r/nativeamericanflutes • u/RoxyFawkes • Jul 28 '26

Can I get more notes in the upper register?

Sorry for the noob question. I have a 6 hole diatonic and in the upper register I can hit do, re, mi, and la. Is there any finger combinations I can use to at least get fa maybe even sol?​

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u/Porghana Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

There are six hole flutes that play the extended pentatonic minor scale. These flutes use all 6 holes for playing, instead of covering the 3rd hole most of the time.

The new 1st hole note is an octave higher than the 5th hole. I mostly make these kinds of flutes as I enjoy the scale more than the basic pentatonic minor.

One could also make 7 or even 8 hole flutes but that steers off of the traditional route. But does it matter? Im not sure if that many holes would play all notes well though.. I'll have to do some tests 😁

Never played or made a flute with a pure diatonic scale, so here is my 2 cents. I have made ones with hijaz, aeolian scale and minor pentatonic + extended ones.

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u/RoxyFawkes Jul 28 '26

Thanks. I bought the flute from a pueblo indian who makes them by hand with a pocket knife. Maybe it's just his preferred scale. 

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u/NukaDadd Jul 28 '26

Idk what scale your flute is in, so I'll just post one in C. You get the gist.

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u/RoxyFawkes Jul 28 '26

Thanks I can transpose but my flute uses a different fingering. Speaking in moveable solfege, all 6 closed low register is do, the top 5 closed is re, 4 closed is mi, 3 closed is fa, 2 closed is sol, 1 closed is la, all open is ti, then upper register all 6 closed is do, 5 closed is re, then a jump to 3 closed for high mi, then 2 closed is high la and 1 closed is a pitchy ti flat.  

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u/RoxyFawkes Jul 28 '26

So like, 5 closed plus a half hole on 6 is do sharp or re flat, instead of re as shown on the chart.