Why 6 Holes are Better Than 5 - Native American Flutes

I get asked all the time, "which is better - a 6 hole flute or a 5 hole?" In this video I will explain why you need (or don't) an extra fingering on your Native American flute.
Some people have, and will, try to debate this issue with me, but the logic is clear and as one of our favorite news commentators always says, "Facts don't care care about feelings".
You CAN play that "extra" note on a 5 hole flute. You CAN play the major scale, chromatic scale, blues scale and any thing else on a 5 hole flute. Anyone who tries to convince you otherwise has minimal knowledge of music, the Native American Flute, and (imo) should not be trying to teach others. There is a saying I am sure you have hear of when it comes to these types of people, "The blind leading the blind".
Which is better? That really ends up being your opinion.
Thanks for watching. Please subscribe, like and share. Sharing my videos helps my channel.
visit us at www.bluebearfl...

[@steveogden5774]

Raises another interesting point. I'm a Brit so I have no connection with Native Americans, should I even be playing a NAF? I have both 5 and 6 hole flutes which I really enjoy playing. Now I look at it like this. So long as I am not dispararaging the culture then why not play, I play Irish traditional and scottish music on concertina and that's not my tradition either. However I admit that on a six hole flute I don't just play it as I would the 5 hole flute, it lends itself a lot easier than other woodwinds I play (recorder and tinwhistle) to flamenco, arabic and klezmer scales. Again these aren't my native traditions but I play them on a NAF because they sound great, the instrument works and I'm not taking the micky out of either the instrument or the music I'm playing. I was taught (by an Irish fiddler) that the instrument doesn't matter, your ethnicity doesn't matter, what matters is that you treat the instrument and music with respect.

[@setharnold999]

That's pretty silly. Natives Americans are humans and so are you.

[@nthekitchen162]

Yes dude. Play the hell out of it! And thanks for supporting a native american (sorry for speaking for you bliebear..) and thank you for continuing a instrumental homage to the natives of America.

[@sacredsoundnow]

Wow! That was Excellent. I have been playing for 15 years. I have been drawn to begin crafting Sacred Flutes for my Sound Healing Music. You saved me from learning the hard way brother! And for making the best Sound from the. Begining.

[@kimnichols1169]

The Ben hunt book was the 1st book I ever found that had a diagram for the layout and construction of a native flute, and I like to never found it! I was thrilled when I found you and your book and videos decades later, yours is an awesome book and has improved my art dramatically. Thank you so much for sharing

[@joanneleclair5170]

I also enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing as much as you do.

[@ronstewart5750]

Hi Charlie I think if you mentioned minor pentatonic scale to our ancestors they would walk away They made flutes that sounded good to their ears

[@ihatepolice5459]

music theory just helps you communicate that

[@BrendanArthurRing]

Ok, this makes sense. I went to southern Utah and Arizona and tried several flutes at some stores professed to be authentic, some of them expensive, and when I went up the scale was surprised at this weird note in the middle that was out of tune to my ear. I thought I was going crazy, because I remember owning a Native American flute a long time ago that didn’t have that problem. Thank you for setting the record straight.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I do have some other videos on this subject to if you want to watch! Thanks so much!

[@jbott57]

GREATN JOB AS ALWAYS CHARLIE

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you my friend!

[@joanneleclair5170]

I have 5 and 6 hole flutes. I love them all.

[@mothersgauri4137]

Thank you for this great video. This definitely is a question that comes up. If the concept of tradition doesn't work, there's nothing like tossing in some good old basic logic in the mix. Perfect !

[@BlueBearFlutes]

What's logic? In this world!!! 😅 Thank you for watching!

[@mothersgauri4137]

@@BlueBearFlutes 💗👍

[@BoWhitten]

Siyo Charlie. I have to smile at how tired you are of this subject and the noise of it. Thanks for being this snarky and fed up. Makes me feel less alone. LOL

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Appreciate your kind words my friend. Reminds me of a t-shirt I'm thinking about making. Not sure if it would work in today's political environment but would be happy to tell you about it if you email me.

[@tomcartmill401]

Hey Charlie, I get a giggle out of this topic every time I see you talk about it. I can see a very visible flute maker that in recent times makes carbon everything, explaining why you need to have that hole, like in his flutes, to be able to do some flutter that he does and make a joke out of it and say," it is the way it is done". You know the flute maker man I am talking about. He makes five hole flutes as well as six hole flutes, he is just funny. Well done and thanks for all your work. Tom

[@sylverscale]

I happened to have been able to pick up a 2nd hand 6 hole USA made flute over here in Germany that has leather covering the hole. It always got me confused ever since I started looking into NAF as to why anyone would do that. It's a nice flute and I was incredibly lucky to grab it so cheap - but I definitely want one of your flutes someday soon. 🙂

[@BlueBearFlutes]

🙏Thank You🙏

[@aigretbenoit]

I play arab and turkish ney. Oldest flutes on the planet. They have 6 holes and a thumbhole. You always keep 2 holes covered depending on the maqam (sort of a scale) you are playing. Overblowing goes by a perfect fifth not the octave so this opens up a whole lot of possibilities...

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I bet the Ottoman would say their flute was older! All joking aside, there is a certain pattern that these instruments fall into and likewise, the historic six hole Native American flute used all the fingerings whereas the modern one about (80 year old design) doesn't. I do have other videos about that if you'd like to watch them. 😊

[@aigretbenoit]

@@BlueBearFlutes I bet they would :) the predynastic egyptians might beg to differ. I have to admit I don't know a lot about native american flutes, I am more in to endblown and transverse flutes then whistle type flutes but interested in all flutes non the less and still learning and finding out other cultures ways about it. I just wanted to point out that there really is an advantage about having holes that you always need to cover. because this gives acces to so many scales in a really intuitive way. because the maqams all revolve around stacking different tetrachords. I don't think that this would work on a native american flute as you cannot overblow it (not sure?) so you are probably limited to 1 octave, correct? with a ney, you can use only 4 holes (thus covering 2) to play 3 full octaves (the lower octave will need the tumb hole for some missing notes as the upper part of the low octave cannot be overblow). By changing which holes are covered you are changing the tetrachord (jin) and the different stacking leads to different maqams. I take it you always play in minor pentatonic on a 5 holed native american flute? grts

[@dianeknox6049]

5 hole flutes are better unless they are original 6 hole Indigenous flute then you can play with every hole on flute thanks for all you guys do 2024 respect.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks so much for your comment my friend! That's certainly how I feel!

[@setharnold999]

Your videos are comforting like Bob Ross. Different vibe but similar trance

[@Ceej_Boy_29]

Thank you This was super helpful!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Please be sure to check out some of my other videos on Native American flute making and playing! I do have other videos specifically about 6 hole flutes!

[@Ceej_Boy_29]

I will. I am getting in to the score type of music and I love the flute. I am going to be using the native flute to add that spark to it. It really makes it soo vibes! I usually do electronic music that is what I am known for. I am going to try to make some cool effects with the flute to with deffent filters that I use in ableton.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@Ceej_Boy_29 🙂

[@philipleger8987]

I love your webpages, but the rolls to fast, dont have time to read it.

[@OkieOrganix]

Thanks for all you do pal. Would you mind making a video of how you have the markings setup on your router for making the air channels? Wouldn’t mind seeing your science there.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hey, we just finished that video 5 minutes ago. We will post it in the middle of the week! Keep an eye out for it! Thanks so much for watching!

[@OkieOrganix]

@@BlueBearFlutes How cool! Looking forward to it. 💪

[@paulvelarde6165]

Like your videos so funny but educational thanks

[@POVMTB1]

i remember when someone told be that hole must be covered all the time, my logical question was , why the fuck there is a hole in the first place, i make 6 holes now flutes , but i play that hole as well after this video i might come back to my intuition from before to make 5 hole, mush more easer to play one less hole to cover when playing lol

[@BlueBearFlutes]

😁

[@dougbarlow3010]

Thanks Charlie, my flutes are all 6 holes and I cover them with “leather”😂😂😂. Thanks my next one will be one of yours. BTW. Where ca I get the small amp that you KZbind awhile back.

[@nicnaknoc]

Saw the title and was like ????? - you lied to me for years. But then I saw the video and now I'm just sticking a sticker on my flute to make my 5 hole a better and more authentic 6 hole flute THANK YOU for giving me this amazing lifehack

[@BlueBearFlutes]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tomcartmill401]

We could start a movement of flutes with stickers above the forth hole. {:- )

[@nicnaknoc]

@@tomcartmill401 it's a great way to personalize your flute, one might have a bison, eagle or wolf totem for all to see at the airhole but hidden under your finger is the true spirit an itty bitty sarcastic sticker with an ant taking the piss ;D

[@wtafunk]

100% agree!!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

😆😆😆😆😆 Thanks for that!!!

[@cesarvidelac]

You know, I think I told you this before, but people can be so stupid.... I am a knife collector (a little off topic) and got out of two groups ofcollectors in facebook, I got tired of the level of stupidity of many many members. A chilean army soldier pointed out to me that Corvo army knives should not be sharpened. Same question here, why in hell go willingly to war with a dull knife? i know, there are historical sabres that are kept unsharpened, but you understand my point. People this days has an uninformed, ignorant opinion and don't bother to doubt that. Sorry for the rant, I love your work.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

...I loved the rant!!

[@colson8327]

I had a hard time seeing how you made that wacky note with 5 holes. Would someone write the instructions please? Now I want to know!

[@twowolfsmith8561]

@@colson8327 5 hole flute. To get the "funky" note. Top (mouthpiece side) 5 closed ** 4 open 3 closed ** 2 open 1 open Bottom

[@williamstrome5271]

I understand you Charlie 5 hole native flutes perfectly fine and probably historically correct one thing I've been playing with the thought of is combining two different woods and some geometry changes to your designs to create a slightly finer tone sound in the splitting edge for example harder wood there I know this would make the flute much more time consuming to make and costly but I'm trying to find a sound both true and clean a the same time I I have several of your flutes and enjoy them very much. what are your thoughts.

[@annaanisa7388]

“Yo please!” 🤣🤣🤣 Love it!!

[@felixmaican]

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!

[@arieswaters]

Oh that's funny I had to look again he made the whole disappear when he took the tape off that was funny. I'm sure someone else commented about that but I didn't see the comment

[@wolfman122970]

I learned to play a recorder as a child, and a recorder has 6 holes, so a 5 hole flute looks odd to me. I know they are not exactly the same, but similar. If 5 is the traditional way, than that is what I want. Been watching a lot of your videos for a few years now, tried making cane flute years ago with a knife. I remember you saying to make the track thin as you can, so i kept shaving it down, then starting cutting the holes and broke the whole track out. Yeah, should of cut the holes first. Tried again and it split about a half inch all the way down, could not be repaired. So been watching how you dry your cane, and I am ready to try again. Oh, by the way, don't know if you know this, but a recorder has a hole underneath that my class was told to keep covered with our thumb. Not sure if that hole was used by more advanced class, was very long time ago. Oh and just remembered we did a similar technique to play a B flat. That technique was to cover the second and fifth holes.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

It may help you to know the traditional doesn't mean five or six holes. There are countless versions of each in this country. However, modern 6 hole native american flutes only use five of the fingerings. The third fingering from the top unlike on a recorder is covered all the time with the modern version. This is the one that is not traditional.

[@wolfman122970]

@@BlueBearFlutes Hey, thanks for the quick reply, didn't expect it! Your answer is a little confusing to me though. Surely you can play the modern 6 hole flute the same way as a traditional 6 hole flute, right? Or are they tuned so differently that it wouldn't work? please explain.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@wolfman122970 it's not that they are tuned differently, they are made differently. The modern version that you keep a finger covering the third hole all the time is inaccurate. I have a video on how to make the traditional version. Why would any people in their right mind drill a hole and then keep it covered all the time?

[@wolfman122970]

@@BlueBearFlutes Why indeed? LOL I will watch that video, I'm sure it will help clear up my confusion. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. Keep making great videos!

[@jasonford6595]

Why not use 6 holes and use whatever fingerings feel and sound right? I have a 6 hole flute and I can find several notes beyond the typical 5. Why limit myself to 5 because that's what someone decided is traditional or am I confused?

[@colson8327]

Couldn't quite keep up with how you made that wacky note with 5 holes. Please, someone, be so kind as to write how it is done. Now I need to to know!

[@twowolfsmith8561]

5 hole flute. To get the "funky" note. Top (mouthpiece side) 5 closed ** 4 open 3 closed ** 2 open 1 open Bottom

[@UnitedEffect]

Just curios.... If I buy a flute from you can you include that extra piece of paper for the "6th hole" ? hahaha Great videos BTW. I just discovered your channel and will probably binge watch for awhile!!!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

For you, I would do that on request! 😅

[@UnitedEffect]

✌😅

[@AnotherGenericChannel]

By the way keep that hole covered all the time... That was funny because when I play ocarina I almost never move my left pinky, double chamber and up I don't move it at all.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Put some super glue and sawdust in that and you'll never have to cover it again! 😅 I have a lot of other videos on the subject by the way. Thanks for watching!

[@Pepe_pita]

Can a NAF reach two fully octave ?

[@dimoik2276]

Hi Charlie, I'm quite new in playing the flute, been making my flutes (both with 5 and 6 holes) out of rivercane following your tutorials and playing for a few months now. I've got two questions on the subject, possibly noob ones: 1) in a 5-hole flute how can you play that note which in a 6-hole you play by closing holes 3,5,6 (counting from the foot end of the flute). I tried all the notes on the chromatic scale on a 5-hole flute and none sounds exactly the same 2) how can you play minor pentatonic mode 4 in a 5 hole flute? In a 6 hole flute I play it just by keeping hole 3 closed all the time

[@scorpio110984]

I have a C alto, 12 hole ocarina that works like that, with a hole that sees very little action... giggity.

[@RustyGunn7]

That odd note is rather ugly sounding to me. My flutes are 5-hole, and will always be 5-hole.

[@setharnold999]

Maybe it's just the feeling of someone sharing what they love

[@bradmcclure4945]

received my blue bear 5hople flute today finding it very difficult to make it sound like I think it should not sure what I'm doing wrong

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hi Brad, check out my troubleshooting guide for beginners. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnq8mniajriJgrc A simple word of advice, be calm and blow soft. Most people tend to overflow when they start. Also, you can check out some of my videos on how to play the flute! That doesn't work, feel free to email me with any questions you might have.

[@philipptanglmayer9148]

Hi Charlie, interesting video, like always, thanks a lot.^^ I submit a mail on your page, cause I would like to buy one of your flutes, but I've got some questions, could you just tell me if you received it? Thanks a lot. Greetings from Europe.

[@davidrabensburg4954]

If you can't find the note....there's always another note you can find.. Learn the instrument...

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Don't forget the best fit for the inside of a circle is a square!

[@GinMartinez]

Thank you for this. I was worried I had a defective flute and i was going to have to get it re-tuned. As a beginner the scales I have been seeing for my 6 hole flute do not jive with how my flute actually works. That extra hole is actually the next note and when I play the scales for six hole flutes it sounds really off.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

That hole should be the next note in the scale however the way people make them today, it is a half-step note which is Out Of Tune.

[@davidrabensburg4954]

You are good 👍... Lol...

[@agoogleuser3787]

Lol. The scottish would drill holes like that....and they did....4:11

[@bgdn5]

Shakuhachi flute has only 4 holes just modern one has 5

[@cyrusgorila3392]

From my understanding the 4 holes one is grandpa of shakuhachi, before shakuhachi is introduced to today Japan it is crafted with the blueprint of ancient flute of ethenic group call 羌 ， later on the flute is introduced to Han and latter on change to shakuhachi to match with Han musical system

[@stevevicki5671]

I enjoy your videos and their content. I gave u a thumbs up. But please stop repeating yourself and please stop all of the asides (about buffalo and cliffs, etc.). Your knowledge and passion would be more powerful in a 4 minute, to-the-point video.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

A 4 minute video would only be good for some who want to know the "what" but not the "how". It's so easy to stand outside of the dumpster fire that is mankind and understand the decay, but without proper documentation no one in the future will know that we -present man- were much more than savages. (translation: sorry for so many short attention spans out there... feel free to scroll through the video if you only "need" a little bit of the info)

[@starwolven]

He can talk about anything he pleases. If you don't like it, find another video and keep your comments to yourself. Thank you! 😊 Have a blessed day.

[@herb2968]

why would you title this video "why 6 hole flutes are better than 5 hole flutes"? oh, i get it, you were being sarcastic. really?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

That's right herbs, you may be missing the point altogether. Aside from your brilliant irony and sarcasm that you're trying to front, you may not understand how the modern 6 hole flute was created.

[@herb2968]

@@BlueBearFlutes well, im actually a recorder player but i really love the sound of, and want to play, a native american flute. the title of the video caught me off guard. i dont pretend to be an expert or to present a 'front' as you put it. im just a humble music lover who doesnt understand the need for the deceptive title. Guess im just not in tune with your peculiar sense of humor. waiting on my NA flute to be delivered as we speak. thanks for the information though, ive watched several of your videos.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@herb you're welcome. Unlike the recorder, the modern 6 hole Native American flute does not use the 3rd fingering. This is one of numerous videos I have on the subject. Most modern 6 hole flute players think that it is so critical that they have this third fingering. Even though it is covered most of the time. Traditional 6 hole flutes will not like this. Hence my sarcasm and in response to your sarcasm. Thanks for watching my videos. I hope you like your flute.

[@ronh5623]

Calm down and enjoy what you are presenting.

[@HWCism]

Way too much dialogue about the sixth hole. Waist of your time.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

And your comment makes you what, a genius? Good job.