Waking Spirit Productions
Vance Pennington - Flute Maker
Waking Spirit Kokopelli
North American Flutes

Flute Tuning & Fingering Chart

Multi Mode Tuning

6 Hole North American Flute - Native American (style) Flute


 

 
1
* 2
* 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Octave
Break
14
15
16
1 A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A A# B
C
2 A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# A# B C C#
3 B C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B B C C# D
4 C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C C C# D D#
5 C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C C# C# D D# E
6 D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D D# E F
7 D# E F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# D# E F F#
8 E F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# E E F F# G
9 F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# E F F F# G G#
10 F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# E F F# F# G G# A
11 G G# A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G G# A A#
12 G# A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G# G# A A# B

The Column between 13 & 14 show the octave break of the fundamental. Playing this note can be useful in determining if you have a correctly made flute that is capable of acceptable cross fingered notes. In accordance with the rules of Mother Nature it indicates that the top three fingering holes have been correctly placed in the flute sound chamber. This octave break note should be within 10% of the upper octave of the fundamental note and can be checked by using a chromatic tuner. Playing the upper octave of the fundamental in this way can also be useful when playing your instrument.

* Columns 2 & 3 notes require partially covering the first fingering hole of the flute which is not recommended and should only be utilized by extremely experienced players.

Column 1 shows the fundamental notes (all playing holes covered). Flute playing holes are progressively tuned to the RED notes reading from left to right.

Columns 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 are the notes of the Primary Scale for a six hole Multi-Mode flute.

Columns 1, 4, 6, 8 & 11 are notes of the Pentatonic Minor Scale

Columns 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 & 15 are notes of the Major Scale

Columns 4, 6, 8, 11 & 13 are notes of the Diatonic Scale.




The piano shown below gives an indication of where the notes in the above charts are found.
The note 'A' which is to the right of 'Middle C' is tuned to 440 Hz.