Enjoy Your Native American Flute, FREEDOM from Basic Scale Stereotype Part 1

[@MrDaytrack]

Ron ... You-da-man. I love the way you teach. (You keep it easy and to the point.) Best ... William (Hampshire UK)

[@ronwarrenmusic]

Thanks, man! I really appreciate it. UK - I hope I can get back there again before too long.

[@bpetnoi1472]

Ron, thanks for taking the time to explain one doesn't have to play the minor pentatonic scale all the time. I had never given a thought to keeping the fourth hole from the top closed and playing up and down the scale. I am surprised that it harmonizes so well. In the past, I have played some songs that require the lifting of the third finger from the top such as "Taps" and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" , but I find myself mostly faking it as you say within the minor Pentatonic scale. SevenWinds Flutes mentions he often plays A,C,D,E,F,G,A, but I don't understand the reference to 322122. Much of how I mark my music as I have never learned how to read music is based upon the notation used by Scott August numbering system. I am sure you are familiar with it as the flute with all holes closed starts at number 1 no matter what key of flute one is playing. The minor pentatonic scale is then played as 1,3,4,5,7,8. I see where you keep the fourth hole from the top close it would be 1,3,4,6,7,8. So I still don't understand the reference to 322122 and if it has any relation to Scott August's scale.

[@ronwarrenmusic]

thanks for being in touch and for watching. The numbers can get confusing because we sometimes use them to represent different things. As you mention, Scott August uses a numbering system to represent fingerings. I do that, to, though my system is a little different than Scott's. When talking about modes and scales, I use the numbers the represent intervals (the distance between two musical pitches). They are a simple counting of how many keys on a keyboard I have to move to get from one pitch to another (always remembering that usually the pitches on our flutes are not an exact match for the notes from the keyboard. We are dealing with approximations). So, when Seven Winds Flutes plays that mode, think of starting on "A" on your keyboard. If you then move 3 keys to the right, your will be on "C". 2 more keys to the right and you are on "D" and so on. I like the numbers because you can then start on any key and find the mode based on that key, using the number pattern. When I do this on a video, I use a keyboard image marked with the note letter names on the keys. The numbers showing the intervals between the notes are in red above the keys. Thanks again. Good question. Hope this helps. Let me know if you need follow up.

[@idontlikeit.7822]

Good stuff! I’ve learned that my flutes know a lot more than I do. As when I was a blacksmith, my best work was the result of learning to trust the metal.

[@ronwarrenmusic]

thanks so much! Sorry to take so long to respond. I've been away for a while.

[@sevenwindsflutes]

Just a bit confused. I often play A,C,D,E,F,G,A (322122) in a single piece. I see how there is an alternate pentatonic and minor pentatonic, so when you play 322122 which scale is that? I know very little about music- have patience.

[@ronwarrenmusic]

Thanks for this. You are a few steps ahead of me. You're using something very close to what many musicians would call "natural minor" or " Aeolian mode". It's very beautiful played just like you are playing it, and I use it like this a lot. To make a complete "Aeolian mode", add the pitch B. You can do that by half-holing the bottom hole (unstable and unpredictable on most of my flutes) or add it above the high A (an upper register fingering). Labels can be useful sometimes, but they can also be confusing, especially using labels from one tradition to talk about music making in another tradition. Keep trusting your ears. As Duke Ellington said, "If it sounds good, it is good." I would add, "no matter what you call it". Hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@sevenwindsflutes]

@@ronwarrenmusic Thanks Ron, I don't think in terms of pitch, unless I am tuning a flute. So I got out the meter and low and behold I frequently use the upper register "B". It adds a bit of zip, feels light and vibrant, I just never had a name before which proves what feels good is far better than the words to explain it.

[@capnspicy5565]

I only have 4 holes on my flute, and can play all that, not sure I understand this.

[@ronwarrenmusic]

four holes! That's amazing. Native American style or another tradition? Yeah, with most open hole flutes, it just a matter of exploring cross fingerings to get in between pitches. I have a five hole flute and can get all of this on that flute, too. Sorry to take so long to respond. I had to be away for a while...