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Friday, February 6, 2009

Unlocking the Keys 101

Flute players familiar with native american flutes (NAF) are used to the designation of keys based on the bottom note of the flute (the sound of all the holes closed). That note designation refers to the minor key of that note. For example, the NAF in A is really A minor, no sharps or flats. The major key with no sharps or flats is C, and with the right fingering the NAF in A minor can also play the major C scale. Remember: the NAF flute in either 5 or 6 hole form is based on the pentatonic (5-note) minor scale.
The Anasazi scale, (as has been determined) is based on a pentatonic major scale based on the bottom note of the flute. This distinction is important because a NAF flute in A (minor) , no sharps or flats, is not compatible with an Anasazi flute in A (major), 3 sharps.
In music, each set of sharps and/or flats in a major key has its minor key complement (called a relative minor). If you pair a NAF with an Anasazi flute, use this as a guide:
Anasazi A with NAF F# (3 sharps)
Anasazi C with NAF A (no sharps or flats)
Anasazi D with NAF B (2 sharps)

(Some Michael Allen Anasazi flutes are in G#, use a NAF in F )

Take a listen to Welcome Dance and Two Hearts in an earlier post on this blog. I overdubbed the recording, playing an F# NAF with an A Anasazi Dream flute. Because I was playing in the same key structure, the music holds together.
I hope this entry was helpful in helping you choose which flutes to use.





1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hey, I noticed that you have a couple of different keys, exactly what notes do they all play? I wanna experiment with the scales on a piano before I get one.

Email me at coyotecrow4@yahoo.com

thanks