It’s been awhile since I have been here and I have just recently started making Whistles out of PVC again. But this time I wanted to try something a little different.
I know that this website is mostly Irish influenced. But lately I have been wanted to create a Native American Flute using the same basic style of the Low Tech Irish whistles. All that I need to know is how to figure out the hole placements for a 5 hole, Key of F or A Native American flute using 3/4" PVC. Does anyone know how I would figure this out?
Ok, I’ll repeat the first suggestion. Google is your friend. Search and you will find…
http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/naflute.html
I don’t see where they state the “key” of this flute design though. But I will assume it is a good working design using 3/4" pipe as you requested. Flute designs can be scaled up and down in pitch by expressing hole positions as percentages of the bore length. You’ll need a large rubber/elastic band. Here’s the easy way.
I just thought I would mention that there is a “World/Folk Winds” forum here on C&F as well. I’m not particularly current on NAF design and construction but there are likely folks posting on the World/Folk Winds forum that are more knowledgeable than myself. There is quite a bit of variation among native American flute design in the mouthpiece format and the scales played. The first tool I linked to would allow you to design any scale using up to six holes. For the five hole pentatonic scales you just ignore one hole. Good luck with your flutes.