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Frequently Asked
Questions |
What types of woods do you use in your flutes?
Stellar
believes that it is important to use sustainable
woods that are easy on the environment. This is in
keeping with the idea that this instrument is meant
to be in harmony with nature. We prefer to use
sustainable North American woods such as western red
cedar, red alder, cherry, walnut, and maple.
Click to see wood choices |
Does the type of wood used in the flute affect the sound or voice of the flute?
Each flute has its own voice and there are
similarities in the woods of the same species or
density. It is not an easy task to describe in
words the nature of these various differences.
Once a friend, also a flute maker, used the
words "sweet and mellow" to describe the voice
of flutes made of hardwoods like Cherry or
Walnut. He called flutes made of soft wood like
Western Red Cedar "crisp and clear". I have always told my customers exactly the opposite. Yes, the wood used in the flute affects the voice, but you can see the dilemma created by trying to describe these subtle differences.
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What Keys do your flutes come in?
Our Native style flutes come
in
high C, mid A, G, F#, F, E, low C. After years
of being in business we know that these
are the keys people want. All 24 keys that the
flute is capable of playing are available.
Those not listed above are available by special
order.
Our Middle
Eastern style flutes come in High D, mid
F#, G ,G#, A |
Are your flutes always in a minor key?
Our Native style flutes are designed to feature the minor scale. Much of the music that you hear played on the Native American style flute today is in this scale. The five notes of this scale make up a minor chord. With slightly advanced techniques our flutes will play all the notes of the chromatic scale. For more information on this subject see our
MUSIC CHARTS
page.
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How many octaves can I play on a Stellar flute?
On the fingering chart (always included)
for the Native style flute we show you how to play 1.4 octaves. For more information on this subject see our
MUSIC CHARTS page.
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Why is there always a bird or animal tied to the top of the flute?
Generically, that appliance is called the
"block".
In our Native style flutes the block has a precisely milled slot on the bottom of it
the forms an air passage that guides and configures the air stream and blows it across the wedge shaped front edge of the front window. This generates a sound wave inside the flute tube which is music. The flute won't play without the block and it plays poorly if it is not placed properly. Through the years it has become traditional to make it part of the visual art of the Native American flute.
The Middle
Eastern style flute has the groove in the body
of the flute. |
What is the difference between a five-hole flute and a six-hole
Native style flute?
One hole! On a six-hole flute the third hole is kept covered if you wish to limit your playing to the minor scale. A five-hole flute simply does not have this hole. Both kinds of flute are capable of playing every note in the chromatic scale. A five hole flute makes a few of these notes with different fingering than the more popular six hole flute.
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I've never played an instrument before, how long will it take me to learn to play the Native Style flute?
The flute is easy and fun to learn to play. If you are willing to spend as little as two hours playing your flute you will master the minor scale, and will be capable of playing simple (or maybe not so simple) music. With this short commitment on your part you will be able to make music that pleases you.
The Middle
Eastern style flute will take more practice. |
Why do you sign your flutes "Stellar"?
There are four family members who make Stellar Native American Flutes, and we each work on each flute so, rather than list our names, we use our company name to represent us all.
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How to Order
Click Here to Shop Online
or
Call 1 888 427 8850 to place an order
We
accept all major credit cards.
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Ordering Help or
Kit Questions
Email
Tom or Lily Stewart
support@stellarflutes.com
OR Call Tom or Lily
1 888 427 8850
OR Write Tom
Stellar
Flutes
2030 E Phillips Lake Loop
Shelton, Washington, 98584
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Matt Stewart
matthewstewart@comcast.net
OR Call Matt
1 425 744 0199
OR Write Matt
Stellar Flutes
8532 236th SW
Edmonds, Washington
98026
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