Flute Troubleshooting Tips

Discover effective solutions for common flute issues and enhance your playing experience.

Trouble shooting for your new Native American Style flute.

When I think about basic troubles attaining good sound from the NAS flute, I think about a “slice” when playing golf. There are numerous possibilities of why it’s occurring, and it can be hard to pinpoint a single cause. Below, I have listed a few possibilities.

** Sometimes the flute squeaks. Most of the time a squeak is caused by not having a hole or holes completely covered. I know when I first started playing, it felt like the holes were covered, but in fact, occasionally I was leaving a very slight gap. That’s all it takes. In truth, when you have all your fingers involved in the action, it can be hard to feel it. One of the best ways to combat this is to play in front of a mirror where you can easily see your fingers on the holes while playing. Another “squeak” possibility might be “overblowing”. Too much air pressure can cause the note to jump into the next octave, sounding much like a squeak. Experiment with keeping consistent air pressure, unless your intention is to alter the pitch with air pressure. (This can be a fun way to add embellishments…)

**The sound is weak and airy. When you first start playing your flute, (each time you pick it up to play…) make sure the block/totem is in place and properly secured with the leather strap. Most of the time, a weak sounding flute is due to the block being loose or out of position. Any air that escapes from the sides or rear of the flue will result in weak and airy sounds.

**The pitch is too sharp or flat. Most flute makers try to tune their flutes within 5-10 “cents”. However, most people will not hear one being out of tune if it is less than 15-20 cents out. Also, some flutes might not be “in tune”, yet they are “in tune with themselves”. Some fluctuation is most likely normal and to be expected. A difference between the temperature in which the flute was originally tuned, and the temperature when it is played can have an effect—whether sharp or flat. Many flute makers/players prefer a temperature close to 72 degrees. Warmer will produce a sharper pitch; cooler will be flatter. Keep this in mind while playing. Furthermore, it is a good idea to slowly warm up the flute; play it for several minutes, huff warm air into the bore, put it under your arm, rub on it—do something that is not too aggressive to warm it up when it is cool.

Additionally, the position of the block/bird/totem will influence the pitch. Moving the block forward results in a flatter pitch; moving it back away from the sound hole will make it sharper. This is something you can experiment with for the desired pitch of your flute. Try moving the block very slightly, like ½ millimeter at time, either direction. This will alter the pitch.

Finally, the air speed of lower-pitched notes is slower than higher-pitched notes. Experiment with air pressure at different ranges when trying to play all notes “in tune”.

**A note or some notes will not play. Sometimes, even the most minuscule obstructions will influence the flute’s responsiveness and playability. A speck of wood dust, lint, etc. (whether in the finger hole, sound hole, or flue) can cause the flute not to sound right; some finger holes/notes just don’t respond. Use a bright light, and magnifying glass, if needed, to closely inspect the flue, true sound hole, and the air chamber. Carefully remove anything that seems suspect.

**The flute suddenly stopped playing. “Watering-out” or “wetting-out” might be the problem. If you have been playing the flute for a long session, the moisture in your breath is likely gathering in the flue area. Excessive moisture here can cause the flute to stop playing. Sometimes, the moisture droplets can be shaken out by firmly grasping the flute and shaking it downward to move the moisture out of the flue. Be careful!! It might also be necessary to remove the block and wipe the flue out with a soft rag. In some occasions, it can be necessary to remove the block and let the flute dry out for several hours, even overnight. Avoid the temptation of using a heater or hair dryer!! There are several ways to help prevent watering out: make sure the mouth piece/blow hole is not actually in your mouth when playing. This can cause excessive salivation. Just press your lips up against the blow hole. Also, when playing, don’t look down and play with the flute pointing straight down. Raise the bore end of the flute when playing.

**It will not play and/or will not play the bottom notes. Check for structural damage. Being sat on, dropped hard, run over by a tank, etc. could mean catastrophic damage. If the wood is split, it might/might not be reparable. Also, if the wood contains any knots, make sure they have not worked loose from the wood fibers, leaving a crack or hole. Some slight cracks can be simply sealed with CA superglue. If it is beyond your scope of skill to make a repair, contact the flute maker to see what might be possible. Be prepared to include videos of the flute and of how it sounds before preparing to ship it.