Blue Bear Flutes
Blue Bear Flutes
6 Hole Flutes
Traditionally Made 6 Hole Native American Style Flutes
These are our Traditionally Made 6 Hole Native American Flutes. They play a little differently than other 6 hole flutes and sound very beautiful! Unlike the modern 6 hole Native American Flutes which are widely available these days, our 6 hole flutes play all fingerings from bottom to top not keeping any holes covered (other 6 hole flutes today require you to keep the 3rd fingering covered to play the scale properly). For this reason it is very important not to confuse them for their modern counterparts especially since most Native American Flute music today is written for the modern 6 hole flute, not this one. If you are looking for a flute to play modern Native American Flute music with, our traditionally made 5 hole flutes play all the notes of the modern 6 and are super easy to play! A fingering chart is included with them and is also available for download from our "Info" page. Please watch my video showing the differences between ours and other 6 hole flutes before you decide to order one!
What Is a Traditionally Made 6-Hole Native American Style Flute?
Many people ask, "What exactly is a Traditionally Made 6-Hole Native American Style Flute?"
To answer that question, it helps to first understand what a Native American style flute is. Like any traditional instrument, the most authentic examples are often those that most closely resemble the sound, design, and playing characteristics of the earliest instruments from which they evolved.
For more than 38 years, I have studied, built, and played Native American style flutes. During that time, I have developed strong opinions about what distinguishes a truly traditional flute from many of the modern interpretations available today. While there are many excellent flute makers producing quality instruments, my approach is rooted in preserving playing characteristics and design concepts that I believe are closer to the historical instruments that inspired them.
Why Start with a 5-Hole Flute?
Our 5-Hole Native American Style Flutes are often the best choice for beginners. They are simple to learn, comfortable to play, and produce the same number of notes as most modern 6-hole flutes.
We offer these flutes in both modern keyed tunings and traditionally tuned versions. Traditional tuning places less emphasis on modern Western musical standards and allows the instrument to develop a unique voice that many players find expressive, organic, and reminiscent of older flute traditions.
Our flutes are available in standard concert tunings such as A=440 Hz, as well as alternative frequencies including 432 Hz and 528 Hz for those who prefer them. *An added benefit is that our 5-hole flutes use the same basic fingering system familiar to most Native American flute players, making them easy to transition to and from other instruments.
The Difference Between Modern and Traditional 6-Hole Flutes
The primary difference between what I consider a modern 6-hole flute and a traditional 6-hole flute comes down to the placement and function of a single finger hole.
On most modern 6-hole Native American style flutes, one of the holes - typically the third hole from the top - is covered during most playing. As a result, many players spend years wondering why the hole exists at all.
Historically, flute dimensions, bore sizes, and hole placements were often different from those commonly used today. My belief is that the original 6-hole instruments functioned differently than many modern designs and that the sixth hole played a more active role in the instrument's scale and musical possibilities.
Rather than serving as a hole that is covered nearly all the time, I believe the original design concept was closer to the way traditional 4-hole and 5-hole flutes operate today, with each hole contributing naturally to the progression of the scale.
This perspective comes from decades of flute making, experimentation, and playing instruments from many cultures around the world. While other interpretations certainly exist, this understanding has shaped the design philosophy behind the traditionally made 6-hole flutes offered by Blue Bear Flutes.
Learn More...
If you'd like to hear a more detailed explanation of this theory and see examples of these flutes in action, be sure to watch our Traditional 6-Hole Flute Explanation Video.
Interested in the technical side of flute construction? We also have a detailed flute-making video that explores the design, tuning, and craftsmanship behind these instruments.
