Thanks for teaching me how to begin the process of making a native American flute as a beginner I found all your guidelines very simple and easy to follow, many thanks to my start of a great and rewarding hobby.
I really have to thank you for this video. I'm making a PVC flute and one of the holes was made too sharp, so this video gave me the idea to bend a little piece of sandpaper into a circle and glue it in to flatten it back. It's not the most conventional thing, but hey, it works!
Charlie, I used a long piece of paper rolled up and inserted into the flute to the flute to create a bridge for the super glue and saw dust to rest on. I pull it out about 15 seconds after the super glue application. It creates a perfect platform. Thanks for all the knowledge that you share!
I am sorry I have not commented before now. I have been watching your videos for some time now and would like to thank you for your instruction. I am in the future going to try to make one of these and if successful will make them for my grandchildren. Again thank you for you time and effort.
Thank u Charles , I believe that ur name . I ve been wking steadily on making flutes too by listening n watching u .the mouth piece is tricky n u just showed me what to do if the mouth piece is to big.out of 7bamboo I ve made 5 .but only 3 sounds really great n the other 2 the last two holes u can't really hear . I really enjoy listening n learning from u . I'm really trying to learn n comprehend n make them too .just wanting to say thank u for ur teaching n wanting to share with us what u have learned.
I love these videos. You're so helpful and I love how many videos you have. A treasure trove of knowledge. Thank you so much for being you. Also I've noticed an adventure time shirt in your videos and words can't describe the happiness from it. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Great tips here! I've been making and playing for about a month now, and there are more flutes in my scrap box than have come out a success. I know that there are quite a few that I can turn into some good flutes with just this fix.
Thank you so much for showing us how to fix the sound holes on these flutes. I have a couple i can now get fixed an no longer sounding airy. I love your videos, am learning so much. :)
Great method... Learning from your vids everyday. Recently switched from hardwoods, drill bits and chisels to burning bamboo! It's so fast and they are so beautiful! I love the warmth of the bamboo sounds. And the shop smells so good these days :)
Charlie again great video ,your help to day saves me time to complete a flute I started couple days ago ,now I can go back and get the job making flutes for all my grand kids ,hope you remember me ( cal. Wild man) . By the way my grand mother was full blood Cherokee from North Carolina , where is your home (shop) . Again thanks love watching all your videos, GOD BLESS to you and your family.
I'm not sure if it would have a practical application in flute making, but saturating baking soda with thin CA glue makes a rock hard filling. Pretty sure you couldn't burn it, but it can be filed to a sharp edge once cured. Thankfully, I received my Blue Bear A# Western Red Cedar flute last week, and it doesn't need ANY work at all! Thanks, Charlie!
I did try this today, I wasn't succssful. The air supply track was to low and seems easier to start over. I will keep trying though something less fumes. Your so right when you said chemicals. I''ll probably use a piece of bamboo in the track to fix both issues. Dang, some days are better than others. Thank you for the great ideas, I'm limited in knowledge so any ideas are cool when watching. I'm trying to hard on that one. My learning through watching your techniecs is way fun. I had some bamboo from a yard candle. This year one worked then I cut the length a little and harmonics then sanded to much, you know the deal. I did make a small call and It ended up as a turkey call,I brouht in 3 hens and a male from last night to today. I did think to place a few note holes for other higher even birds sounds but left it.
I am addicted to making flutes now. I have made several, and keep getting better, but I might try this on some of my first ones, to fix those holes that kept getting bigger and bigger. ;)
I have been making flutes recently out of interest but I have never played before, I want to start learning ofcourse but I have a problem when I blow I to the flute it doesn't always make a nice sound and it could be because I'm not experience enough to blow right but I have been watching tutorials on how to blow I think it might also be the blow hole of my flute, the side you need to blow against need to be a sharp angle and it needs to be crisp and that is how I try to make it, the problem is how do I verify I did it right?does the angled face need to be flat or can it curve with the shape of the hole? How sharp does that angle need to be? Any advice on the making of the blow hole will be aprecy
Hey, my advice would be to check out some of the other videos on my channel. There are so many different aspects of that that I have covered! Scroll through my flute making videos and tell me if they help. Also, you're welcome to send me a picture of the track and sound hole and I can give some advice. There again I have hundreds of videos on that alone! bluebearflutes.com
@@BlueBearFlutes thanks I will check out your videos and make a couple more flutes and see if they play easier, I have only recently started so most likely I have made some mistakes
@@grimreapybones2875 we all make mistakes! From someone who has made over a million flutes, if I can make a recommendation, try to get one the way you want it before moving on to the next one.
Charlie- I made a bamboo flute I just love, however, I made a mistake on a couple of finger holes and made them too big. Can I use this technique to make them smaller and get the tones back? Or will they not hold up under the pressure of pushing them all the time? They are pretty big/oversized, I don't think glue alone will make them small enough, maybe? Thanks, and love your videos and follow you on Facebook. I hate to scrap this flute!
+Dean Marsh Yes! I am glad that you sent this message because this principle does work on repairing holes that are too big. Use some super glue in the holes and then add some fine sawdust and sand. Then you can re-size the holes. If you are using heat please be careful as the glue will put off a vapor that is deadly and can burn your eyes and lungs.
I was given a flute that had one hole way too large. I took a piece of sandpaper and held it under the hole just like Charlie did in this video. The difference is that I mixed up a tiny batch of wood filler and wood glue and filled it in, and let it dry, then carefully drilled (and sanded) a much smaller hole. It's been a couple of years and still holds in place. I only wish I could fix a Singing Tree flute that has a TSH that causes it to overblow playing it above a whisper. It's a lovely low B-flat drone with Turquoise inlay, but I'm an expressive player and this flute is mainly just decorative because I have other drones that play so much better (though none lower than E).
Long time viewer and first time commenter....Thanks so much for your wonder and instructive videos. Can't wait to get a copy of your book.....Thanks again!!
I have developed a fascination with the Native American Flutes and have been trying to learn as much as I can about building one. The problem I'm having is getting the flute and or whistle which I started with, down to a lower pitch. They all wind up sounding like dog whistles much too high of a pitch to say it's a flute. What all determines the pitch besides the sound hole using an approximate 33° angle on the inside and slight downward angle on top toward the air channel. My spacing has been from 1/16th to 1/4 inch sound hole. I like to get a much deeper sound.
You have great tips and info Charlie. I also believe in sharing the knowledge and I believe this says much about the character of you both! Forward! Peace and Music! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
why does my flute jump so easily on higher octave,like for example if Im playing the G4 note it plays with a low volume than when I want to raise that volume by blowing just a little bit more air it jumps to higher octave.Is there any way this thank you
My flute sound hole looks good, except whenever i play, it sounds like that airy whisky sound in the video. I don't know if it is the sound hole or the totem on it, is there any way you can help? Like to tie the totem correctly, or something...
I got one that I'm not sure what is wrong with it my uncle gave me two and the one works perfectly but the other one is kind of heavy the tune sounds weird the sound of the finger holes dosent flow that great and I tampered with the sound hole which actually made it play because before I could not get any sound out of it and it's kind of whispy on the first hole closest to me do u have any idea what it could be I think I might have to drill the part where I blow into and the part that makes sound because it dosent look all that clean as in like extra pieces of wood (it was never sanded down on the inside like the other one)
I did a similar trick on a flute i am building. I used CA glue and instead of sawdust used baking soda as the filler. The biggest difference was i built up the other side of the sound hole. That is i extended the track. That way i did not have to re-burn the cutting edge. It also put the repair under the block where it is covered up and invisible.
I like the superglue/sawdust use. You know, musical instrument restorerers use superglue and baking soda to rebuilt broken stringed instrument (guitar, etc.) part called the 'nut,' the (usually) white-ish slotted ivory edge board that the strings are stretched over. Works a charm, -strong, long-lasting...
G'day Charlie. If you didn't make all these wonderful videos I would have a lot of free time. lol. Or a lot of bad flutes, maybe both. Please do not stop now. Keep on going with more instructional videos, so I have something to do, that works as well. Thanks Charlie and you too Jessie. Tom
That's a great question! If you could, contact me through my website bluebearflutes.com so that I can see a picture of the flute and tell you what needs to be done next!
It would probably be worthwhile contacting me through my website. Did you make the flute? Is it a flute kit from us? Is it a flute you bought from someone? These things are critical in my helping with a response.
Charlies check the web like in the discription.... luebearflutes.com? I was going to check and see about the book... and will... hhhmmmm? Any way the wolf flute is sounding really Great... Thanks again
Wow, what a difference no airy sound. An amazing video. Thank you.❤
@@florencewolfe7690 🙏🏼😊🙏🏼 Thank you so much for watching!
Thanks for teaching me how to begin the process of making a native American flute as a beginner I found all your guidelines very simple and easy to follow, many thanks to my start of a great and rewarding hobby.
Thanks!
I really have to thank you for this video. I'm making a PVC flute and one of the holes was made too sharp, so this video gave me the idea to bend a little piece of sandpaper into a circle and glue it in to flatten it back. It's not the most conventional thing, but hey, it works!
Charlie, I used a long piece of paper rolled up and inserted into the flute to the flute to create a bridge for the super glue and saw dust to rest on. I pull it out about 15 seconds after the super glue application. It creates a perfect platform. Thanks for all the knowledge that you share!
I have used that technique many times and it does work great. Thanks for watching!
I am sorry I have not commented before now. I have been watching your videos for some time now and would like to thank you for your instruction. I am in the future going to try to make one of these and if successful will make them for my grandchildren. Again thank you for you time and effort.
+Dave Bardin Thank you Dave.
I too am in the future!
Thank u Charles , I believe that ur name . I ve been wking steadily on making flutes too by listening n watching u .the mouth piece is tricky n u just showed me what to do if the mouth piece is to big.out of 7bamboo I ve made 5 .but only 3 sounds really great n the other 2 the last two holes u can't really hear . I really enjoy listening n learning from u . I'm really trying to learn n comprehend n make them too .just wanting to say thank u for ur teaching n wanting to share with us what u have learned.
I desperately needed to c this part too for myself.
I love these videos. You're so helpful and I love how many videos you have. A treasure trove of knowledge. Thank you so much for being you. Also I've noticed an adventure time shirt in your videos and words can't describe the happiness from it. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Great tips here! I've been making and playing for about a month now, and there are more flutes in my scrap box than have come out a success. I know that there are quite a few that I can turn into some good flutes with just this fix.
Fantastic!
Thank you so much for showing us how to fix the sound holes on these flutes. I have a couple i can now get fixed an no longer sounding airy. I love your videos, am learning so much. :)
Thank you. I appreciate that you have shared your talents and instruction with us online.
Great method... Learning from your vids everyday. Recently switched from hardwoods, drill bits and chisels to burning bamboo! It's so fast and they are so beautiful! I love the warmth of the bamboo sounds. And the shop smells so good these days :)
Charlie again great video ,your help to day saves me time to complete a flute I started couple days ago ,now I can go back and get the job making flutes for all my grand kids ,hope you remember me ( cal. Wild man) . By the way my grand mother was full blood Cherokee from North Carolina , where is your home (shop) . Again thanks love watching all your videos, GOD BLESS to you and your family.
Thank you my friend! Glad it helped. I certainly haven't forgotten you. I look forward to your emails!
I'm not sure if it would have a practical application in flute making, but saturating baking soda with thin CA glue makes a rock hard filling. Pretty sure you couldn't burn it, but it can be filed to a sharp edge once cured. Thankfully, I received my Blue Bear A# Western Red Cedar flute last week, and it doesn't need ANY work at all! Thanks, Charlie!
Thank you for your kind words my friend! I do the wood and superglue bit fairly often. It does offer some great results!
I did try this today, I wasn't succssful.
The air supply track was to low and seems easier to start over.
I will keep trying though something less fumes.
Your so right when you said chemicals.
I''ll probably use a piece of bamboo in the track to fix both issues. Dang, some days are better than others.
Thank you for the great ideas, I'm limited in knowledge so any ideas are cool when watching.
I'm trying to hard on that one.
My learning through watching your techniecs is way fun.
I had some bamboo from a yard candle.
This year one worked then I cut the length a little and harmonics then sanded to much, you know the deal.
I did make a small call and It ended up as a turkey call,I brouht in 3 hens and a male from last night to today.
I did think to place a few note holes for other higher even birds sounds but left it.
I am addicted to making flutes now. I have made several, and keep getting better, but I might try this on some of my first ones, to fix those holes that kept getting bigger and bigger. ;)
I have been making flutes recently out of interest but I have never played before, I want to start learning ofcourse but I have a problem when I blow I to the flute it doesn't always make a nice sound and it could be because I'm not experience enough to blow right but I have been watching tutorials on how to blow
I think it might also be the blow hole of my flute, the side you need to blow against need to be a sharp angle and it needs to be crisp and that is how I try to make it, the problem is how do I verify I did it right?does the angled face need to be flat or can it curve with the shape of the hole? How sharp does that angle need to be? Any advice on the making of the blow hole will be aprecy
Hey, my advice would be to check out some of the other videos on my channel. There are so many different aspects of that that I have covered! Scroll through my flute making videos and tell me if they help. Also, you're welcome to send me a picture of the track and sound hole and I can give some advice. There again I have hundreds of videos on that alone! bluebearflutes.com
@@BlueBearFlutes thanks I will check out your videos and make a couple more flutes and see if they play easier, I have only recently started so most likely I have made some mistakes
@@grimreapybones2875 we all make mistakes! From someone who has made over a million flutes, if I can make a recommendation, try to get one the way you want it before moving on to the next one.
Hi, do you sell the pre-made flute?
Charlie- I made a bamboo flute I just love, however, I made a mistake on a couple of finger holes and made them too big. Can I use this technique to make them smaller and get the tones back? Or will they not hold up under the pressure of pushing them all the time? They are pretty big/oversized, I don't think glue alone will make them small enough, maybe? Thanks, and love your videos and follow you on Facebook. I hate to scrap this flute!
+Dean Marsh Yes! I am glad that you sent this message because this principle does work on repairing holes that are too big. Use some super glue in the holes and then add some fine sawdust and sand. Then you can re-size the holes. If you are using heat please be careful as the glue will put off a vapor that is deadly and can burn your eyes and lungs.
+BlueBearFlutes Thanks Charlie! I will work on it this weekend and will be careful. Thanks so much.
I was given a flute that had one hole way too large. I took a piece of sandpaper and held it under the hole just like Charlie did in this video. The difference is that I mixed up a tiny batch of wood filler and wood glue and filled it in, and let it dry, then carefully drilled (and sanded) a much smaller hole. It's been a couple of years and still holds in place.
I only wish I could fix a Singing Tree flute that has a TSH that causes it to overblow playing it above a whisper. It's a lovely low B-flat drone with Turquoise inlay, but I'm an expressive player and this flute is mainly just decorative because I have other drones that play so much better (though none lower than E).
Thanks Jeffery!
Thank you very much guys, your comments are very much appreciated!
Your so awesome Charlie, I have learned So much from you. I desperately needed to see this video. Thanks for all the sharing.
Long time viewer and first time commenter....Thanks so much for your wonder and instructive videos. Can't wait to get a copy of your book.....Thanks again!!
+Bryan Last Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I appreciate that you watch my videos. :)
Great video Charlie.. I use the saw dust super glue thing to do inlays too..
I have developed a fascination with the Native American Flutes and have been trying to learn as much as I can about building one. The problem I'm having is getting the flute and or whistle which I started with, down to a lower pitch. They all wind up sounding like dog whistles much too high of a pitch to say it's a flute. What all determines the pitch besides the sound hole using an approximate 33° angle on the inside and slight downward angle on top toward the air channel. My spacing has been from 1/16th to 1/4 inch sound hole. I like to get a much deeper sound.
Hi Charlie, please link of yout super glue 🙏
Just about any liquid super glue should work. I do not often use the gel glue versions.
You have great tips and info Charlie. I also believe in sharing the knowledge and I believe this says much about the character of you both! Forward! Peace and Music! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
I have a flute that isn't working..
Could you fix it?
Probably! Contact me at www.bluebearflutes.com
Awesome video, keep up the great work, can't wait for more.
Hi I am using my wife's channel at the moment but I love all your videos
+Alexandra LaMarsh Thank you!
Great informative video Charlie. Good job.
+Nasty Tater Thank you.
why does my flute jump so easily on higher octave,like for example if Im playing the G4 note it plays with a low volume than when I want to raise that volume by blowing just a little bit more air it jumps to higher octave.Is there any way this thank you
My flute sound hole looks good, except whenever i play, it sounds like that airy whisky sound in the video. I don't know if it is the sound hole or the totem on it, is there any way you can help? Like to tie the totem correctly, or something...
+Edmundo Paredes Send me a picture on Facebook if you can: facebook.com/bluebear.arts
Great videos, learning a lot, thank you!
I got one that I'm not sure what is wrong with it my uncle gave me two and the one works perfectly but the other one is kind of heavy the tune sounds weird the sound of the finger holes dosent flow that great and I tampered with the sound hole which actually made it play because before I could not get any sound out of it and it's kind of whispy on the first hole closest to me do u have any idea what it could be I think I might have to drill the part where I blow into and the part that makes sound because it dosent look all that clean as in like extra pieces of wood (it was never sanded down on the inside like the other one)
+Elijah Drapeau Send me a picture of the flute on Facebook if you can. facebook.com/bluebear.arts
Thanks Charlie, this was very helpful....
Excelente trabalho professor, ótima explicações parabéns 👍👍🤝👏👏👏💯🎵🎶😇
Explanation of liked to close the hole.
Could you please provide me the measurements of the holes? Thank you
+Ivan Pedrosa Not quite sure I understand the question.
I did a similar trick on a flute i am building. I used CA glue and instead of sawdust used baking soda as the filler. The biggest difference was i built up the other side of the sound hole. That is i extended the track. That way i did not have to re-burn the cutting edge. It also put the repair under the block where it is covered up and invisible.
Great!
I like the superglue/sawdust use. You know, musical instrument restorerers use superglue and baking soda to rebuilt broken stringed instrument (guitar, etc.) part called the 'nut,' the (usually) white-ish slotted ivory edge board that the strings are stretched over. Works a charm, -strong, long-lasting...
G'day Charlie.
If you didn't make all these wonderful videos I would have a lot of free time. lol. Or a lot of bad flutes, maybe both.
Please do not stop now. Keep on going with more instructional videos, so I have something to do, that works as well.
Thanks Charlie and you too Jessie.
Tom
Thanks Tom, I am glad you are getting some use out of these videos. Stay tuned, we have more being uploaded this week!
How do I repair a flute that no longer plays. How do I replace a reed.
That's a great question! If you could, contact me through my website bluebearflutes.com so that I can see a picture of the flute and tell you what needs to be done next!
Thank you again@!!
@@michaeltaylor8084 You bet my friend! More to come!
Thank you soo much! i Best of the best teacher!
Ser Ratty thank you!
You rule Charlie!
+perkdogins Thanks!
this is a bit of valuable truth that I had to learn because of mistakes
Hint ... when using superglue --- have vaseline / petroleum jelly handy .. apply immediately to eyes or anywhere unwanted glue appears
Nail polish remover works too, just not on your eyes!
Anothing thing that could come in handly and works a lot better is wood Filler which can be bought at any hardware store lol
+Steve Mings Flute Maker that works. But I like my method :)
Mine sounds just like air no sound don't think it was made proberly
It would probably be worthwhile contacting me through my website. Did you make the flute? Is it a flute kit from us? Is it a flute you bought from someone? These things are critical in my helping with a response.
thanks!yeah!!!!!
cyanoacrylate and paper, especially newspaper and paper towels will self-combust. I ONLY use steel waste baskets.
Charlies check the web like in the discription.... luebearflutes.com? I was going to check and see about the book... and will... hhhmmmm? Any way the wolf flute is sounding really Great... Thanks again
Super glue fumes in your eye hurts like hell.
Yes they do. Please use caution if you decide to use it.