Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Josh on October 21, 2012, 11:46:10 am

Title: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Josh on October 21, 2012, 11:46:10 am

Finished this one up yesterday afternoon.  It is a drone flute in the key of G.  They call it a drone flute because it has two bores but one bore doesn't have tuning holes and just constantly plays the fundamental (or lowest note) of the flute with the holes.  It makes for a haunting sound I think. 
    I made it from poplar and it has a stripe of Padauk down the middle.  The birds are Zebra Wood.  Thanks for looking!


(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/20121021_084712.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/20121021_084627.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/20121021_084641.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/20121021_084648.jpg)

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Josh on October 21, 2012, 11:47:48 am

and here's a video of me playing it.  I still haven't got the hang of it yet it takes a bunch of breath to keep it going. 

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/th_20121021_090143.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/?action=view&current=20121021_090143.mp4)

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Adam on October 21, 2012, 04:21:53 pm

That sounds really unique.  I like it!

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 21, 2012, 04:48:49 pm

Oh, now that's pretty cool sounding!  I can imagine it would take twice the breath since you are, in effect, playing two instruments at the same time.

Now about one with two seperate drones, each pitched to make a chord?!?!   >:D  Mwahahaha! Then post a pic of you playing "Flight of the Bumblebee"!    ....if it don't kill ya!

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Josh on October 22, 2012, 01:05:04 am

Thanks guys!  JW I found this for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObMbfjXEqII&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Cameroo on October 22, 2012, 03:03:38 am

That's pretty cool Josh.  I've been interested ever since you first started posting your flutes.  One thing I have been wondering - how did you learn to play? And do you just improvise your own songs, or do you learn them from sheet music, er what? :)

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Josh on October 22, 2012, 11:33:43 am

Thanks Cameroo.
I mostly improvise although I have learned some songs on it by reading tablature. I don't know how to read music at all. I play in the minor pentatonic scale which is just
<xxxlxxx
<xxxlxxo
<xxxlxoo
<xxxlooo
<xoxlooo
<ooxlooo

The '<' symbol is the mouth hole of the flute, x's are closed holes and o's are open holes.  Any combination of these notes makes a song.  Its real easy to learn to play I think everyone should give it a shot. There are some great videos on youtube that teach you the basics and how to imrovise with trills and grace notes.  No music background required! !
:-)

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 22, 2012, 04:00:48 pm

Josh, cool YouTube vid!  Loved it when the dogs chimed in!

Title: Re: Made my first Drone Flute!
Post by: Josh on October 22, 2012, 04:32:03 pm

yeah I stumbled across that video last night while researching drone flutes and it reminded me of what you suggested.  :)