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Native American Flute
FINGERING

The lower three holes (4,5,6) are covered by the right hand, while the left hand covers the upper three (1,2,3).  Use only the index, middle, and ring fingers of each hand to cover the holes on the flute.

POSITIONING

Steady the flute with your thumbs and little fingers.  Facing straight ahead, hold the flute in a comfortable position pointed slightly downward.  A good player should be comfortable and enjoy playing.

HOLE COVERING

Use the pads of your fingertips, not the tips themselves, to cover the holes of your Flute. Be sure your fingers seal the tone hole completely to avoid fuzzy and squeaky notes.

EMBOUCHURE

The word ‘embouchure’ means the way we form our mouth and blow into the Flute.  Do not put the whole mouthpiece in your mouth. Pucker your lips a bit and put just the tip of the mouthpiece between your lips. Be sure to form a complete seal.

MOISTURE

After playing for some time, moisture may build up in the chamber and airways.  Give your Flute a sharp blast. Or, grasping it tightly by the tube, give it a couple of shakes to expel the moisture.

GET TO KNOW YOUR FLUTE
Native American Flute
Begin by blowing into the flute with enough air pressure to cool a spoon of hot soup.  Not too softly, not to hard, just enough to get a clear tone.  Cover all the tone holes, this is the lowest note.  When you have a nice, clear tone, open the bottom hole (#6), then #5, then #4.  Close the holes one at a time, #4, #5 then #6.  Practice this ‘half-scale’.  Increase the air pressure slightly as you go up the scale, decrease the air pressure slightly as you go down the scale.
Native American Flute
Now try the top three holes, again increasing the air pressure slightly as you go up the scale, decreasing the air pressure slightly as you go down the scale.
Native American Flute
Now try a complete 7 note scale.
Native American Flute
The ‘over tones’ will be the most challenging, but with the right (increased) air pressure, you can master them.
Native American Flute
Cross fingerings will get the sharps/flats, or ‘half-tones’ – Here is a scale chart for all of the fingerings and for the corresponding ‘signature notation’.