Native American Style Flute Maintenance & Troubleshooting
Simple care and practical checks to help you enjoy your Blue Bear flute. Start with the basics below, and check our how to videos whenever you are unsure!
1. Everyday Care & Storage
Handle your flute gently and occasionally wipe the outside with a soft, dry cloth. Let it "air out" a little before putting it away. Protect it from knocks, direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Avoid leaving a wooden flute in a parked car, for example. Excessive heat or cold is terrible for a wooden instrument. Use a suitable flute bag for travel, and keep heavy items off the instrument. When in doubt, think "what would Native Americans do hundreds of years ago?" And of course, you don't have to bag your flute everyday! I don't!
2. Moisture & Playing Time
Moisture from your breath can collect as you play. While we at Blue Bear Flutes do everything that we can as flute makers to prevent this, it can happen - especially if you have been eating or drinking, or if you just went into a cold or moist environment. One big "no-no" is putting the flute in your mouth. This is the #1 reason for wetting out, which other flute makers have seemingly yet to discover. It is also the reason that our flutes do not have a "small pointy mouthpiece", since that promotes such a thing. If a flute that started playing clearly becomes breathy or stops sounding, gurgles or water comes out of it, take a break and let it dry naturally. Something that I like to do, after playing for nearly 40 years, is to hold my finger over the sound hole, just below the flute block and blow hard dispelling all water trapped inside. Do not use direct heat, soak a wooden flute or push tools into its air channel. Oiling and waxing a flute is the most appropriate thing for your particular flute from Blue Bear Flutes. We don't use lacquers or harsh finishes since they were not historically used on these instruments. This allows the owner of one of our flutes to preserve it in a way not only consistent with how they were originally, but also is the best way to keep water out and protect your flute for years to come! Blue Bear Modern Series instruments, since they are made of plastic unlike our others, need slightly different care. Since they are made from man made materials, they typically do not require much (if any) maintenance. So long as you do not touch them with food or play them after eating, they really don't need a lot. Of course, just as you wouldn't with a wooden flute, don't put them in the hot car or expose them extremes, although they are much more tolerant of that than their wooden counterparts! The little rubbing alcohol is the best way with a paper towel to clean smudges or to get someone elses cooties off of the modern series flute.
3. Weak Notes, Squeaks & Airy Tone
Start with a gentle, steady breath. Too much air can make a note jump or squeak. Check that your finger pads fully cover the holes required for the note, and relax your hands. Try one note at a time. It's best to begin with "all notes/holes uncovered" when trying your flute for the first time. When you cover the first fingering (closest to the top/mouthpiece end of the flute), be sure it is covered fully and blow softly. Next, while keeping this hole covered, cover the next hole in line. Once again, be sure it is covered completely and don't accidentally uncover the hole above it. Next, cover the top 3 fingerings, then 4 and finally all 5 holes, taking care each time not to uncover previously covered holes. Notice whether the problem begins immediately or only after playing for a while; that detail helps to check finger coverage, breath pressure and moisture. Also, it's not a bad idea to take an opportunity to untie the block, take it off all together and blow through the mouthpiece in case something got into the flute later on. This too can cause poor or unusual sounds.
4. The Block, Totem & Leather Tie
On flutes with a removable block or totem, its position and seating affect the sound. If it has moved, compare it with a photo of its original position or check images on our site for guidance specific to your model. Do not force the block, under-tighten the tie, or scrape or sand the sound-making area. Change only one thing at a time in testing. It is much easier to show how to tie the block back on rather than explain it in text and for this reason, we have a video on the process below.
5. When You Need a Hand
First of all, remember that this is the easiest instrument in the whole world to learn to play! I have seen thousands of self-proclaimed "I'm not a musicians" learn and master this flute within days. No Joke! All people learn at a different rate, however and there may be just one thing that you're not getting, so if you've made it this far and just don't feel like you've figured it out, send us your flute model, key and approximate purchase date (if you bought it from us), with clear photos of the mouthpiece and block area. Tell us when the issue began and what you have tried. If you notice a crack, loose part or other damage, contact us before attempting a repair. We are happy to help. The contact form is available on the home page and contact page!