Native American Style Flutes

About the Native American flute – The Native American flute is held in front of the player, has open finger holes, and has two chambers: one for collecting the breath of the player and a second chamber which creates sound. The player breathes into one end of the flute without the need for an embouchure. A block on the outside of the instrument directs the player’s breath from the first chamber—called the slow air chamber—into the second chamber—called the sound chamber. The design of a sound hole at the proximal end of the sound chamber causes air from the player’s breath to vibrate. This vibration causes a steady resonance of air pressure in the sound chamber that creates sound. Native American flutes comprise a wide range of designs, sizes, and variations—far more varied than most other classes of woodwind instruments.  Wikipedia: “Native American flute”

The flutes varied greatly on materials and tuning structure. In the American south they were made from river cane and bamboo; in the American west and east flutes were made from softwood trees. The flutes’ fingering patterns varied from 4 to 6 holes. Cedar (a softwood) was the preferred wood of choice in the American southwest. With the addition of metal tools, flutes made out of hardwoods came into existence.