Native American Flute Making Q&A

[@cirosoares713]

You are the best teacher, i am righthing from Brazil. Thanks for your videos 👍

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Obrigado, meu amigo!

[@jeremyyork5562]

My second and third flute was not good also. I'm under a dozen and only have used bamboo and river cane. I enjoy the moment I first get sound out of it! I've meditated to its music, using the magic mushroom and I have to say, it relayed a wisdom to me that changed my life forever! Now the background music of eternity, IS the native american flute! .. And thanks for your videos on how to make and play flutes!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Excellent Jeremy! Thanks so much for watching!

[@UnifedCreation369]

Wonderful

[@voicelesspainting5189]

Always look forward to absorbing your knowledge, I get anxious watching your videos as it draws me into the work shop. I have never found anything more delightful than making wood sing. Is it ok that I talk to my flutes during construction? Lol. Your appreciated in sharing such sacred secrets.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you for your kind words my friend! They ring like a cathedral bell at midnight. Whether it is one or many listening, the sound is quite appreciated.

[@stevetallant5293]

Thanks Charlie, I have made around 100 flutes from many different materials. Most of the instruction I have had comes from you. Thanks so much. You addressed several things in thos vidio that have given me place to address more carefully in order to achieve the voice I strive for. Thanks again. I am learning to study what I did right and replicate that.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you my friend! I am honored. 🙂

[@wclugston]

Great video Charlie! You are a wealth of flute knowledge!

[@omiddoust5391]

Tankyou so mutch for all your video :) i have now started to make native flute and get good sound 🙏

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Wonderful my friend! Be sure to check out some of my other videos!

[@omiddoust5391]

@@BlueBearFlutes I am watching your other videos and want buying some flutes from you because your energy appeals to me and your genuineness that what you are doing and spreading your knowledge and wisdom about native flutes. Tankyou

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@omiddoust5391 Thank you my friend! It takes one to know one! 😀

[@oimate4201]

Thanks for another informative and interesting video. I’ll have to look to see if you have a two hole video up. That looks so neat and I imagine it would require one to really focus in on technique.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Yeah, probably another video I need to make! 😄

[@chicodecoster]

Another great video. Looking forward to seeing how to make a two hole flute. Thanks for sharing my Brother.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Coming soon!

[@tagladyify]

I made my first flute from PVC I had here, recently, and it sounded pretty good to me, but then I read about PVC being carcinogenic and didn’t feel right using it. I made one after that out of 3/4” ID hard copper pipe I had on hand. It sounds pretty good, but not consistently. It’s hard to make the channel. I made the first finger holes with a 1/8 bit. I used your pattern from the historic B flute on one of your videos. I really like the sound and size of that one. They came out very nice, but when I tried to enlarge them for proper sound the bit must have been on the dull side and they didn’t come out as consistently round. I am still tweaking it. I worked on it a bit while watching this video and it seemed to improve. The sound is pretty to me I just need to get it consistent and learn to play. Lol. I hope to try a wood one from the trees in my yard when the weather breaks. Maybe from one of our mulberry trees or the elm. I think native people used what they had on hand and what they could get to work well. Thanks for sharing your info.

[@michelnagumaqmorton]

To me when I hear you say Blue bear flutes , it sounds like your saying blueberry flutes :o)

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Being chronically multilingual, you'd be surprised at how many things I hear strange like that as well!

[@lwindy]

Charlie, thank you for an informative video. I just ordered your burning rod and am waiting for it to come. I have a small collection of half made flutes on my bench laden with numerous mistakes. Track made to long, and to shallow, sound hole to large and then filled with epoxy, poor routing because I could not find a 7/8 cove bit, finger holes made to large, and confusion between 4040 and 432 hz, slow air chamber to long, one flute with a plug I gulped in and another with slow chamber routed. I found your video supportive and am ready to fix, improve, and continue to learn each mistake has become a lesson that improves my questions on how to improve. Until the process reaches my hands it is only and idea, that has not canonized into behavior. I have been looking at many KZbin video for info and find that I end up returning to yours. My questions today are plug verse route the slow air chamber? If I have over burned the sound holes should I plug them, or can I seek a different key? What are your thoughts on a drilled bore vs routed and glued? What state to you live in. I live in NY. Go well Black Peace Eagle- Larry Winters

[@marciacunningham5877]

Have you ever used Red Wood? It's not difficult to glue as I've heard. Just rough the joint and wipe it with acetone. Then use good ole Tight Bond. Michael

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Redwood like Sequoyahs, yeah most western cedar depends from them. That's our regular wood for flutes.

[@drewdunn9317]

Hey Charlie another question for ya! What brand super glue do you use? Been trying to fill cracks in my elderberry lengths with wood glue and it's just not doing the trick. Thank you for being such a well of knowledge! Oh and my flute makers kit just got here! 👍

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I've been using Permatex until recently when I switched to Star. Both work well. Thanks so much for your kind words!

[@annaanisa7388]

What??!! I cannot believe how many notes were played on that two-holed flute!!! Do you sell those in your shop?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hopefully soon!

[@tomcartmill401]

Charlie, I have so much trouble doing inlays. Thank you for your insight. (new subject) I have the same thought when I ask for perfection, am I trying to be too perfect? Tom

[@BlueBearFlutes]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Agui007]

Hi Charlie have you, or do you know anyone who's ever tried using the pi or phi ratio as a distance such as, 1.618 " between the holes for a test?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

That's a great question! There are two things about it that I will tell you. Our concepts as human beings of mathematical equations that equate nature are always skewed by our opinions. And a quote from my book on flute making, "there is always room for experimentation". Myself, I tend to always look back to the original flutes and the way they were made rather than drifting too far out of line however I recommend trying it and getting back with me to let me know how it worked! 😁

[@Agui007]

@@BlueBearFlutes Thanks Charlie, just a curious line of knowledge as many of the ancient cultures used sacred geometry equations and I was curious if you had. I might give it a whirl once I get good at practice. 😃😉👍🏼

[@drewdunn9317]

Hi Charlie! Quick question for ya, what do you do about the hole left behind by the guide spur of the forstner bit when making the flat whistle spot? Is it just filled in with glue and sawdust? Also I just ordered the flute maker pack from you, so stoked for it to get here!🤙

[@BlueBearFlutes]

It actually becomes part of the track. And thanks so much!

[@williamstrome5271]

Charlie you must be a high faluten yeah hoo if you take your coon dogs to the groomers lol I'm just kiddin great information thanks brother.