I need help buying a native american flute online

[jeffgothro]

I bought a Native American Flutes by Jonah Thompson - Handcrafted (or so it says) in A minor 6 holes. I cant play it. I simply cant blow that softly, I just dont have the lungs for it due to ashema and smoking, and I am unable to breath softly as well due to genetic nasal problems I was born with, I can barely breath out of my nose most of the time, I CANNOT breath softly, at least not as softly as this flute requires. When I play it, its an octave to high, it sounds like a cheap 5 dollar plastic recorder, and when I am an octave to high, I will sometimes take a finger off hole and get nothing but air, no note (defective?) - I need a flute thats not so tempermental about air flow, a native american flute I can actually "BLOW" into or through thats going to give me a natural A minor no matter how much or little I blow

I really want to play, its super easy, I took a 15 minute youtube clip and was making beautiful sounds within minutes - when the flute wasnt trying to jump up an octave. What can I do, do I need a custom flute, does anyone know a flute that can meet my disabilitys and requirements 6 hole, A minor, and made of wood.

Thanks so much in advance,

-J

(I really dont like this thing and I'm frusterated it does not work for me)

[JButky]

Have you tried adjusting the block? It slides back and forth controlling the air direction, You may need to slide it one way or the other to get it to speak they way you want.

[jeffgothro]

Have you tried adjusting the block? It slides back and forth controlling the air direction, You may need to slide it one way or the other to get it to speak they way you want.

Yes, I actually figured that out on my own, and messed around with for about 15 minutes and still couldnt get the desired results I wanted. I believe this flute is either defective, or not properly made. In any case, by the time your read this, the flute will be on a UPS truck and on its way back to the online store I bought it from.

I'm actually looking at a Jose Cabezas flute in A minor, anyone have one of these or have experience with them?

http://www.ancientwinds.net/

[jeffgothro]

Really...my post needs to be approved...again? Why? What is it with these flute sites, I tryed joing another flute site and couldnt join because I couldnt answer the pre-sign up trivia question about flutes...gee, ya make a forum to help people, but a person so new to flutes who doesnt know anything about them cant get help because your asking questions a new person may not know...really?

And now you guys want to approve everything...how the hell does a person get online flute help - just delete my account, I'm so fed up with internet and trying to get help from anyone about anything.

-Thanks, Jeff

[Classitar]

Welcome Jeff,

The moderators only approve the first several posts, after that members can post freely.
The only reason we do this is because of the overwhelming amount of spam that is posted on a daily basis.
There can be hundreds of posts to delete on a busy day.

We appreciate your patience, we are just trying to keep the board clear of spam

[pied_piper]

Jeff - I have to reiterate Classitar's remarks. We hate having to approve initial posts as must as you do, but it has been necessary the keep the board free of spam. As a moderator here, I personally have to delete at least dozens and sometimes hundreds of spam messages each day. Without the moderation of new members, all of those spam messages would appear on the board and it would be nearly impossible for real members to communicate here. I'm sure that you can appreciate this problem.

Once you have posted a few real messages and they have been approved, your posts will no longer require approval. I understand that this can be an inconvenience for anyone such as yourself who is seeking a quick answer to a question, but unfortunately, it is necessary. Fortunately, it is only temporary while we filter out the spammers from the real new members.

[Silversorcerer]

I have several Native American flutes built by a now deceased master, Hawk Littlejohn. Carlos Nakai plays some of this maker's instruments. It is just the nature of the instrument, soft and meditation oriented. It is not meant to be loud, but gentle, and not really geared to loud performance, therefore the air speed is something like a gentle exhalation. You've heard the phrase, "just breathe". Well that's what works with these. You breathe, you do not "blow". So alter the approach and it should work out. I found it to be even more sensitive to pressure than a recorder, which is also difficult to prevent from over-blowing.

Slow yourself down, clear your head, bring it to your lips while you breathe, and resist the urge to blow. It is a very rewarding instrument to play and hear, but like everything else, it will take practice.