How to Choose Your First Native American Style Flute
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Your first flute is easier to choose than you think
You don't need to read music to play a Native American style flute. You don't need lessons, either. If you can breathe and cover a few holes with your fingers, you can make something beautiful on your very first day.
The hard part is picking one. Keys, woods, tunings, single or double. Here's what each choice actually means, from the two of us who make and play these flutes every day.
Start with the key of A
The key tells you how high or low the flute sounds. Smaller flutes play higher. Longer flutes play lower and need a wider finger stretch.
For a first flute, we almost always recommend the key of A, for three reasons:
- It fits most hands. The finger holes sit close together, so you can cover them fully without straining.
- It's forgiving on breath. A smaller flute takes less air, so it's easier to hold a steady, clear note.
- It's the one everyone plays. A is the most common key in flute circles and play-along recordings, so you'll fit right in.
Once you're comfortable, a lower key like G or Bb gives you a deeper, warmer voice. Many players end up with a small family of flutes in different keys.
Our pick for beginners: the Burnt Cedar A Minor flute ($110.00).
Cedar or walnut?
The wood shapes the voice of the flute as much as the key does.
- Cedar is light and soft, with a warm, breathy, airy tone. It's the classic flute wood and a great first choice.
- Walnut is a dense hardwood with a rich, focused, rounder tone. It's heavier in the hand and gorgeous to look at.
There's no wrong answer here. Choose the sound that speaks to you, or the wood that feels right when you imagine holding it.
What does 432 Hz mean?
Most modern instruments are tuned so the note A sits at 440 Hz. Our flutes are tuned slightly lower, to 432 Hz.
Many sound healers and meditators prefer 432 Hz because it feels softer and more relaxed to them. Playing solo, you won't notice any difference except the feel of the sound. Playing along with guitars, keyboards or recordings tuned to 440 Hz, a 432 Hz flute will sound a touch flat, so keep that in mind if you plan to jam with other musicians.
Single flute or drone flute?
A single flute plays one melody line. That's where nearly everyone starts.
A drone flute (also called a double flute) is two flutes joined side by side. One plays your melody while the other holds a steady hum underneath. It takes more breath and a little practice, but the sound is unforgettable. If you've played before, or you love that deep meditative layer, it's worth the jump.
For experienced players: our Flame-Torched Cedar Drone Flute in A ($220).
What to look for in a handmade flute
- Played before it ships. Every flute should be play-tested by its maker for a clear, steady voice.
- One of a kind. Handmade means no two flutes look or sound exactly alike.
- Comfortable finger holes. You should be able to cover every hole without stretching.
- A carry bag. It protects the wood from bumps and drastic temperature swings.
Every Gypsy Life flute is made by hand with hand tools, tuned to 432 Hz, and played by its maker before it leaves us. Each one comes with a carry bag.
Ready to find yours? Browse our handmade flutes.