Native Flute Comparison (4 Makers)

[@edwardtopik-5150]

I just bought the High Spirits White Tail Hawk in walnut @ $125 and love it. I'm a beginner and it was a breeze to get started. The voice of the universe!

[@WarLambShofars]

Wow that last one is beautiful, sounds the most ancient to me, something deeper about the sound of it. Seems to penetrate into m the soul a bit more than the others.

[@WarLambShofars]

Excellent video bro. Very well spoken and informative. Great job my brother.

[@ClintGoss]

Great intro to comparing flutes! You can really hear the different styles of sound in the side-by-side comparison ...

[@smartmoneyobserver205]

Great video detailing some popular entry level flutes. Thank you!

[@Stan-san]

Superb, could you make the same video for bass flutes?

[@goodbyamerica3665]

As a beginner I liked the mouthpiece on the high spirits flute. I purchased one from a local music store which gave me the chance to try many out, and also gave me a discount.

[@carpenterfamily6198]

I have that ABS / PVC flute and love it’s durability and that it can be shared ( cleaned afterward ) While I love my wood flutes, it’s the plastic one that gets played all the time.

[@ronduff4325]

I love my High Spirits Flutes.

[@margaritakleinman5701]

Me too! I have four of them, love them.

[@trmwyldshade1482]

Think it's extraordinarily important to acknowledge each flute's "Voice", regardless of its material but especially because of it's eccentricities. They are individuals… :o my

[@MessiahHasReturned]

Flutes are very bendy in tune in general. So blow soft for a little lower pitch and hard und just before overblow for a little higher pitch. What you are looking for is they are in tune on a constant blow pressure where the lowest pitch as the base note leads the blow pressure. All other notes should match in tune in the same pressure for an easy and smooth play.

[@Silkytoaster]

I recently purchased from Northern Spirit flutes their Mid A flute and its such a joy to play . As a complete beginner it was so easy . Using YT tutorials from people like yourself and Jonny Lipford my flute journey has begun.

[@Iceland874]

I guess quality and sound quality parallels with price. The last one is my favorite. The mellow airy voice has a strong richness that is very appealing.

[@lilymcalister1825]

What a fantastic video!! Thank you so much!! Keep on playing brother!!💜💕🌷

[@eddarby469]

I have a few NA flutes. My first was made by a Mattaponi Indian from apple wood. Next I bought five flutes from Odel Borg at High Spirits in different keys. Since then I purchased a shorter Gmin flute in cedar from a fellow at a Powwow. I appreciate your video comparing these flutes. You have a nice vibrato too.

[@mezatlan1]

woodsound for sure👌🏽👌🏽 Tlazocamati!

[@burnellmusic]

Thank you for this comparison video. I'm have several flutes from Odell Borg over at High Spirits Flutes, including his Raven Signature Flute, which is my favorite.

[@enriquebonilla1492]

The first example I really liked how it sounds

[@Philathebest]

Me. Kalani is the best is started my flute journey with his video, the one he explains how to start clearly without word. Love it

[@shoppersplace]

im looking for the best wood flute that wont overblow. they seem to all do, "sometimes" no matter how soft or hard you blow, when all holes are covered.

[@MessiahHasReturned]

When the blow chamber is 1/4 length of the flute you have a super resonance in the base note and in the highest note one octave higher. This gives the flute the extra full sound in the base note.

[@JonnyMoto]

it's spelt "bass", just like the fish. Base would be used for the bottom of a structure.

[@HWCism]

Thank you. Great comparison of flutes.

[@LL-bl8hd]

Great comparison... Hearing them back to back at the end, you can really hear how the last one combines the best aspects of the other three but with a richness and fullness that they can't match.

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I found your channel today and subscribed to it today its very helpful 👍

[@pekesrepose7363]

where would JD Flute rank in here?

[@jimmy59ca2001]

i enjoy your videos very much could you show a sample of slow celtic flute music as i am traveling to Scotland and would like to play a bit while i am there thanks, jim

[@carloszuniga4940]

suena genial como consigo uno de ellos

[@penelopehammerton2907]

Thank you, very informative. The information very clearly expressed. I subscribed immediately, hoping to learn lots more.

[@lostsailor2759]

Thank you for another great video and great info.

[@shereflute8681]

Such a great video!! Thank you for sharing, really enjoyed it!!

[@peppehpig9673]

You should try Ancient Territories Flutes

[@shamanizing]

Great explanation, I like the Journey of Life flute

[@streetglidegirl8879]

I am a big fan of blue bear flutes. I have a high spirit flute. But I watched a very interesting video from blue bear flutes and went out the very next day & made my own out of bamboo like he did in one of the videos i watched. I was very impressed. I love the sound of flute music.

[@bobbyb7127]

How does your hgh spirit flute compare with blue bear. I saw blue bear video on him making one out of bamboo that I want to try as well.

[@haroldchambers9058]

I see that the woodsounds basic A flute like this one is now $510 plus shipping and tax which makes the others much more accessible for the average flute player or beginner.

[@sclerismockrey8506]

thank you SO much for this. VERY helpful!

[@vickil6325]

I like clear warm sounds so I choose High Spirit flute. I can't put into words on the Wood flute's sound. Is it haunted sounds? Ancient sounds? The 1st and 3rd flutes sounded pitchy. I am shopping for a flute from High Spirit but also will check into this Wood Flute for information. I was recommended by someone from High Spirit that I should start with Key A flute as a beginner then later other flutes which plays deeper sounds like: D or E. Your video helped a lot. I now understand what you mean by "round sound". Doesn't leak like echo sounds.

[@usernamemykel]

Most popular key? (I play tinwhistle, which is usually played in the key of D ),

[@nvdawahyaify]

I love high spirits flutes, but my first native American flute was one made by Kenny king out of vaiden Mississippi.

[@gregg3967]

What is a spirit song flute?

[@lisac5074]

Like the wood sounds😘second favorite is the journey of life

[@mfaz777]

Thank you great info 🙏🏽

[@jamiefaith834]

What kind of flute from Northern Spirits was featured? I’m on his site to purchase however there are 2 that look like the one you had. Thanks!

[@tashilhamo9807]

Thank you 🌹

[@carrie1137]

Great video. Do you know anything about Blue Bear flutes?

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

I don't have any of those. Sorry.

[@NoFeArChiC2]

High Spirit flutes are incredible, my fav!

[@ronduff4325]

The plastic is cool ! Good for float trips . I have one made out of clear plexiglas ,F#. My float trip Flute.

[@daviewavie112]

What’s a float trip?

[@frankkrakie2540]

Thank you so much for the great comparison. May I ask which flute responds better in the upper octave in your opinion?

[@Svartr.HrafnSvartr]

Each individual instrument is going to speak to each individual listener differently. I really don't think any one flute is 'better' than the other. Out of these four, I personally like the JOL as being played here. But it's important to remember that each flute will respond and sing differently for each player as well. It's too bad that we can't try them all out and find our perfect matches!

[@tsirtosky1439]

I love flutes with those notes that have all kinds of rich over and undertones even if they don't match the timbre or sonority of the other notes. To me that's what makes an instrument have its own identity, soul, magic, life... That's why a lot of professional musicians have collections, as they appreciate those unique / idiosyncratic voices of good instruments.

[@merryhunt9153]

Michael Hamilton said that a plastic flute will not become "waterlogged." Yes it will. If the flute is cool and one's breath is 98 degrees, moisture will condense in the instrument no matter what it's made of. The best idea is to get the flute warm.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Yes - Wetting Out is a factor of several things, but the farther apart your breath is from the flute body and the outside air, the fast it will wet out.

[@OronixSandra]

When I can buy one of this flutes?

[@lauradoyle7347]

Hey is it easy to play a flute

[@momikeee1]

Wow, that cheap plastic flute has really great sound and can take the punishment of droping, etc. without being damaged. Also a plastic flute will not become watergoged and loose its sound if one plays it for a long stretch of time. Why pay more?

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

Sure Michael, probably the best type of flute for anyone, but that particular flute from that maker actually costs close to the same as a cedar one from some other, great makers who just don't charge much. You can even have one just as good-sounding made by hand from PVC. My first flute! You can tune it perfectly with a free app. Once I started playing, I wanted that feel and have the sound edge of a wooden one, and making them was the only way to go, because I wanted to experiment infinitely with slow air chamber lengths, breath hole and flue dimensions etc. My plastic flute actually loads down with moisture more quickly than my wooden ones, because nothing absorbs or has anywhere to go, so water beads up and gathers, changing the surface shape, and changes the air flow. It is a simple matter to clear, though. I'm $750 into a wood shop of second hand goods (I already had a lot of stuff) but I'll save a lot of money in the long run trying and experiencing different things. The equipment helps speed, not quality. I do want to take some to places to sell, and give them away as gifts. I wonder why most people have heard of Spirit Flutes early in the game and I didn't? My first ones I ran into were 1) whoever sells to Crazy Crow goods, Stellar, Cherry Cows, and Blue Bear. You can't really get cooler than Blue Bear, made by a real Native American's own hands, *extremely* competitively priced at like $60 for a cedar flute... O.O ... sells kits if you want, and writes and makes videos for years on end about his lifetime of experience in making them and dialing in on methodical specifics. I wouldn't be making them if it weren't for Charlie Mato-Toyela. He does have a couple of his own ideas about things that truly matter and those that don't, and I think the proof is in side by side comparisons like this, more than a lot of talk out there. There is no excuse for handmade flutes to be out of pitch with today's $12 tuners and free phone apps etc. Some folks do need to think about drying or curing wood first so they don't change shape or even split, esp. with big box stores now carrying green cedar at 20% moisture needing to be dried to 10 or preferably 8%. Jolflutes.com is not responding.

[@1888CHAD8881]

@@OtterLakeFlutes blue bear makes these cedar flutes?

[@siyotanka4you]

thx for your video - not bad for the beginner, but the best way is still to take the flute in your own hands and find out the difference. I have many flute and all are different and sometimes it depends on my day mood to find out which one sounds better for today. Fortunately there are so many flute makers around the world with different sound ideals and actually the next flute shop is certainly not far away. Even in Germany you can find native american style flute made by local flute makers and never buy a flute or any other instrument on the internet :-) thx for your video

[@wade4452]

Thank you, that was thoroughly enjoyable and informative.

[@rlowle1228]

nice job KALANI i it should be real helpful to anyone getting started. We have so many people coming to our group with a flute they bought at a flee market or art festival that really don't play, they need to see this demo.

[@lolaispure4296]

😭😭😭😭😭OMG i bought mine at a flee market. Yes it does not work

[@rlowle1228]

@@lolaispure4296 So sorry to hear that. I hope u didnt loose to much. It would be possible to plug the holes and re drill them in tune. But if its a cheepie its not worth it. Dont get discouraged the flute is an amazing instrument. Take Kalanis avice and get a good on. Usually the best deal for a beginner is the high spirits a. Good luck.

[@lolaispure4296]

Thank you soo much yes it was a cheap thing. 10 dollars at most. I want to invest in a better one and follow his classes. Yes it is very beautiful. It is a dream of mine to be able to play music.

[@rlowle1228]

@@lolaispure4296 Well u can lesrn alot from Kalani. He is an instructor at a flute school i attend and i always learn from him. Good luck it will happen.

[@lolaispure4296]

@@rlowle1228 thank you a lot!! Good luck to you!!

[@amritpaulap]

The sound appears to be studio synthesized.

[@Nicole-martial.arts.]

Wowwww What is the better tone of flute? F / F# or other?

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

👍 I have two Native American flutes. Unlike my concert flute and fife flute, the Native American flute is very easy to play, and requires very little to no embouchure. And one can make up tunes as he or she goes along. 😊 ♫

[@WarLambShofars]

Amen, love the simplicity.

[@petercowell2051]

A nice video comparison. I am intrigued. You call them entry level flutes. Since none have keywork and therefore varying mechanics what goes into a higher level flute?

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

They are all basic for the people who made them, in terms of materials and ornamentation.

[@chix25]

I have the high spirits. Will probably buy the woodsounds next.

[@christopherwest252]

Have you ever heard of Laughing Crow Flutes? Best in the business 💯💯💯🖤🧿🖤

[@smashtoad]

Are Nev Autrey flutes good?

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

I don't have experience with those.

[@IIrandhandleII]

How about laughing crow?

[@roadboat9216]

Thanks for the great video. Nice to see and hear the comparisons. I just bought my first NA flute. A Butch Hall flute for about $90. Seems to be a good start. Made of cedar. Got one in G. But now realizing that it is the minor key probably would have chosen A. ( A minor being much more popular a key) The deep rich sound is nice so I guess everything is a trade-off. Thanks again.

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

Fred Read Butch Hall flutes are great instruments. You did well. The G was my first flute and still love that key (will have a total of 3 in that key). A minor is popular with beginners but if you can hold the G comfortably it is not a bad choice. Sometimes what gets beginners tweaked out is that the popular flute learning book by John Vames has the lessons recorded with an A minor flute but that should not deter you. High Spirits flutes offers teaching material and Odell Borg has the sample lesson songs recorded in the most popular keys so you can get to develop your "ear" without conflict. Charles Littleleaf recommends the G as a starting flute. So fear not you did well. Just play it, feel it and enjoy!

[@roadboat9216]

Laura Gonzalez Thanks for the info Laura! I just love the meditative sound and mood of these flutes. Have played recorder most of my life, and transverse silver flute for about 15 yrs. I prefer to play by ear. I play an improv song for my wife and I just before bed. Nice and relaxing. I would like to expand my NA flues to some other keys. I think the most limiting factor for me is the finger spread of larger flues ( I’m 74) so not as flexible as I would like. Do you know if all larger flutes have similar finger spreads or do some have closer ones. Thanks.

[@WJV9]

You can play A minor tunes with a G flute, just start 1 hole up the scale, A is one whole step up from G. I do A minor tunes on my G flute, a few note may need 'half-holing' to get pitch right.

[@roadboat9216]

Wayne Vyrostek Yes, thanks. Seems that A major is even easier to play.

[@littlestation3222]

@@GonzoTheRosarian just got A minor yesterday

[@soslothful]

What peoples original made this style of flute? It seems unlikely peoples living in different regions of what is now the US made similar flutes. Is NFA perhaps a bit of a misnomer?

[@soundhealingbygene]

Cool I found this after buying a flute in g. High spirits flute thanks for going into detail about some of these

[@RobertShroder]

Would you be able to share the exact spec/model and price of the JOL Flute you played? I cant find the order form area in the website provided. Thank you!

[@KalaniMusic]

Robert Shroder I don’t have much in the way of numbers or names to identify the JOL flutes. It’s an A flute made from Western Red Cedar. Hope that helps!

[@swanlee7429]

The northern spirit flute seems nice, since its not bigger you can easily brought it everywhere you go like just carry it in your back pack something like that, Uwa want that thing 😣😥

[@RC-Flight]

I personally like the sounds of the third and forth flutes.

[@turbonbc]

You should try JDflutes on youtube.

[@amydalley3917]

Great video! What are your thoughts on buying a used wooden flute? Can these be sterilized?

[@jingei]

A good question! I was wondering about that, too.

[@KalaniMusic]

Sure - People sell used flutes all the time. You can use some tea tree oil (on a swab, not touching the wood) for the inside) and wipe the outside with grain alcohol, like 90 proof.

[@yadaroni]

This is a good video, but like all similar videos it's missing one key component. If you're playing alone it doesn't matter as much if the flute is perfectly tuned. If you are playing with other musicians it is critical that the flute be in pitch. Traditionally these flutes are played with percussion, which is far less of an issue as far as pitch. But if you're playing with a piano or guitar that is tuned properly, an improperly tuned flute will make it sound like you don't know how to play. I have scoured KZbin to try to find anyone talking about this very important topic and I have yet to find a single post about it.

[@Koloherides]

sweet great price. thx Kalani

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

Yes, many "handmade" flutes are not well-tuned by today's standards (as stated here or in one of your videos), but many are tuned as well or better than factory flutes, so it's a shame to put all wind luthiers into that barrel. If someone's serious enough to spend $180 they might be serious enough to remember a few reliable names. Butch Hall, Jon Norris, and myself (Jeff Burris of Otter Lake Flutes) take technical, modern tuning seriously, for example (modeling with software, fine-tuning by hand, half a hole at a time, tuning two notes per hole instead of one). These examples also have consistent cross-fingerings or extended scales, which are preferred by many pro musicians as being more intuitive or consistent-between-makers than (factory name redacted) who has somewhat unique cross fingerings, etc... These examples are little, if any, more expensive than cookie cutter flutes. A=440 at 72F, and they all, all stray at other temps (always tuned to themselves, fine). Elevation/pressure, too. You can have the same cross-fingerings (including second register) with a handful of makers, but then decide they are "unpredictable" by throwing a factory flute in there, wondering which is "right". There may be more factory flutes out there, now or soon, but players who make albums and do concerts for years tend to prefer "handmade flutes", so the comment that handmade flutes are liable to be poorly tuned only serves those who won't do a little research on makers names or trademarks. Also "popular" is hard to define. There's fly by night players then there are musicians, and many musicians don't keep a factory flute in their collection.

[@songsparrowadventures]

I have the High Spirits "Sparrow Hawk" in Am. I find that I get a lot of moisture build up, not sure if it because of the way I am blowing or maybe because it was created in a hot desert environment and I live in damp Vancouver Island, Canada. Do you have any suggestions for blowing that will lesson the amount of moisture produced? I know how to get rid of the moisture but I have to do it after about 3 minutes of playing. Wondering also, if the northern spirits flute would act the same way. Thank you

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

There are two main factors that cause a flute to "wet out." 1) Cold air 2) Humidity. When it's cold outside, play flute inside and lower the humidity. There are some flutes made with anti-wetting technology. Make sure to take the bird off and let your flute dry out between playing.

[@gangstahoover1290]

they are Native American flutes BUT I want to know the "name" of those kind of flutes

[@Axecapoeiracomoxvalley]

What are styles and prices of these please!

[@SoraAmm]

check their websites

[@Juuuuyttrrr]

starting from 150

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

The range of these flutes is $120-$280

[@23adammrmr]

Hey Kalani I'm Adam do you give flute lessons on Skype for the native American flute I have a high Spirits flute key of G

[@KalaniMusic]

gemstone freeman Jr. Yes, Contact me through my website, kalanimusic.com

[@23adammrmr]

@@KalaniMusic ok I sent you a message there on your website thanks

[@TheBelldiver]

I made my own from.PVC I play it almost every night. I made mine a 5 hole

[@rahuldevsingh2911]

Can you give away the high spirits fulte 🙏❤️

[@rona2119]

Which Flute is this one? "Northern Spirit Flute - Mid A (Original Contemporary Minor Penatonic)" or "Indigenous A North American Style Northern Spirit Flute" ? www.northernspiritflutes.com/flutes-ready-to-play-us Are you revewing the same flute on the other video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpS6nJ9ri5qdnck

[@sacredsounds4234]

I bet the wood flute makers don't appreciate having the just as nice sounding plastic pvc in the lineup for a 1/3 of the price.

[@KalaniMusic]

@@sacredsounds4234 Every flute has unique attributes that people consider when buying. Personally, I really enjoy the beautiful wood and craftsmanship that goes into some of the higher end flutes. I also appreciate the plastic flute for other reasons. It’s just good to have different tools.

[@KG-lm1df]

the Woodsounds is singing compare to the others

[@bgdn5]

Not that big difference in sound the difference of costs is much bigger((( Thq, very useful demo!

[@TheHappyNisha]

Did you say "plastic"?! :(

[@KalaniMusic]

Nisha Halai Food-grade ABS

[@SadkoLitsky]

Jorney o Life !

[@davidwalton6074]

How flutes

[@RickyD1968]

The wood sounds flutes start at about $400 and go to $3.800 ouch over priced flutes !!!!! but The high spirits flutes are Awesome and they have excellent quality and start at about $130 to $700 My first choice !!!!!!!!

[@RuyGuy]

I didn't know Howie Mandel could play the flute.

[@skyedge3407]

I like them all but I am impressed the most by the plastic Northern Spirits flute. Sounds great, durable, affordable. Many flutes on the market now are $300-$600 which in my opinion is too much.

[@hifijohn]

All very nice but far too expensive, I can make a flute out of pvc pipe for just a few dollars that sound pretty much the same.

[@bobbyb7127]

I've made 4 Pvc flutes when i was learning to make them before procressing to wood. I'm making my 10 th wooden flute now and the wood flutes sound soooo much better. Make one with wood and you'll hear what I'm talking about. My Pvc flutes sound pretty good by themselves but not as good as wood.

[@redpillsociety6479]

What’s a flute?

[@bluedogsurvive6501]

RED PILL SOCIETY look in your pants

[@Orthanderis]

Idk why, but I cant stand the sound the sparrowhawk, it just makes my hair curl. Otherwise the others sound good