History of the Native American Flute

Early Accounts and Archeological Evidence

The written accounts of early explorers and colonizers often mention that the Native peoples played flutes. These accounts do not include pictures or detailed descriptions of these instruments. It is therefore probable that there were many different types of flutes in use. Archeological evidence confirms this.

The specific instrument we are concerned with is called a two chambered duct flute or dual chambered duct flute. This is the flute now commonly referred to as the Native American flute. It has also been called a Love flute, Indian flute, and courting flute.

A two chambered duct flute has a slow air chamber at the head end of the flute into which air is blown. A duct or channel conducts air from this chamber to the splitting edge where part of the air is directed down into the sound chamber or bore of the flute. A solid area separates the two chambers. This design is unique to the North American region.

Oral Tradition and Cultural Origins

The history of the Native American flute is not clear. The indigenous peoples of North America who are credited with the creation of the flute did not have written language. There are no written records of the flute in pre Columbian times.

Native peoples preserved their history through stories passed from generation to generation. Anthropologists refer to these as creation myths. These stories told of how the people came to be, who they are, and how they acquired different aspects of their culture.

In many tribes, these stories were expressed through song. Some were so long and detailed that they would take days to sing. They were often performed during nocturnal ceremonies.

There are many stories from different tribes about how the Native American flute was discovered or given to the people. A common story involves a woodpecker, a hollow branch, and the wind. Many stories center around a young man seeking to attract the attention of a maiden.

Ceremonial and Social Use

The Hopi people of the Southwestern region have had an organized flute society. Members of this society used the flute for ceremonial and healing purposes. It is reasonable to assume that other tribes had similar relationships with the flute.

Oral tradition often confined the use of the flute to men. These restrictions have been relaxed in modern times.

The Native American Flute In Modern Times

Early Materials and Construction

The earliest dual chambered duct flutes were likely made from river cane known as Phragmites australis, which has natural partitions similar to bamboo. A hole was made on each side of a node with a duct connecting them so that air blown into one chamber would be directed against the splitting edge of the adjacent chamber.

Flutes of this type are still crafted by some Southern Arizona tribes.

The first collected examples of the Native American flute appear to date from the nineteenth century. Dr Richard Payne, an authority on the subject, believed that what is now called the Plains style Native American flute originated with the Northern Ute tribe. This wooden flute was essentially a modification of the cane flute, made from a hollowed piece of wood.

Early Plains style flutes were made from soft wood with a pithy center that could be hollowed out. The duct was cut directly into the body of the flute. Examples of these flutes were collected in the 1820s.

It is conjectured that the Plains style flutes were a variation of cane flutes found in the Southwest among the Papago and Yuman peoples.

Dr Payne believed that knowledge of the wooden flute dispersed from the Great Plains region south to the Taos Pueblo community and from there spread to other Southwestern and Plains tribes.

Another theory suggests that the design may have been influenced by Native observation of church organs or European recorders. What can be said with certainty is that the full early history of the Native American flute is lost in time.

Suppression and Revival

The renaissance of the Native American flute began in the late 1960s during a revival of Native roots centered on the flute. Prior to this, suppression of Native cultures by the Federal government and the deterioration of tribal traditions had nearly caused the practice of making and playing the flute to disappear.

Its preservation is attributed largely to Elders on rural reservations.

Native artists such as Doc Nevaquaya and Carl Running Deer, who had learned the art from their grandfathers, became important figures in the revival. Makers such as Raven Charles King and Arnold Richardson turned to historic flutes for inspiration. The collecting and research of Dr Richard W Payne also helped reintroduce the flute to Native and non Native people.

Standardization and Modern Tuning

Until modern times, the dimensions of the Native American flute were based on the body measurements of the individual player. The length might be measured from elbow to wrist. Tone hole placement was based on finger joint measurements. These flutes were not tuned to a specific scale. Holes were enlarged until the instrument sounded good to the maker. This approach is now referred to as Grandfather Tuning.

During the 1970s and 1980s, flute making shifted from individuals crafting their own instruments to craftsmen making flutes for others. Tuning began to conform more closely to Western musical traditions.

The Mode One minor pentatonic scale was adopted as the standard tuning system. This standardization made the instrument more accessible to people from different musical backgrounds.

To learn more about how modern Native American style flutes are tuned, explore our 440Hz vs 432Hz guide and our in depth Flute Tuning article.

Influential Figures in the Modern Era

In the 1980s, two individuals had a significant impact on Native American flute making and playing.

The first was R Carlos Nakai, whose recordings blended traditional Native flute music with contemporary and ambient influences. His work inspired countless individuals to begin playing the flute.

The second was Lew Paxton Price, who published a series of books on flute design and construction. These books were among the first comprehensive references available and guided many contemporary makers through the early stages of their craft.

The Native American Flute Today

The Native American flute continues to evolve. Modern tools and fabrication techniques have improved precision and reduced crafting time. Flutes are now made not only from softwoods, cane, and bamboo but also from exotic hardwoods, plastic, and metal.

Multiple chamber flutes known as drone flutes have been introduced. Instruments are available in a range of keys spanning two octaves.

Today the Native American flute is played throughout the world. Flutes are used in traditional ceremonies, contemporary healing practices, and flute circles that bring together people from diverse backgrounds.

The flute remains a simple and accessible folk instrument with a growing and expanding future.

Learn how to play the Native American style flute in our beginner lesson guide. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the History of the Native American Flute

When was the Native American flute first created?

The exact origin of the Native American flute is unknown. Archeological evidence and oral traditions suggest it existed long before written records in North America.

What is a dual chambered duct flute?

A dual chambered duct flute is an instrument with a slow air chamber and a sound chamber separated by a solid plug. Air is directed through a flue to create tone.

Did Native Americans use flutes for ceremonies?

Yes. Many tribes used flutes for ceremonial, healing, and social purposes. Some tribes such as the Hopi had organized flute societies.

When did the Native American flute become standardized?

Modern standardization began in the 1970s and 1980s when craftsmen adopted the Mode One minor pentatonic scale and tuned flutes to Western pitch systems.