Your first flute

If this is your first Native American style flute I will offer you some advice that will make your learning experience more enjoyable. These guidelines have been gathered from connecting people with the right flute at shows and expos.

Comfortability

First, you should get a flute that is comfortable to play. The most important comfort factor is the distance between the finger holes on the barrel of the flute.

On a Native American style flute if the chromatic (cross fingered) notes are to be in tune the tone holes must be located farther apart on a lower keyed flute. The lower the key of the flute the farther apart the finger holes become. This is especially true for the ring and index fingers of the right hand.

The right Key

So, a good key for a first time player is A or G. On these flutes your fingers easily cover the holes without having to contort into an unusual position.

For someone who has self confidence and flexible fingers an F# flute is a possibility.

No matter how much you like the sound of an F, E, D or C wait till you gain some experience and your fingers get flexible. If you have experience with the guitar or other instrument that demands flexibility with the fingers then you can start with a lower keyed flute.

For more information about flute keys, visit our Flute Keys page. 

How we make it easier for all skill levels 

Another common challenge is getting the tone holes completely covered so that no air leaks. 

Ancient Territories Native American style flutes are designed with a slightly flattened top surface where the tone holes are located, rather than a fully round barrel. This makes it easier for beginners to seal the holes.

Tone hole size also matters. Our flutes use medium-sized holes, with the largest being 3/8 of an inch. In our experience, this size offers better control than either very large or very small holes.

Finally, a flute with a bit of weight tends to rest more securely in the hands, which improves comfort and stability.

Check out our backpacker flutes in keys A & G

Our Backpacker Flute is not a so-called beginner’s flute. It is built using the same design standards as our higher-priced flutes and produces the same quality sound.

It is handcrafted from a single wood species and is excellent for all skill levels, from complete beginners to advanced players.