I am intrigued by the Bolivian quena, a way in the middle between a whistle and an irish flute.
I understand that you must play it like a flute, but you keep it straight in front of you like a whistle.
There is also a “low D” version called Quenacho.
I wonder if any of you has one and can comment ? Thanks.
I have a cheap one my grandson brought back from Chile. You play it by placing the open end against your chin and blow across a V shaped blade. Mine has six holes on top like a whistle and one on the back like a recorder.
Quena is a lot of fun. The notched mouthpiece gives you a lot of control over the tone of the instrument, although getting a good sound out of it is tricky at first.
It’s also just about the simplest instrument to make out of PVC pipe. I used to have good instructions, but I can’t seem to find them now. A simple drill, hacksaw and round file are about all you need.
I’ve made a couple (in G) out of PVC pipe… They’re pretty easy to make - WAY easier than a whistle! All you need is a drill, a saw, and a dremel (to make the embouchure). They do take a little practice, but sound kinda cool once you get the hang of 'em. I play Irish music on mine, which has NOTHING to do with what the quena was designed for, but sounds cool.
Pat
i make them in several keys. love 'em. the lower keys can be very haunting. as paul said, you can do quite a bit with them.
the biggest challenge i found was the first note. but once you get that… great stuff. two octave range. i make mine without the thumbhole. the cut of the embouchure has a huge impact on the tone… and the angle of play as well.
be well,
jim
I play in couple of Latin American folk music groups here, and the quena has be become my axe of choice. Much like Irish flute it has a good amount of back pressure so you can get a very reedy sound out of it. In a session environment I use a quenacho instead, quena is a bit too strong sounding, doesn’t blend as well with the other instruments. I’d recommend a thicker walled instrument as it will give you that nice earthy quality. If you need help finding one let me know, i’ve got a whole pile of them.
Tooted? Yes. Played? No!
I have seen that the quena is “tapered” inside, i.e. the hole from the embouchure side is large while the hole on the other hand is small. If this is true, how is it possible to make a good quena from pvc ?
Thanks.
Gerardo:
I didn’t say it was a GOOD quena!!! 
Pat
You might be thinking of http://www.fippless.org. They don’t seem to be keeping their site up so you have to go through archive.org to get information on it.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070207014608/www.fippless.org/Quena/Make/Dimensions
I like his Recorder tweak
http://web.archive.org/web/20070208155341/www.fippless.org/Quena/Make/Experiments/200410_Yamakena
If by “tapered” you mean “conical”, the only one I know of that’s definitely made that way are the ones that Mark Hoza offers. All of the quenas I’ve seen in person are a cylindrical tube. They look like they were made with the end closed off, which is then opened up enough to get the tonic note in tune.
To make one with a totally open tube, I would think you just start off with extra length and then gradually remove material from the end until it’s in tune.
The problem I’ve had with quenas is that the top 3 holes are all very large. The purpose of this, according to O Gaiteiro do Chicago, is to give lots of leeway for expression. I would like a quena that has holes #1 and #3 smaller than #2 (just like an Irish flute) so that I can cover them and still be able to play well (without a new learning curve to overcome).
I would also like a quena with a tuning slide. I can understand why these aren’t usually present on quenas, since you have to press the end against your face in order to make the proper seal for playing it. I don’t know how they can stay in proper tune without one though. The only way I’ve been able to play along with another quena player is if both of us are using instruments made by the same maker. And does it sharpen up as it warms up, like other flutes do?
I ordered two quenas and two quenachos in wood, from two different sources.
Hopefully they are good quality instruments, they come from Andean Nation
and from Lallamaplace, two retailers in the States that seem to have a good reputation among forum members. While I am waiting for the instruments, I have been playing a cheap bamboo quena in G, but the intonation is terrible…
I’ll post a review of the wood quenas once I receive them.
Nice post!
The quenacho (low D quena) is perfectly suitable for Irish music as it has a great dynamic range similar to a wooden flute. Some days ago I was reading that the low flutes used in Braveheart soundtrack where actually a quenacho.
I prefer the bamboo ones, as you can feel the vibration in your fingers when you play. It’s really a simple instrument, but making a pro-quality one is not so easy (it should be able to play 3 octaves and the first two without any weird fingering).
If any of you is interested in a pro quality intrument, this is the guy. His instruments are the best in the market.
http://www.unmundodebambu.com.ar/quenasi.htm
If you check out Tony Hinnigans website he has some quena tutorials you can download.
http://www.tonyhinnigan.com/moviedl.php?group=33
Paul
I would second the recommendation for http://www.unmundodebambu.com.ar/quenasi.htm
I have a quenacho and a transverse flute in D from him. Workmanship and sound are great.
I’m primarily an Irish flute/whistle player but I did spent quite a bit of time playing kena and kenakena/quenacho.
The trouble with playing my quenacho for Irish music is the “back D”: it’s supposed to be done with the thumbhole, and if done the Irish way is not in tune.
I’ve found that kenas vary tremendously from flute to flute as to how easy the high notes are to produce. I have one that I can pick up after months of not practicing and play clear high notes. On the other hand, on many kenas I’ve tried I can’t get the high notes at all. So for me it’s an instrument that must be tried before buying.
In the hands of a top player the kena produces the most beautiful flute tone I’ve ever heard, superior to the best “classical” flutist on the best silver or gold flute.
About making a quenacho, I have a question: I recently made one from PVC and the low register is in tune, but the 2nd register gets progressively sharper as I go up the scale. So, the octave D’s and E’s are fine, but upper F# is a tad sharp, and it gets worse as I go up, so that upper B is a C!!!
How do I make a quenacho that’s in tune over two octaves? Do I need larger tubing, or smaller? What’s the correct PVC size for a quenacho in D? Thanks, Richard
If the second octave is really progressively sharper as you go, you could leave the tubing as is, and instead progressively shift the fingerholes slightly higher, at the same time diminishing their diameters. That will flatten the second octave. You probably even get better cross-fingering.
I had an old homemade PVC flute, (in E). I lopped the head off it yesterday, reshaped the embouchure hole, (now just a notch), and voila, a quena! Plays well, too! I think I’ll try one in G. 
So is it a “voila”, or is it a quena? The first doesn’t belong here, cos it’s a string instrument.
(Moderator! If you think this is too stupid sort of a joke, delete it by all means. I’m not proud of it, just couldn’t resist.)
Hi
I agree with Tweeto, traditional Quenas are not tapered, no conical bore.
I’ve got mine years ago, I bought it in Mexico, Cuernavaca. Is not a top quality one but still good enough for having fun.
For me it was quiet easy to get used to it because I’m studying Shakuhachi which helps a lot.
Enjoy your Quenas !
Best