Native American style Flutes
FireSong Flutes
I call them "FireSong Flutes" because we play so much music
around the camp fire at 4H events and when camping privately.
NA style Flutes and how I make them
I am NOT Native American Indian but I do love so much about that way of life.
I like making the flutes because they are so beautiful to hear, so soothing.
My flutes are for 'therapy'; Relaxation and Healing!!
Red Oak flute in G, Pentatonic minor tuning.
Inlaid Walnut roost and inlaid Walnut "buffalo band" at south end.
Lacquer finish on outside.
SAC and mouth-hole area (nipple) finished with food grade mineral oil.
Close up of temprary bird.
You may be able to barely see the thin white plastic I have laminated to bottom of Cherry bird.
I do this to prevent moisture damage to the bird and make a super slick airway.
Sometimes I use plastic similar in color to wood of bird, other times I use contrasting color.
Kind of like the binding on a fine guitar.
The plastic may not be historically accurate or "good NAF etiquette" but I like the way it works.
Cherry Flute, G, Pentatonic minor tuning.
This is the flute built in the previous pictures.
Lacquer on the outside, shellac on the inside of bore and SAC.
Mouth-hole, nipple area, is rubbed with saturating coats of mineral oil.
Close up of rings cut then burned into south end.
The rings represent the Four Winds, Four Directions.
Close up of temprary bird.
Bird is laminated, stacked Purpleheart and Beech, rubbed with oil.
You may be ablt to barely see the thin white plastic I have laminated to bottom of bird.
I do this to prevent moisture damage to the bird and make a super slick airway.
Sometimes I use plastic similar in color to wood of bird, other times I use contrasting color.
Kind of like the binding on a fine guitar.
The plastic may not be historically accurate or "good NAF etiquette" but I like the way it works.
Firesong Flute Number 10
Wild Cherry with Cedar Bird
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
Roost is routed to better keep bird in place.
This flute was held on my Nova DVR-XP "jig" then routed with a carriage mounted router.
This worked well as it applies little to no sideways flexing forces and
it came out very uinform and straight. Will post pics of this process soon.
Firesong Flute Number 12
Black Cherry with Walnut bird
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
Roost is routed into flute body to keep bird aligned.
Flue is routed into roost.
This flute was held on my Nova DVR-XP "jig" then routed with a carriage mounted router.
This worked well as it applies little to no sideways flexing forces.
This flute is sold!! My first actual flute sale!!
Firesong Flute Number 14
Steamed Beech with Cedar campfire bird
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
Roost is routed into flute body to help keep bird aligned.
Flue is routed into roost.
This flute was held on my Nova DVR-XP "jig" then routed with a carriage mounted router.
This worked well as it applies little to no sideways flexing forces.
The finish work was done by hand with spokeshave for final shaping.
Firesong Flute Number 15
Wild Cherry with Yellowheart Butterfly bird
Key of F#-Pentatonic Tuning
Roost is routed into flute body to help keep bird aligned.
Flue is routed into roost.
This flute was made on an old Craftsman "Router-Crafter".
This worked well as it applies little to no sideways flexing forces.
Able to make very thin walled flute (approx 1/8") since there is no flexing.
It is actually a bit too thin, maybe too delicate, but resonates well.
Firesong Flute Number 16
Over-Under Double Barrel Cherry Drone
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
This was my first drone and it turned out great (pure luck I'm sure!!).
The top and bottom are Wild Cherry with a 1/4" Walnut divider between top and bottom halves.
The two chambers share one large common SAC with a single blow hole into the SAC.
Maybe I'll make one with separate SAC and blowhole in the future.
It was a bit tricky to get both cambers identical. I scraped both out with an old spade bit
that I radiused to 1-1/16" so the volume would be the same as a single barrel 3/4" G.
Finish is tung oil on outside, shellac inside.
It is a bit heavy (should have taken more of the corners off) but it sounds pretty good and tuned real good.
I actually started this one first but finished #17 first because 16 required so much hand scraping in the bores.
Firesong Flute Number 17
Side-By-Side Double Barrel Walnut over Cherry Drone
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
Roost is flush on top of flute body due to the way I wanted to drill for the thong.
I'm not quite sure yet, but this may sound a little better.
The bores were routed 3/4".
The two chambers share one large common SAC with a single blow hole into the SAC.
I really like the side-by-side style drone better.
All finish work was done by hand with spokeshave and planes for final shaping.
The Walnut just screamed out to me for tung oil finish. Shellac inside.
The satin hand rubbed finish really makes the grain 'POP'.
Still need to carve the birds into something, just not sure what yet.
Firesong Flute Number 18 & 19
Matched pair of Cherry beauties with Walnut mouthpieces.
Actually made the first to be gifted to one of my all time best friend's friend.
It looked, tuned and sounded so great I had to make a second identical one to keep!!
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
Roost is routed into flute body to help keep bird aligned.
Flue is routed into roost.
These flutes were back on my Nova DVR-XP "jig" and rough turned.
The finish work was done by hand with spokeshave for final shaping.
These are my best sounding so far. And the Cherry is great looking too!!
Firesong Flute Number 21
Red Oak Octagon shaped with Cedar bird.
Key of G-Pentatonic Tuning
Flue is routed into top of body.
This flute was planed and spokeshaved, never turned on the lathe.
The finish work was done by hand with spokeshave for final shaping.
Firesong Flute Stand 02
A Bevy of Beauties!!!
A slab of White Oak for the base with turned and shaved pegs, 3/4" x 6".
