There is a simple way to figure out if the branch is dry enough. When I was starting out with my flute craft journey, I prefered branches because they already had the necessary round shape and since I had no lathe or other tools to round the wood, and I had problems with a wood itself, the branches easily available were an obvious choice. Be sure to check my Native American Flute songbook, Calm Forest, available for Kindle and as Paperback. Split the branch and carve the chambers – split the branch in two, and use chisels to carve the two inner chambers of the flute. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, gather stats and manage ads. Never put green elderberry branches in your mouth. Once the branch is dry enough, it is ready to be turned into a flute. And all of this will be supported with many photos and illustrations. Branch numer 1 is perfect for a flute no matter how simple workshop you have. I had not yet split it, only cut the mouthpiece area (which is on the right end) and sanded the rough areas off the flute It allows us to truly express our inner creativity and attend the crafting process from the very start to very finish, from taking effort to find the proper branch, through patience to dry it, to art in order to turn it into a musical instrument. They’re “dead”, so their drying time will be shorter than a drying time of a branch that has been just cut from the tree. The chambers as far as being round did not seam to make any difference. Article from flutecraft.org. Once carved, the branch will dry faster than without carving it first. It will save you a lot of time. And the sound of branch flute is wonderful. I used chisel to carve the inside of the pine’s branch. Trust me – sometimes the flute doesn’t want to come to life. Crafting Flutes, How to Make Branch Flute April 7th, 2015. The HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BAMBOO FLUTE eBook is suitable for beginners as well as … By starting with a green branch the finished flute can still radiate signs that the dryad , spirit, or life force of a tree is inhabiting it, though now the leaves of that branch be music. Knots in the branch are not welcome that much – the clearer the branch is, the better for the flutemaker. And I’m going to do so in such way that you have all the necessary information so that you can turn most of your branches into flutes. Although Basswood is the traditional material for making Pan Flute frames, a flexible tree branch, of Willow or some other soft, pliable wood, can also be used for the front and back strips for those who want a very natural feel and look. "Calm Forest" is a Native American Flute songbook for beginners. Write down the date and branch’s weight. On the photo below, you see my idea of great branches for flutes and bad branches for flutes. If it does, the breaks are small and can be filled with some artistic inlay, like with crushed minerals, that fill the breaks with help of epoxy glue. Sanding the bore of a branch flute … Remember that this type of tool will use a lot of electricity, so please watch out for high bills. Or, in simpler words: measure the weight of the branch as it dries – when it stops loosing weigth, it’s dry and ready :). You can hear the flute playing in the video and watch the transformation. The branch used to make this flute was harvested from a Rocky Mountain Maple tree. Learning some basics about this particular piece of the tree will save you a lot of troubles in flutemaking. There is nothing perfect about them. As long as you do not live in a big city, branches are easy to find. Learn how to create the heart of the Native American Flute - the sound mechanism with true sound hole and windway. Step 4 Cut a ring around the branch with the tip of your knife. All rights reserved. This website contains links and references to products and services that may include affiliates, sponsorships, or other business relationships in which Flute Craft and its author may receive compensation from referrals or sales actions. Please read our privacy policy to learn how to completely disable cookies in your web browser, basic tools to make a Native American style flutes, How to Make Brach Flute – Part 8: Finishes, How to Build a Jig for Drilling Branch Flutes, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 7: Sound and Tuning, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 6: Sanding and Gluing, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 5: Creating the Sound Mechanism, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 4: Carving the Main Chambers, How to Use Native American Style Flute in Film Scoring, Beauty in Imperfection. Normally, a branch is “wet”, that means it contains water within itself. Don't forget to become a fan on Facebook and subscribe to new posts via RSS or via email. Notice how much weight the branch looses every week. When you find the right place, take a piece of yarn and wrap it around the ends of the first group of five of tubes (C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E). Basically, you should look for tree’s branches that are are as soft as possible according to the wood hardness scale. Partake in this traditional form of playing music while learning more about the endangered elderberry beetle and bush. 6 Steps to Make a Branch Flute. Write down the date and branch’s weight. In order to change the branch into a flute you need to carve the two inner chambers. Mark three other points beginning an inch from the centre point and ascending up the branch an inch apart. When stored inside, the branch should be seasoned for half a year or even a year, at minimum. Article from flutecraft.org. Just remember to put some alluminium foil to reflect the heat; place the branches on a rack, for example made of wooden or metal dowels so the heat can surround the branches, and make sure you make holes in the dryer, so the air can flow through – this way, mold should not develop inside the solar dryer. The ring should be approximately 2 inches behind the wedge cut. A pre-drilled branch dries quicker, because it has smaller volume and greater evaporation space. These branch flute by far are my favotite. First, you can split it and carve the inside chambers, and glue it back toghether, then leave it to dry for a couple of weeks (or even months). You do not need a lathe to round the branch – branch is already round. Gather supplies. Just remember not to create a nest or finger holes just yet, because additional holes may cause the flute bo break. Examine the branch to see which way will be the top of the flute. Oh, and be careful not to focus the Sun’s rays – or your branches will turn to ash. And sometimes, I get the branches from people who cut them from the trees around their homes. Its bark can create wonderful textures, too. Photo: Mike Oitzman, September 30, 2008. double branch flute. Cut a ring around the branch with the tip of your knife. Make your first mark about 1 1/2 inches from the "head" of the flute. Make a second mark about 3 inches from the first line, and a third about 1 inch from the second mark. We will start with learning about wood and branches. Branch number 4 is pretty good :). For tuning, the notes of the flute can be compared to the notes of a piano, pitchpipe, or other tuning instrument. This way, the branch will receive additional reinforcements and it should not warp and break as a result of drying process. In order to make a Native American style branch flute, you need to understand branches. It's available as e-book for Kindle on Amazon. The surprise of finding the right branch to become a branch flute Although I regularly make branch flutes, usually finding branches for flutes is unexpected. Pick up some branch and cut it with a saw. Create a simple table, where you can mark the day the branch was collected, and the dates of weighting along with the weight. Also, each branch is unique, thus each flute is unique, with its unique sound, tune and “feel”. We’ll finish the project with learning how to finish the flute with shellac and/or food grade oils. Everything you need to know. Learn how to build Native American style flutes made of branches (but don't worry, the skills and knowledge applies to NAFs made of other wood, too). Crafting a flute out of a branch is a careful and true art of craft – it requires care, patience and enjoyment in what you do. There is a whole wood hardness scale that you need to learn. Elderberry has a soft spongy pith in the center that can be easily crushed with your thumb. Just replace “branch” with any type of lumber you have that is already to proper dimensions. But if you dry it too quickly, or you carve it too soon and glue it back together, the branch will continue to dry, but its structure will have a hard time adjusting and breaks will appear. First, use a kitchen weight to weight the branch. A couple of branch flutes I made. Learn all that you need to know about branches in order to make a Native American style branch flute. I let the shape of the branch decide this for me. All rights reserved. Look for branches that are at least 3 cm in diameter. Simple Flutes A Guide to Flute Making and Playing I remove the bark and let it sit in a protected place. Building and Playing Native American Style Flutes, and the Japanese Art of Wabi Sabi, Healing Stories of the White Man: What Northern Exposure Taught Me About Cinema, How to Produce Native American Flute Music at Home. Note nuances of shape. Well, basically what I call “great branch” is the branch best for beginners or for people with limited tools and workshop. A flute out of bamboo is one of the most common musical instruments. Refer to … Every branch is unique. Also, it’s simpler to make short flutes work than to make long flutes work. The first step in the flute-crafting process is choosing the right wood and the marrow-like softness of an elderberry branch’s hollowed pith make it the material of choice. The branch must be dry – that’s why it must be seasoned, for example. I collect my branches in local woods. The branch should remain this way for a couple of months until it’s dry enough. Make 2-3 turn, then knot the end and trim the exceeding yarn. Learn the anatomy of the Native American Flute first. You should look for two kinds of branches: Now, you can collect long branches and short branches. Any lichen growing on the branch can even be preserved, as in the English Walnut branch flute pictured to the right. Instead, I will guide you now through phases of turning a branch into a flute explaining the math behind the flute, so that you can apply it to any branch you find. It’s a good idea to do some test work. Use the Internet or local library to learn about the trees growing in your area. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, gather stats and manage ads. This post is the first article in a series of practical tutorials in the “How to Make Branch Flute” project. Most of them, because the sad truth is – some branches just won’t play no matter how hard you try. Split the branch in half. Often, you can see these “offshot areas” on the branch, like on the branches 2 and 3 – basically, what you are looking for is a piece of branch between these offshot areas. Making a branch flute is simple and fun, BUT: only if you remember about safety rules, and you’re patient, and only if you know that mistakes at first are lessons to be learned and not the final failures. Along with the dryer…. sharing the beauty of native american flutes since 2014. Besides, if you don’t have to, don’t harm the tree. If you can’t dry the wood outside, you can just leave it somewhere in your home – place it in a room where it is dry – don’t use a kitchen, bathroom, basement, because there is too much moisture there. Carving recorders from wood makes a great hobby, and with a little patience and some basic knowledge, you can make your own recorders to play, collect or even sell. The best way to dry a branch is to place it outside but under a roof – this way, it will be protected against rain and snow, and at the same time it will be dried by the wind and fresh air. The next tutorial will cover the branches. For now, I will teach you how to make split flutes, because building a machine to drill the branches is a lot more complex and requires more tools, time, money and space. None of mine are perfect round by any means and some are very oval. They are covered with shellac which gives them this “yellowish” look. If you have a band saw, you can actually split any branch into two pieces. To make a flute that plays in the key of A, you'll need a 14 inch length of "pipe"... for the key of F, an 18 inch section... and for the key of D, a 21 inch piece. First, use a kitchen weight to weight the branch. How to Make Branch Flute - Part 5. This entire series of tutorials will cover all these elements in details, so that you learn how to craft the flute. If you wonder, yes – this series of tutorials can be applied to lumber bought in a hardware store or lumber stock. Basically, two strong lightbulbs heat the box filled wtih alluminium foil, and branches lie down above the lightbulbs, on a rack. It's great for beginners, no need to read staff music - it uses simplified fingering notation. Deeper tones require more experience. Make them for pleasure, for sale – the sky’s the limit. You’ll also need a general purpose hand-held sander, masking tape, a saw, a ruler or measuring tape, and a box cutter or sharp knife. To do so, you need some cardboard box, some lightbulbs and alluminium foil. Branches 2 and 3 are not good – they can be drilled, or cut on a band saw, but it may not be possible to split them with a  knife, because they have too many knots/offshot areas. Either you split the branch and use chisels to carve the inner chambers, or you drill the branch. The next lesson will focus on splitting the branch and carving the inner chambers. Create the SAC and sound chamber in each half with router, using a 7/8-inch round head bit. Don't forget to become a fan on Facebook and subscribe to new posts via RSS or via email. Learn how to recognize them by looking at them, their leafs or needles, or their bark etc. It takes patience if you can’t find a dry branch and you have to wait a couple of months, but it’s better to wait, than have to remake the flute if it splits on its own. For example, you can watch Steve Ramsay’s channel – his videos are not focused on flutes, but on different wood projects, but just by watching how others do things, you can learn a lot. This website contains links and references to products and services that may include affiliates, sponsorships, or other business relationships in which Flute Craft and its author may receive compensation from referrals or sales actions. Like on the branch number 2, the lower area below the offshot is good, it can be cut off and split into two. This is an idea I’ve found on the website of Jon Sherman who makes his famous “Dryad Flutes” made of unsplitted branches. To speed up the process of drying, you can build a simple “kiln” to dry the branches. ... make a flute? Continue to weight the branch and make notes for the next few months. Flauta Nativa Americana Banyo Instrumentos Cómo Hacer Manualidades Flauta. I recommend using a branch of pine, spruce or similar soft wood at first – soft wood is good for beginners. How to Make Branch Flute - Part 2. The wood is so dense that the branches usually crack before they can be harvested. Making a Native American style branch flute is a rewarding experience. Be sure to check my Native American Flute songbook, Calm Forest, available for Kindle and as Paperback. If you don’t have to, don’t cut out a branch out of a living tree, when there is a lot of stand-alone branches already on the ground. Cut a small wedge from the branch about an 1 1/2 inches from the end of the branch. The ring should be approximately 2 … The branches were simply lying there for months, up to one year, and that was enough to make them dry enough. Also, even if you split the branch, it may be very hard to carve through the knot, because it’s much harder part of the wood. Crafting Flutes, How to Make Branch Flute April 4th, 2015. "Calm Forest" is a Native American Flute songbook for beginners. Before I made my first flutes out of a pine, I took a piece of a pine branch just to learn what I’m going to work with. Or if you make drilled branch flutes, then you’re not limited to “great branches” :). A branch flute can be big or small, thick or thin and can have so many different colors. For example, let’s say that the “W” is 10 grams each week – it means that each week the branch loses 10 grams. Often, a dry branch can be found in the forest, if it got broke off from the tree. Please read our privacy policy to learn how to completely disable cookies in your web browser, make a Native American style branch flute, How to Make Brach Flute – Part 8: Finishes, How to Build a Jig for Drilling Branch Flutes, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 7: Sound and Tuning, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 6: Sanding and Gluing, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 5: Creating the Sound Mechanism, How to Make Branch Flute – Part 4: Carving the Main Chambers, How to Use Native American Style Flute in Film Scoring, Beauty in Imperfection. September 2020. It is hard to find the right branch in this wood species. How to make a Native American Style Flute from a branch: Dry the branch. To make your flute, you must use the right kind, shape, and structure of bamboo, use the right tools and be patient in perfecting your work. I can be walking on the beach and discover branches washed onto the shore and rescue those branches before they become part of a beach party bonfire. Measure and mark with a pen the centre point of the branch 5 inches in length and 1/2 inch in diameter. How to Make Branch Flute. Read the book! The bark may be loose but if it is still on, the wood is usually good. I will guide you from start to finish on your flutemaking journey. In order to make a Native American style branch flute, you need to follow the steps: Grab a branch – find a proper branch and dry it, so that it’s perfect for your own flute. I burned through the wood with my burning tool. When the branch is left to dry, water slowly evaporates, and two things happen: The shrinking is not very visible, those are very small changes in the branch’s size.

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