Blue Bear Flutes Native American Flutes - Different Diameter, Same Key 

Hey there Charlie, Im just a fly on the wall on these videos of yours, Ive been making flutes for 6 years thanks to your youtube channel.

I haven't tried a 6 hole flute yet, only the 5 hole flutes. I have made about 10 bamboo flutes by watching your videos. I had to make a lot of mistakes and about 10 went to the garbage before I got them right with your instruction and inspiration. I'm lucky to have a bamboo grove in the back yard. Thanks for all the videos., you have been my sensei and mentor along the way and I constantly go back and watch your videos for techniques/ inspiration for making without many power tools other than a hand held drill and a dremel. One day I hope to get some of your burning tools , I see your offer a 1/4" one. Keep doing what your doing. Thanks again.

I know Zero about flutes but I want to learn about it in order to make some for my grandchildren who are now learning music in elementary. I’ll be watching more of your videos to learn about distance and diameters. Thanks! Oscar

I appreciate all that you do! I still laugh about feeling star struck when I called in about an order and Charlie was the one I spoke to, such a good person.

I purchased a five hole flute in the key of G from Blue Bear flutes.. It is wonderful and easy to play. Charlie is a master of making flutes. Thanks again Charlie. 👍🥰

I'm always appreciative of everything you share. I DO keep the 5th hole covered up most of the time because that was how I learned to play it. It made my tiny brain happier to think of only 5 holes instead of six. Since then, I've played the "extra" hole on many occasions and it provides something VERY different for the listeners as they aren't "used" to hearing that sound from me. I guess it has become a "trick" for me!

I am absolutely in love with these beautiful instruments. I don t know what it is about the flutes that calms my soul. Thank you for being so willing to share this beautiful part of our humanity.

All my flutes are 5-hole Blue Bear flutes - except one. I play with a group of people who all use "modern" 6-hole flutes, so I got myself one just to try it out. It sounds nice, looks very fancy, but super expensive and heavy. I do spend a lot of time converting 6-hole tablature into 5-hole, but in absolutely no way does using a 5-hole flute impede my playing. Blue Bear flutes sound beautiful, are light-weight (easy on my possibly arthritic wrists), and not to be crass but the price is right!

Thank you. I have recently purchased two flutes and have been experimenting. Very relaxing for me.

I have made quenas in my younger days and had never tried to make a NAF, until I found a very special piece of bamboo in Hawaii that I made into my first and only NAF I've made for myself. The first thing I noticed on the piece of bamboo was the incredible diameter of the wood both outside and inside. Huge by my standards and the diameter of the other flutes I own. So, when I started burning the fingering holes I wasn't ready for the sound I found inside the bamboo! When I finished it and played it my wife said to me: "that one is special." It has a haunting sound that I cannot describe in words. Let me just say that the people who have heard me play it say the same thing: it has a haunting sound that you feel on your chest and stomach. It is tuned in low Em and now understand with your explanation in this video why it sounds so different from my other low flutes and especially, my aromatic cedar flute in Em also. Thanks so much for your videos; I really enjoy your explanations and demonstrations. Peace, Charlie, and thanks for what you do to expand the knowledge and artistry of the NAF worldwide.

Little Blueberry people :o) great video , thank you ! I make the six hole by the douzen 20 years ago , but now only one at a time ! . I have also made the 5 holes before and nothing to it , however the 4 hole 2 octave was a great one to discover , unbelievable , I am still working on it . I agree with you almost 100 % of the time , soothingly new to actually hear someone who knows what he is talking about. My most inovative discovery yet is the tappered shoot out Big to small from the wall to the first hole where it then sqeezes in and then back out a little,( tappered inwards) all the way to the last hole where it goes in a little again and then back out and then tappers again down to the bottom usually needing to cone out afterwards for fine tuning . Still learning ... thanks for your video ! PUMPED :O)

Hi Charlie, I put rubber plugs in the 3rd hole from the top of my six hole flutes. The only five hole flute I own is a Blue Bear flutes, river cane flute that I bought from you over ten years ago. It has a purity to it that none of my other flutes, and they are nice flutes, has. Please continue to be the inspiration that you are to us that you have been for so long. Steve Edwards, UK 🎅🏻🙏🏻✌🏻✖️

I can see why you love the sound of the cedar six hole flute. It has an absolutely Beautiful sound❤

I’m just starting to play these and that cedar wood is gorgeous! I really enjoy all your videos, Thanks.

Always educational and entertaining ...

i really love the videos explaining the science/math/"magic" that makes the flutes sound differently also i love the history videos to be fair, there are not many of your videos i dont like, so thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us

I always appreciate your videos and always learn something new. I started playing a few months ago with a six-hole flute and just made my first bamboo flute with five holes. Here's the reason I like the six hole flute, I feel like it gives you more of a range to be expressive and creative with playing. Having been involved in music for many years, one of the things I strongly believe is that it is supposed to be as free as possible to create new Tunes. With the five hole flute I feel a little restricted whereas with six I know I have that opportunity to sometimes surprise myself with what I come up with. That's just how I feel on the question you asked, everyone has different opinions and likes or enjoyments. No one is wrong, it is just all up to personal preference and what feels right to each individual. That's what creating art is all about.

I find your videos very interesting, recently I found a bamboo grove and am planning to harvest some flute material. Thanks!

awesome and informative as usual, great work

Great video!

I’ve been considering buying a Native American flute for years. I am a classically trained flute player. I appreciate so much your approach to playing and teaching. I’ve nearly watched all the videos on your how to play and became tearful when you were talking about composition. Being a personal who loves music and the different sounds but felt I wasn’t academically enough to compose my own it was incredibly encouraging. It is my hope to purchase an instrument soon. Thank you for your video’s and sharing your knowledge. I’d love to know more about the traditional playing. If there are any resources for that information can you share (if you haven’t already… if you have I’ll find it).

amazing!

Well RU-vid is recommending your videos to me a lot since I started researching how to make whistles and flutes. The word "volume" is kind of interesting. Normally English words can be traced back to their french or latin roots, but in this case the origin of the word can be traced all the way back to proto-italic, maybe 2,700 years ago. The proto word was "Wolwa", meaning scroll, round, or something that is fully encompassed by the "round". It's actually amazing that the meaning has changed so little even if the word itself seems a bit different. Volume: all of the book, All of the computer hard drive, all of the space inside, or all of the sound. Basically, it means everything there is of that one thing. By extension it's also a way of comparing two "volumes". Turn the volume up, the volume of your mug is bigger than mine and so on. Regarding flute bore... For any given key there is an "optimum" bore size. The Irish whistle making community has don't quite a bit of work on this, but where it has tripped me up is where a flute I made with a larger bore (more mellow tone) has difficulty reaching the higher notes in the second octave. The higher notes just don't want to resonate. I wanted to make a D, but it would have been better off if I'd made a C with that material. (and I kind of knew that at the time). Volume of the flute bore, it's not actually "volume" that gives the resonant frequency. I know, "logic" says it should be but it's not. If you calculate the volume of two 'D" pipes, the one with the larger bore is also the greater volume. Volume increases exponentially with bore size, whereas the pitch does not, even if you have decreased the length a little bit. I just did this test today and am as disappointed as you probably are. The easy answer is not the correct solution. The real answer is that the length of the flute is one half wavelength of the resonant frequency (the key you are in) however the bore influences the speed of the sound through the flute and therefore the wavelength. To put it another way, a narrow bore flute "squeezes" the sound wave and projects it forward, requiring a longer bore for the same resonance, but it's not related to the volume of the bore in any practical way. Regarding your red cedar flute... The larger bore googol *should* have a more mellow tone because of the bigger bore size but it does not. Part of the answer appears to be the red cedar. I've noticed I get a different quality of tone also with a different fipple (mouthpiece including the labium and window) design. A thicker labium produces a thicker tone, a larger chamber under the labium a more mellow tone likewise. I have the advantage where I can swap fipples on an Irish whistle and pick the one that works best, and it's been a bit of a learning experience. How well the second octave works can be altered by changing the window size for example (but can't save my oversize D).

Always interested in those gems you share with us Charlie. I made a 10" long, 1/2" diameter flute out of bamboo. Decided to make it as a plug type instead of the bird. I'd been working on the Cherokee whistles experimenting to see for myself where the crossover from whistle to flute occurred. Anyway, what I came up with has somewhat blown my experiment ... the range on this plug type flute/whistle is from F5 to B6! I'd expected it to plateau out at around G6.

I really like your videos. I may just have to get a google flute. I like you Charlie.

@BlueBearFlutes Very interesting as always. I have both 5 hole (Blue Bear) and 6 hole (others) Native American flutes. I have always found the modern 6 hole flute an enigma. According to common knowledge, the shakuhachi is the basis of the scale used in the modern Native American flute and it’s only 5 finger holes. I don’t understand the need for the 6th hole. Especially since it was not always so. I have a Native American Flute made early in the career of he who shall not be named and it is an A minor pentatonic with just 5 holes. It is favorite from that maker.

The majority of my flutes are cedar (High Spirit Flutes), and they sound great. I use the sixth hole all the time, and I consider myself a newcomer to the flute. However, I play guitar, bass, mandolin, cello, keys, and more. I think the material the flute is made out of does make a difference in the resonance and agree the size matters (the bass flutes are my favorite). I guess that's why I like cedar so well (soft wood). I have a flute made of walnut and another of quilted maple. The sound seems harder from those type woods. I just ordered an Elemental Flutes triple drone made of walnut (F#4). It sounded great in the videos. So I'm curious to compare this one to the drone flutes (doubles) I already have. By the way, the drones are fantastic and are really fun to play. Thank you for the great video, I enjoyed it!

Let’s confuse the issue even more. The set of bound books can be a volume like a set of encyclopedia volume one through 26. It is also a collection of periodicals, often determined by year as in one of Time magazine.

Wow always great info and demo, because of your videos Ive made many good 5 hole flutes and a dozen or so good walking stick flutes an out of them 3 or 4 really hit the spot for me. Anyway back to the reason Im commenting is now Ive GOT TO make some 6 hole flutes now, so thanks alot [sarcastic] haha just kidding but back to work I go on these 6 hole flutes lol. Seriously thanks for encouragement, your 6 hole flute sounds great

Any info from you is worth time to learn...thank you

GREAT

i am a penny whistle player, so i really don't understand why people would make a flute that requires you to keep a hole covered the whole time, always got my brow raised up ha

Oh, and to add to my previous long comment. The five hole native american flute is the pentatonic minor scale as you said 3-2-2-3-2 intervals. If all the other notes are the same then that "sixth" hole should be a flattened fourth: 3-2-2-1-2-2. If the minor pentatonic in C is C, Eb, F, G, Bb and back to C, that extra note would be Ab. Ab is part of the F minor pentatonic scale F, Ab, Bb, C, Eb, F so having a hole for Ab gives you access to the F minor pentatonic scale also except for the fourth note on that extended scale, and I suspect you can get that too with cross fingering. Admonishments not to use that sixth hole might be to do with learning the scale in the key the flute is in before moving on to other scales and cross fingering. It probably shouldn't be universal advice, it depends on the individual player.

Yes That resonates with me. 😁

The sound of your last 5 finger flute with the bright wood is absolute perfect for me. Year, i am looking around your videos to learn how to make my own one myself. It makes no sense to fly one around the hole world^^ You gave some really good info around over the years. Thanks for everything. I am missing just a tutorial what diameter and what distances of holes must be used for what sound with an example in video. SHURE !!! In fact you are selling this flutes. Absolute ok ;) And you are givving many more information around as many others. So thank you again. In the end it will be not possible to build my own one with this tone. Better to say: It will not be possible to say without many trys to catch the right tone. I learned that building a flute is more complicated and need many years of try & error, instead of yust doing it ... Ok, in germany it is not possible to buy something like this. I will look forward on other channels for more detailed instructions and examples of sound ;) Someone out there will help me to get my own one ;) Thank you for every info you gave out in the last years ....

Vary interesting video. It's kinda sad you had to explain your usage of the word guys when referring to the flutes. I need to step up and try making a flute. I think it would be both fun and educational. Maybe a flute would sound good with the Cigar Box Guitars I build. Thanks!!

Muchas Gracias por tus videos, siempre muy interesantes. Abrazo desde Uruguay 🇺🇾. ¿Hablas español?? 🙂🙏🎶🙌🥇🎶

5/7/24 I made a six hole flute for my grand daughter and she can’t finger the bottom two holes so she only plays the top 4. So I made a four hole and she still likes to play the six hole with only 4 holes she numbered the holes 1 thru 4 and writes down random sets of 4 four numbers to make songs

What are the finger hole measurements on your G , 6 hole flute. I would like to try and make one out of bamboo. Thanks in advance. Another great video.

My flutes were built to cover the fourth hole. That’s how I learned and I’ve discovered that cross fingering and alternating between scales, I can access some pretty incredible melodies! 😊it had allowed me to get comfortable with the minor pentatonic scale first, and slowly explore the chromatic scale. When I teach beginners I teach them to “marry” the ring finger to the flute. After they are familiar and comfortable with the main scale, I start showing them the first cross finger between the fourth and fifth note. It has been successful to teach this way. Do you create your 6hole flutes in a way where you need to take off every finger in a row to access the minor pentatonic scale? If so does the six hole represent the 7th not of the scale or the octave above the root octave? Thank you for your time and knowledge 🙏🏼

I've watched several of your videos and have recently been attempting making one and I've got some learning to do ! I am fighting colon cancer and it sounds like healing to me ... I love your videos and they mean a lot to me ... I currently have a problem with the one I'm making , can I ask you what I'm doing wrong?

Having recently discovered this style of flute, your explanation of the original six hole/small diameter flute makes sense. I am in the UK and looking at making something out of our native elder as a single piece rather than splitting and joining, but the pith diameter is rather small, so I will need to bore it out. A perfect piece of elder has come my way which is of suitable diameter and straight enough to do this, but it is long enough to make something of deeper pitch than G (for playing with other people F or C would be easier). Whilst my wife is about to order me your book, I will need to bore it before the book arrives to make sure it doesn't split on drying. Hence the question - whilst not historically found, have you tried making lower pitch early style six hole flutes? If you have, do you keep the diameter at 1/2" whatever the pitch, or do you scale diameter with pitch? I am trying to figure what diameter to go for as the technique I will use only allows me to pass through once - I can't start at 1/2" and widen it later. Any thoughts appreciated.

I've wondered how you manage not to drop the six-hole flute when you have all six holes open. With a five-hole, I use the finger where the other hole would have been to hold the flute when I open the rest. I watched you play and still don't see how you kept from dropping it. I haven't made hundreds of thousands of flutes like you, but I have made several hundred by now.

that lovely re cedar flute instantly made the hair on my neck arise , non of the others did , the only other one that still does it to me is the one you crafted for me several yrs ago , it has seen me through some rough and some good times but still lifts me , I have a question please , I have a largish peice of rosewood in a beautiful deep red , before I start cutting it what would be you thoughts on its value as native style flute ? thanks as well for all your videos they truly educational , and very correctly sometimes sarcastic which I love , thanks again Charlie .

This is information I have tried to find out for a while. My question is what are the limitations of this (I know there are)? I’m trying to word an example. Given that the volume of air in the two G flutes you showed is the same but one is longer and has a smaller diameter, there must be (?) a mathematical relationship between those two things - length and diameter. So if I want a bass flute like the A you showed, how big would the diameter have to be to make the whole thing ¼ to ⅓ shorter than it is? And is that possible?

Curious as to the tuning difference on the cedar from a usual 6 hole flute. Hole size or spacing ? Also is that in a book or just your own knowledge? I'm an old musician that just got bit by the flute bug . Thanks for your videos 😊

hi Charlie i made a bamboo flute following your outdoor tutorial. however the last note hole on the bottom is higher than the others. should i cut off more of the end? i thought maybe its too long. also how hard do you blow because if i blow gently it has that nice low raspy sound but if i blow hard it sounds high whistle

What key flute pairs well with dulcimer in key of d

what formule do you use to calclulate the sound hole location ?

How far could you take the principle of changing diameter and width? For example, I only have access to ~0.5" diameter bamboo right now, but I want to make mid-range or bass flutes. Is that possible, if I have a very long piece of bamboo? Or would the quality of the sound suffer? Thanks for the informative videos as always!

Hello How Do I Go about Buying One of Your Fluids? Very Much Interested I Am 86 Years of Age Have a Heart Problem since 1983 Just Now Was Given about a Year Ago Prostrate Cancer Not Looking for Sympathy or Feeling Sorry for Myself Just Love the Sound of the Flu Very Mellow and Satisfying I've Been Watching You Now for Couple of Days And I Would like to Purchase a Flute and See How It Goes.

Honestly I prefer the 5 holes I think there easier to make play

I have heard someone say about Google Flutes . Do you mean you have to go through Google to buy one ? Im a little confused sorry Charlie. Just one more thing please. I have a some PVC pipe ,its 1inch inside . Could i make a G or F# from that Charlie ?

Cant get any whistle sound from my whistles.... only my blowing like the wind is making noice but not any freaking sound... am i blowing ot wrong? How do u blow in it? I just blow like kissing and blowing 😅

What does it mean a key G # mean, the # 4 mean??

thats insane, i on, to build my own, but unfortunately the videos are all non Metric (not inch but cm) sad ge

I heard about a flute maker who uses the name "Blue". He likes to beat up women, and has already been to prison for it once. Spent time in Australia. Has issues with him mommy.