 440, or is it easier the other way around? Boring a hole bigger would seem easier I would think. I have a couple of flutes that are not tuned to 440 and would like them to be, which is why I'm asking :)

[@alexmonterom9910]

ATENTO SALUDO. Primero felicitarte por tan importante LABOR que haces, lo digo labor porque se nota mucho que gusta este ARTE y lo llevas en la sangre,. comedidamente Nos gustaría saber, lo digo en pluraL porquE se que a muchos nos gustaría que tu nos ofrecieras un video explicando LAS MEDIDAS EXACTAS para hacer una fluta nativa: lagor, grosor de la camara interna, del calibre de la pared del tubo, de la distancia entre el pito y cada uno de los diferentes orificios para los tonos, etc. Seria muy genial. Muchisimas gracias por tu atención y contesta a esta inquietud

[@BlueBearFlutes]

¡Hola, gracias por mi mensaje, amigo mío! ¡Tengo varios videos sobre las medidas exactas para los diferentes tipos de flautas y pronto publicaré más videos similares en español, alemán y portugués! ¡Gracias por mirar y por favor manténgase en contacto!

[@jannepotter509]

Do you have a video on how to use metal nests on the track? I will check for the hole burning tools.

[@MarkMaysey]

Very interesting Charlie, I'm really enjoying your video's and especially this one. If you don't mind me asking what is the degree of your TSH ramp and what is your typical thickness edge on the TSH edge? I really appreciate you sharing Charlie and keep up the great work. Mark

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Video coming soon. Be sure to subscribe!

[@RefillYourSoul]

Bro you are a master flutes :-)

[@ronduff4325]

We don't make mistakes , just happy little accidents . Bob Ross . I watch a lot of Bob !

[@revuaf]

Really great video Charlie... I like how there are so many whys to get the voice back to a flute. Going from a flute that would hardly play, to one that is turned right in... NICE work! All I can say is the flute sounds amazing.... The only problem is... Which one do I play now... Blue Bears Cider Fulte... or the Cider Flute repaired by Blue Bear?

[@gabrielkovac2854]

hello i want to ask fetna lazeni G.D E is to keep all if the fletna 6 hole.aje proper wood soft not hard not differ then the sound fletny thank you Gabriel ČR Kutna Hora

[@robintownsend3736]

Hi. I’m making my first Quena flute out of dry back yard bamboo. I haven’t put the finger holes in yet. It sounds nice. +/- key of G. The problem is that when I get the higher octave it’s about 3/4 sharp. I don’t know how I should deal with this. The bamboo is almost strait inside and out but not perfectly. If anyone can shed some light 🤙✌️✅🫠👌

[@nvdawahyaify]

Hi Charlie. I want to say that I love you're videos. I want to say though that your statement about the distance between the bottom of the flute and bottom sound hole being shorter traditionally than the top hole to sound hole and that the sixth hole being higher are slightly off. The sixth hole is used in the common position by the lakota. As is the equidistant spacing on top and bottom of the flute. I mean no disrespect. I am simply trying to share my knowledge with you like you share yours with all of us. Thank you for your time experience and kindness.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Mike Daniels Hike, thanks for your kind words and know that your input is appreciated. I will be sharing some information on an upcoming video on making a traditional 6 hole flute (as well as 4 hole flute) that may shed some light on my opinion. I realize that I am going against the general consensus and will appreciate your revisiting and comments once you see the video. It will be a couple weeks from now. Thanks again for watching!

[@kenwolf6845]

I have spent countless hours redoing a cane flute and not one note has issued.. I promised myself that the first time I got a note I would dance in the rain while playing it..lol I had great success with a P.V.C...one though can diameter make a difference ty

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Analytics also matter! Subscriber no.34,002.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Superb! Muchos Gracias!

[@sriyantra1939]

Make a video on flute for Indian classical musicians with all dimensions...

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Indians from India or Native American Indians? And also, including alternate dimensions too? 😀

[@DIYAtoZ]

Nice vid... Well I just Made Two Native American flute from Bamboo And Pvc Pipe I hope you like it Thanks

[@nickkenning7277]

Hi Charlie, another great video... When are you going to be showing us how to make the flute that plays the introduction music???? You may remember I asked before?? You're a great inspiration my friend, carry on what you're doing.. :-)

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Nick Kenning Hi Nick, Thanks for your comment. I have a laundry list of videos that we are working on. I haven't been able to post anything as of late because my wife and I were in a bad car accident that put us behind on a lot of things. Keep watching and you'll see that flute eventually. I may even bump it up on the list.

[@nickkenning7277]

Hi Charlie, Sorry to hear you were involved in an accident. I hope you both are ok. Sending healing to you both....

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks Nick. We're trying to catch up on orders and find time to make more videos.

[@jean-nicolaspoulin859]

Hi ! I'm fairly new to the whole Native American Flute…. Well to the Flute thing in general but i was wondering … Being a stringed instrument player and knowing that i need to retune my instruments regularly i couldn't help but to ask myself, once tuned, do the flutes stay tuned forever and a half or do you need to eventually correct the tuning through some alternate procedure ? As i suppose you cannot just burn/tune every time. I know that on traverse flute there is a moveable piece used for tuning but on a Native American Flute ? Again this is from a strings guy trying to figure things out…. Thanks ! Oh and yeah ! i'll build my own flute really soon ! just have a few more videos to watch ...and maybe a book to buy !

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hey that's a great question! Just like the silver flute, Native American flutes only tend to go out of tune in different temperatures. For this reason, they actually will go back into tune when they arrive in the mean temperature near there original creation. Unlike a stringed instrument, the flute does not have anything inside which flexes giving way to stretching and therefore will generally be in tune at the same temperature for most of their life. Where say for example a guitar string will stretch while playing and cause it to go out of tune.

[@jean-nicolaspoulin859]

@@BlueBearFlutes Alright ! Thank you for the quick answer! It makes me realize that there are a lot of small areas of specific knowledge and tiny details which makes or breaks a fine flute. Thanks again ! I'll probably harass you further when i get started in flute making ! -Regards -Jean-Nicolas Poulin

[@danielbishop7287]

Can I send my flute to you to be tune?

[@agoogleuser3787]

Unbenkown to most, the smidgeon is measured with a thingamajigger, then calibrated to precision with the whosiewhatsit. Don't tell all our secrets, yeah?

[@cuppy3874]

Bob Ross worked in the military, he ranked at Master Sargent for the air force. I don't know what made him so zen but I'm guessing that had something to do with it

[@BlueBearFlutes]

In that case are all master sargents so zen? I'm thinking that it was something inside of him.

[@cuppy3874]

@@BlueBearFlutes Actually i meant more like the military in general, sorry i should have worded that a bit better. I thought he vowed to never yell again but that may not be true. And yeah i agree i think it was an individual choice to become so peaceful.

[@PyroManiacJohnny]

Have that same exact tuner

[@davemartelli2398]

me too! lol

[@deborahlevey8527]

Native American flute ,I have air coming out from the top where u said the air should be going down.n my bottom of my flute is longer than the front ,by a good inch.what can I do?cut off a 1/4 of n inch from the bottom?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hey Deborah, thanks for watching! Please go on my website and contact me through there. I need a picture of the track as well as the full length of the flute and I'm sure I can help!

[@tonyhedgewolf]

I'm wondering how many Smidgens are in a Tad...

[@BlueBearFlutes]

(4 - I think) 😉

[@jannepotter509]

Instead of raising the far edge could you lower the track edge?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

All of that is definitely possible! 🙂 I wanted to let you know that I will be updating my website to include the other burning tools we talked about this evening. Thanks for your patience and for watching all of our videos!

[@GEWelch]

I would like to tune it to the lowest key possible.

[@taylorrobinson3159]

Anyone ever tell you, you sound like Greg Braden. Like a lot alike it’s uncanny

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Actually no they haven't. The fact that you say "uncanny" suggest that I should have watched more than 30 seconds of his video to see if it was the tone of his voice that you were speaking of or his philosophy. Being a musician, the tone is the first thing I think of however obviously not what you're talking about. In saying that, I hope that you like Greg Braden. If he's the only philosopher or enlightened person you have ever listened to, I'll tell you something that I know he would agree with, listen to some others, too. Thanks for watching my video.

[@citizen7dseven859]

Are you taking in flutes that need fine tuning? 😊

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I have in the past. Please contact me through my website so that I can see if it's something I have time for.

[@Tide12NC]

Bet PW is burned on the bottom. Looks very close to mine that I'm trying to learn to retune.

[@rosebarrette6292]

I have 3 flutes that don't play right. Where can I send them to be re-tuned?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Please send me a message via my website www.bluebearflutes.com and I can give you a mailing address.

[@divinelivity1111]

Greetings. Do you ship flute to Jamaica?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Absolutely!

[@divinelivity1111]

@@BlueBearFlutes oh yeah kool. I'm thinking of getting a 432h frequency flute. Custom-made

[@lyndonreddick1888]

I have this flute from a person near Torrey Utah, and I cant seem to get it to hit the notes in a songbook I got. Pissed off, as what's the point if you can't play them, songs that is? If I can't fix the thing may have to send it in. this is an interesting vid, though.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks for watching Lyndon. I'm sure that it's repairable. Also, the flute maybe made to play differently than the song book. Last year I was asked to do a repair job on the first major toned antique Native American flute I have ever seen made. It was definitely not made to play the minor pentatonic scale. If you can, feel free to email me a picture of the flute as I may be able to recognize its type.

[@lyndonreddick1888]

OK Charlie, will do. It was made by Vance Morril at the Flute Shop in Teasdale UT just south of Torrey, I wouldn't say they are very custom made, I don't have it with me now to compare to what you pointed out in the vid- Top hole being further from end than bottom hole, etc. thanks

[@mahantsubhashgoswami2506]

what is price of each Flute and how we can get them .I am interested in buying Flutes

[@BlueBearFlutes]

The prices are listed on my website bluebearflutes.com. The best way to get them is simply add them to cart and checkout at which time they will go through our usual shipping times and procedures. If you have any other questions feel free to message me through my website.

[@sherrylkeith9695]

The project like this step by step is described on the Stodoys website and many more plans you can find on that website.

[@user-lv9qc1jh8n]

Как бы я хотел знать перевод , этого мастера . Вернее перевод на всё его работы . Но у вы , языком не владею .

[@stalinsilva9619]

hello greetings I am from Ecuador you can help me what should be the length that should be the first camera and what the internal diameter thanks

[@naturewhisperer5272]

i wanna make one hand made cause i have no machine O:

[@BlueBearFlutes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/laeZkqScl8efqac

[@wolflahti412]

A smidgen is not a unit of length but rather of volume, equal to  1/32 teaspoon (1/256 fluid ounce). Seriously.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

What I meant was a 28th part of a cubit, not quite 3 barley corns ;)

[@Koloherides]

440 is my wife 432 is my dog

[@kenwolf6845]

How can I send a photo of my attempt at flute making please

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Send me a message on my website www.bluebearflutes.com and you can then send a photo once you receive a reply, or you can meaasge me on FB at facebook.com/bluebearflutes/

[@cybersean3000]

Bob Ross was an Air Force veteran.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

And so much more.

[@robkelch3259]

d0 y0u think Neil young w0uld care if it were in tune

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Yes. But a Southern Man doesn't need him around anyhow!

[@jm6873]

It didn’t work 😡😡😡

[@robkelch3259]

if u make a flute cheat use electric t99ls u bet

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I don't just make one, I have made millions!

[@robkelch3259]

indians didnt make flutes aliens did

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Aliens made your maternal entity!

[@JungJingymay2010]

You need show what you do. Not “talk” what you do. You talk to yourself and talk too much. You talk. The video. You need “show”.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new. ~Dalai Lama

[@Tamaquashad]

Seriously? If you listened you would hear some information you wouldn’t get without the talking. And he’s taking the time to actually make a video and educate YOU. Make your own videos if you don’t like his format. Straight up disrespectful.