The Secret to Native American Flute Playing 

I began playing as a breath exercise when I realized that my breath was stuck in my throat, shear anxiety and stress. A single sustained note over time and I felt relieved. I call all of my playing 'breath prayer'. It is a quiet discipline though not always slow and somber. I do enjoy an upbeat tune from time to time. Thank you for your videos. I was looking for a few more advanced techniques. I was curious about 'flipping' the notes but I think now it may be the result of quick fingering.

Something about native American flutes is so captivating to me. Soothing.

I just wanted to personally thank you for opening my eyes to breathing properly! I have been breathing the wrong way all my life, and I truly believe exactly what you shared on your video to be true, and I will be working on incorporating your suggestions on "keeping my mouth shut", and techniques that can help me going forward!! I appreciate your wonderful videos, have a great day...

Hi Charlie! I received my flute in the mail yesterday. This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for! A simple five-hole flute with deep, rich, emotive sounds. I play from the heart, and so I'm honored to be playing a flute made by you, Charlie. I decided to go with the Bear fetish to honor your tradition--plus, I read on your website that bears are healing/remove obstacles along the path (much like Ganesh in Hindu/Vedic mythology)? This is perfect, as my body has spinal cord injury and spinal cord diseases. I shall play the flute with the intention of healing my body through this beautiful instrument. Thank you! Blessings to you and yours!

I just spent two weeks in the Sonoran desert and brought a flute along with no experience. This is exactly how I started, just a feeling. Sitting silent and observing the desert, watching the light grow dim, let the feeling flow.

Wow,I just took that breath n have no words,I was gonna pass by this video cause I was a little tired already watched allot.im glad I stayed.Thank you so much.i really felt something beautiful n sacred,as the breath is very sacred.

Everything is energy and vibration. Music is vibration. Humans are beings of light that vibrate. Music changes the frequency you vibrate at. Great video!!!

I know this is a 7yo video but your videos have peaked my interest in the Native American flute.

Thanks, Charlie, for speaking from the heart. I do appreciate all of the insights and "secrets" you share about making, tuning, and playing the flute.

Thank you, Charlie! I love how you said breathing is the fire and oxygen for our body. I’m going to try to practice this with my Flute. What a great video! Again, thank you❤

letting the notes draw out with a long breath... and not focusing on the finger changes... gives that haunting quality. thanks.

I’ve been in a very day place, this video has lifted me.❤️

Deep gratitude for the depth of heart, wisdom, and magic that you share…. Profound Truths riding on the waves of Life's beautiful music… Very inspired :-)

Thanks friend. I made a bamboo flute with your pattern yesterday. It is my favorite one so far. Thanks for inspiration to make such a beautiful instrument.

Great video! When I play, I play with my heart spirit and all the forces surround it the wind, rain, thunder, lightning and all my ancestors.

Nice tip, id just started the flute journey and to my surprise this harmonious piece of instrument is an expression of emotions and all the goodness we have inside of everyone of us, its like my heart singing and opening up to da love vibe thats was bury and hidden... through instruments and humming along i've realized the real GEM is in us... we just have to go find it and dig it out... thanks for the reminder of breath work...peace and love to you bro.

This is something that everyone will understand over time. Its not something that hits you all at once. Flutes are beautiful, and playing the flute is medicine for your soul, mind, and body. Thank you

Love your philosophy in regards to flute playing. Have been making some bamboo transverse flutes for a little while & wanted to make some Native American Flutes. Your videos are awesome! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. Just ordered your book and can’t wait to have a read and start making some flutes. :)

Thanks Charlie, me having COPD got me into the flute and doing a mix on the flute and yogic breathing. It has certainly helped me although I am still playing the same tune that jumped into my head , and I know what you mean about falling asleep lol :)

Dear Brother, Thank you for your benevolence, compassion and wisdom, in regards to playing this wonderful instrument. Your approach is so so simplistic and yet ,so deeply profound. In peace and blessings, David doc Leija 🕉☯🔯🕆♒😉🐯💜💜💜💜💜

Thank you so very much for this video. Such a simple, but life-changing concept that I can use as a flute player and a vocalist. I'm fairly new in my playing, and the two challenges I've run into was having control and actually not feeling like I'm sounding the same every time. I don't know whether it's because breathing and thinking this way causes one to relax, or what, but it did seem to help me immensely in my playing.

Excellent! What a perfect way to start my Sunday Morning! Thank you!

Wow. I love your message in this video. So simple yet so profound. Will be ordering my first flute soon, can't wait! :)

Thank you, Charlie, for sharing your secrets and which I'll be applying tonight! Bless your soul!

I am so glad hearing you talking about this, for it is exactly what I feel myself. It is simply magic, when I play, even one single note. I have made lots of flutes after your instructions, and am very grateful for everything you put on disposal here for us.

Excellent video and message. I just obtained my first flute, Native American style, and I am excited for the journey ahead. As I venture deeper into the powers that be

Thanks Charlie! I am very moved by this video!!

I just played a song to my son-in-spirit who is always singing to me. My Ben...forever 22. Thank you.

I just started playing after years of dithering indecision and I have watched the number of your videos. Your humility, honesty, extensive knowledge and talent has been an an invaluable inspiration to me! Thank you. PS What a beautiful flute!

Very nice! All shown and spoken as a real heart person. Thanks

Thank you for this very educational video I appreciate what you have done your work is very much appreciated

Thank you for your work Brother. You're on a honest way. Very inspiring.

This was a profoundly insightful video. I feel privileged to have seen this. Thank you for this gift. 😊

Thank you so much Charlie. It does work on the video. When you played at the last I could feel the vibrations in the back of my head. That to me is a spiritual connection, an interdependence, an inter-related feeling of being in touch with a profound creative energy, that gives life.... a universal connection that unites us and every living thing. As you have said.... it is beyond words. So glad to have met you and thank you for your creative energy.

Thank you so much. I'm in tears

Wow. I'm tearing up. Thank you so much

thank you so much!! I have forgotten this an your video made me happier and my playing better

Excellent video Charlie, I actually was with you through to the end and enjoyed both your playing and philosophies. Today I just sold my first two flutes, one in the key of Gm and one in F#m. It's taken me several months and almost two dozen flutes before I finally felt confident in the tone and looks and I still feel my TSH could be a little better, there's definitely a spiritual journey to making them as well as playing them and each flute I've come across has it's own unique breath, some you can play harder than others on those low notes. I took an early retirement over 10 years ago to do something different and more spiritual with my life, I wanted to work more with my hands and spirit. It took me awhile to find my place and put together my cave, but I'm finally finding what I've longed to do. I love making these magical instruments as much as I do playing them. I'd love to chat with you sometime in the near future. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and may the good spirits always be with you.

Thanks Charlie, Osiyo, Over 6 years later and your message still hit's home.❤️ I started with a N/A style "D" flute made from 3/4 PVC. Adding an F# Cedar flute, I've learned all Bevani's tunes, Cherokee Morning Song, Water Song, Lakota Lullabye, and at times, I close my eyes and improvise as my Cherokee ancestors did.

I have recently started playing and I can definitely agree with likening it to a flame. The best approach I found for me is to treat it as if I am tending a fire. You know how sometimes you blow on the fire to stoke the embers, and how it occasionally crackles. I sometimes even put in vibration with my diaphragm. The important thing is to do your best to find your inner sound, be patient and be gentle. :) I also find the tunes completely change depending on the time of the day. I go shorter, faster, more playful notes during the day time and more drawn out, somber notes at sunset. Still new to this but I am loving my flute. :D

I love the look of that flute as well.!

Hey Charlie, I play the average metal flute and I tried this method for playing and it sounded so much better. The tone and quality of the sound was twice as good. Thanks.

Great sharing, flute is a powerful natural instrument that tells stories through the thoughts....blessings

Puts you to sleep kind of like my voice. Ha ha love it, keep it up Charlie I am trying to learn this myself.

thank you for this beautful video. you really have inspired me and sparked something in my heart... x

Thank you Charlie awesome video!

Thank you. A simple way to get to the heart of it. It's what I need.

I have experienced what you're talking about. I breathe my raw emotions in, and music comes out… Extraordinarily liberating!

thank you for sharing your wisdom! i love the sound and intention!

Thank you. I've had a flute for about 20 years and often play before meditating. I liked your thoughts on how things are connected. Yes we are all connected. When we see and feel our oneness that is the way to liberation and freedom. Thank you again. Will try playing similar to what you played. Loving kindness to all beings.

Beautiful presentation! Thank you!♡

I loved your rambling style that gets to the point. I have made maybe a thousand flutes and many more starts. I am inspired today to make a flute. An keep making these videos.

Love your videos ! So humble and real 🙏

I love the contrast of a high pitch and a soothing melody.

I fell asleep but kept on watching. Lol Excellent video, Charlie. Thank you.

Charlie thank you again for all your great info., but at this time of sorrow, I can’t put down what I feel in my heart, don’t know if you remember me or not but this is the calf. Wild man, this 86 year old man just lost the love of my life, my wife LOIS of 66 years married passed away on Friday the thirteenth ,we have had a great life together,,if you remember the large family ,four kids of our own,two boys and two girls ,now look what we started ,nine grand kids twenty two great grand kids and three great great grand kids .wow what a great life we started. If you remember I was making or at least trying too make with your help on the videos ,have got to make a lot of flutes (the all want one). Now that my sweetheart is gone got to get back to work I know she would want me to complete all of the flutes, time of sorrow will never go away ,I have got to try and get it done. Charlie your videos is such a great help.may GOD Bless you and your family ,my heart is full of so much good memories thank you again . The calf. Wild man. Bobbyjackson1933@gmail.com.

everything u said is true...I just staarted playin the flute... it comes within I experienced that last night .... I had gotten this flute a few months ago n tried to play I couldn't even get the first note to play nor could I get a melody... so last night after coming back to my apartment in the city I saw it I picked it up n breathed into my nose n out my mouth...then I blew into the flute .... and just started playing was crazy but it does some with in ....good video...

Thank you, I know this is a old video but it showed up just at the right time for me! 🎶

thanks charlie, you have reminded me. thank you! (: One love

Thank you so much for sharing your Heart...☮️

This was a great video. I have just started to learn to play and have a long road ahead of me, thank you for your insights.

I stopped at 8:51, just to say thank you. I purchased one in N Carolina some time ago. It was interesting for a moment but like so many hobbies, I failed to make the right connections to what it is, and why I should pick it up again. For some reason, 5 years later, I did pick it up again, forgetting most of the very little I learned...and glad I did, then turned to RU-vid, found a lesson on playing a scale, and just laid in bed with the lights out trying different things with the simple scale, and before I knew it, I was in a nice calm meditative state where it felt like it was playing itself. Maybe my subconscious took over, who knows. Anyway I stopped to let you know that when I was done I found that I was breathing better. I have chronic bronchitis and lately it's been rough, but I think I found a piece of magic in this instrument just in the past hour. I could write on and on here but I want to get back to your video. Thank you again!

Well done. Yes, we understand. Wind and water. Nature is the pearl.

Thank you so much. This helped so much

You are a beautiful soul

thank you :-) very nice lesson

Very inspiring!

Inspirational !!

Opened my eyes to many things.

I play ocarina, and saxophone, now I'm really wanting to check out one of your drone flutes. The more I've played over the years the more of a higher vibration I'm looking for. I see that you can tune your flutes in 528hz. That's what I'm after, a new vibration.

Thank you! Beautiful for my soul.

I really appreciate your video as I'm a beginner and I will learn a lot from watching you. Thank you

Thank you so much

Thanks for the vid brother!

love that flute by the way

Many thanks brother 😁👍

For me, I like this mud ball. It's my home, it's our home and we all really need to take much better care of it than we do.

~Thank you for sharing your magic,i have just started my journey with the flute and it is very magical,i have a long way to go it seems.;)

Thanks. Awaiting part II.

Awesome and great info :)

Thks for your energy and transmission from France

best vid I've seen in a while

Thank you. Conga drum player trying flute. Magical.....

Tq tq tq . Deep peace to u Charlie .

Very nice. Thanks sir! Didn't grasp power until literally got me off sleeping pills and more natural energy during the day! Reason those people were around since way before we came...

Love my 4hole flute Charlie , I take it when I go bird watching and play by the stream

It was very helpful to be reminded at the breathing, to do the first step. ...and the Idea which is inside. I am beginner

I just started learning to play a native american style flute. I don't have any magical or inspirational shit to write, but I love this fuckin instrument.

fasinating about falling asleep to playing !

thanks that was helpful :)

Thx today in intend on purchasing my very first musical instrument for my birthday and it's going to be a Native American flute... I hope I can learn it n according to this video I'm thinking it will b possible... I've always struggled in the music dept tho I love music... This could b my answer... Thanx... I look forward to more videos becuz you make it look fairly easy

Shit . . . you're sound is so clear! Wish I could achieve a sound like that. Stephen

Just sitting hear watching and playing some notes on my alto recorder.

thank you so much

I honestly thought that the title was Clickbait at first..! Not at all!! Thank you! Some may not get this, but for whom it is meant, it is much appreciated..! Awesome video!

enjoyed!

Hi Charlie loving your videos, do you have a Uk supplier for your flutes? Love and respect from England.

I'm seriously considering buying a flute.. in 432 hz tuning.. and F#. Do you have some for sale now? I see some nice ones on ebay.. in 432, in F#, and of cedar. Can you tell me if an average or slightly small size woman's hand will be able to handle the F# hole spacing? I have never played a wind instrument, or any instrument except a LITTLE bit of guitar but it was very challenging and due to some chronic pain I had to stop.. but I really want to try the flute... thanks for any advice and for this vid. Michelle..

gosh you are lovely mr

much respect