In the summer of 2020, I built my first Native flute. I had already built several overtone flutes with varying degrees of success. But I had never played a melodic flute before, except for the nose flute I had as a child.
But then when I realized how easy it was to make a beautiful sound with my first flute, I thought, 'Great, this is exactly what kids should be given instead of recorders: no more terrible squeaking.'
Later I learned that it's still possible to make some hair-raising sounds, but it's rare, unless you want to... Like children often do.
For my flutes, I use a variety of woods. I primarily use wood from native trees, when not native then recycled wood or leftover pieces.I don't buy exotic woods. I prefer to use wood that I collect myself from the forest near where I live."
For birds or totems, I mostly use tropical hardwood. I like the contrast. It can be anything from bankirai from an old terrace, mahogany from a boat to meranti from a window frame. I never use new tropical hardwood.
Most of the flutes I make are five-hole flutes, tuned in pentatonic minor. Personally, I don't see much point in the six-hole 'pentatonic' variant. They're not really pentatonic anymore, and I find it very impractical that you almost always have to cover that extra hole. That's why many six-hole flutes come with a leather band to cover the hole... so you can play more relaxed!? I prefer not to make a hole that you almost always have to cover anyway. The 'missing' note can still be produced well from the flute if you cover the first and third holes from the top.
