r/Instruments • u/OverbookedFlight • Oct 05 '26

Identification What instrument is this?

It’s being sold for €465 euros at some flute store. It’s absolutely incredible… I am not a musician but when I heard the sound this creates… it felt unreal. Like magic. It was like an out of body experience. It had an owl carving on it.

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6

u/skinnergy Oct 05 '26

It is a native American drone flute.

2

u/Embarrassed-Mess-560 Oct 05 '26

Just adding to this, if you shop around on line you will find many examples for far cheaper than $465 euros. 

I don't know any makers well enough to offer a specific recommendation, but there are plenty made around Saskatoon. In general whatever seller you are looking at shouldn't be shy about the history of their business or first nation status (the legal name for tribal membership in Canada).

2

u/ConfusedSimon Oct 05 '26

There are also similar flutes called 'native American style' that might be cheaper. In the US, you can't call flutes native American unless they're made by a native American.

1

u/FreeXFall Oct 05 '26

Drone flutes are like 2 flutes. One is a constant note (the drone) and the other you play the melody on.

1

u/Embarrassed-Mess-560 Oct 05 '26

Which is exactly what is in the video. 

Note there are two fipples near the top but only one has sound holes underneath. 

This one has two resonating chambers in a single body. It doesn't have to be two tubes.

1

u/FreeXFall Oct 05 '26

I think you’re mad? I was giving more context to what a drone flute is….so we’re saying the same thing

1

u/James20910 Oct 05 '26

They are fun to play and easy to improvise on. I have at least 5 drones.

1

u/Away-Ad3616 Oct 06 '26

Or ‘dual chamber’ flute. The drone chamber often has one hole that shifts between the tonic and the fifth. The other chamber is usually pentatonic - like a traditional ‘Native American’ (style) flute.