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Reviews > Musical Instruments > Owner Review by Mike LipayHigh Spirit Flutes Native American Backpacking Flute
Owner Review by Mike Lipay
May 15, 2020
Product Description High Spirit Flutes make a number of different types of flutes, all of which are individually handmade by Native Americans. One set of flutes they make are good for backpacking, they are smaller and lighter than their other flutes and some, like mine come without a block to worry about (see image below - left has a bird, right does not) - birds control the sound quality and can get out of adjustment, a flute without a bird is permanently tuned and thus cannot get out of tune by jostling around in my backpack. A few comments about Native American Flutes.
Usage Report Unlike Western flutes, the Native American flutes work on a five-note scale where each note works well with the other notes, so there is no long learning time involved. They are also intended to be played from the heart, not from a musical score - I play the notes as the spirit moves me. As my skill developed my songs have become more complex, but never the same, I play the notes as I feel them. I find that I really like relaxing, possibly around a fire, after a hard day backpacking, by playing the flute. Couple years ago I was at Bright Angel campground in the Grand Canyon and started playing the flute. I was amazed at how many people told me they enjoyed it, and I don’t think I’m all that great at it. But I do find that it can take the edge off during a lunch break, in the evening after dinner, or while waiting out a shower before I head off in the morning. Every flute comes with an instruction booklet, but there are also online classes and videos on the High Spirits website. There are five holes on mine (though six hole flutes are available as well), to hold the flute the pads of the index, middle, and ring fingers of the dominant hand (right in my case) are placed on the bottom three holes; the index and middle fingers of the other hand cover the top two holes, with the ring finger resting on top of the flute. Both thumbs go on the bottom of the flute, both pinkies support the sides (see image). The mouth is placed on the upper end of the flute, over the hole (but not inside the mouth), to make the sound I then blow gently, but consistently, into the hole, different sounds come from lifting the fingers off of the holes. I have carried one of my flutes with me on just about every hiking and backpacking trip since 2015 when it went with my to Bright Angel campgrounds. I have taken it to the depths of the Grand Canyon and the summit of Mount Washingtion (New Hampshire); it has seen the heat of an Arizona summer and the cold of a New England winter; the dry heat of the Southwest deserts and the high humidity of the Alleghenies. As I've become used to these musical campanions I can hear how each of these environments affects the sound a wooden flute makes, and have grown to appreciate the beauty of the Native American craftsmen who created these wonders. The beauty of the Native American Flute (NAF) is that every note that can be played matches any other note. While musical scores are available on many websites for the NAF to play composed songs, it not necessary to learn to play Western style songs in order to enjoy the NAF. Summary The High Spirits flute it a beautiful musical instrument that is easy to learn, relaxing to play, and light enough not to be noticeable in the backpack, and comes at a reasonable price (some under $100). The one problem I have, and it is a personal one, is that if the finger pad doesn’t fully cover the hole a sour note is played. One of the holes in my backpacking flute is larger than the others, so I sometimes have a difficult time covering it properly. The other flutes I have (5 in total) all have equally sized holes, but they also have a movable bird, so I have to make sure it is properly seated if I take it in my backpack. I wish the fixed flutes did not have different sized holes.
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