Flutes Of Native American Indians


Many musicians and players of flutes (woodwind instruments) are familiar with the sounds of this ancient musical instrument of the Native American Indians of the plains. It is said to have originated  as a "love instrument"in the beautiful area we now call Monument Valley in the southwest. 

Early Native Americans spent many days searching for the proper kinds of wood to carefully carve this very special kind of musical instrument. Following the long period of painstaking  carving by hand were many more days of dedicated practice to learn how to play and thus create the  hauntingly beautiful sounds that could then be produced in no other way.

The principal use of this breath-powered musical instrument (now called a woodwind instrument) was to help a courting male get the attention of the young girl he had fallen in love with. Many of the melodies played on these flutes were created to promote and illustrate - in gentle breath-like sounds - the heartfelt passion in the young brave's heart for the girl of his choice.  We are told that the courting flute eventually became a part of the brave's family life.  It was played during many family gatherings. Later when the brave reached old age and  died, his flute was always buried with him so he could take it with him on his journey to the happy hunting grounds of his heavenly life after his earthly was finished.

Other songs, those played at tribal meetings,  help us almost hear, with a touch of homesickness, the gentle winds as they drift and flow in and around jagged, rugged, mysterious and majestic contours of the castle-like, windblown formations we know now as the monuments of Monument Valley.

Today many, if not all Native American Flutes are made, not by the Indians, but by Chinese, Korean and even Spanish craftsmen.  Even so, these flutes are still called: flutes made in the American Indian style.  These other craftsmen are quite careful to make their flutes almost exact copies of those once product so carefully and lovingly by the Native Americans themselves.

A modern flute can be electronically tuned to an "F" fundamental note.  This kind of tuning, today is called: Pentatonic Scale tuning.  It makes the flute very easy to play since all of the sounds produced are harmonic, and the sound produced is - in a word: good.  Many musicians can create very beautiful sounds even when using no written music at all. They will just improvise, relax and do their best to play beautiful original tunes right from their hearts.

Whereas the Native Americans had to search for days to find appropriate wood to make a flute,
modern day craftsmen have the advantage of using beautifully grained exotic woods such as: Sappelli, Samba, Purpleheart, Zebrawood and Wenge. Great care is now taken to use the kinds of well seasoned wood that will ultimately enhance the vibrant sounds of the finished flute.

Acoustic properties of these kinds of wood as well as the intricate design of the woodwind are all taken into consideration by the craftsmen, so that the finished product will produce the desired pleasing sounds expected by both the musician and his audience. An extra benefit of using exotic wood is in the beauty as well as the durability of this modernize ancient instrument that can be achieved in no other way. Flutes of this kind can be seen on the eBay store called: Originals by Terry Weber

By: Terry Weber