This tutorial will teach the first octave. This tutorial will teach the first octave. Once you learn it will come with ease. You can also use these techniques if you want to bend the pitch. Lift the quena to your lower lip. This is one of the most difficult flutes in the world to play, but once you learn, it can be a breeze.Steps Obtain a quality quena. This pan flute resource page includes seven pan flute construction tutorials. I was quite excited to get my quena in the mail today, and quickly tore open the package. Copy link. Build different panflutes of varying styles and materials including the small Viking pan flute made from a single block of wood, a CPVC panflute, a flute made from wooden dowels and a panflute made of bamboo. Lifting the flute to play. Top. Don't try to jump ahead to learn finger positions. Getting a tone can take minutes, or it can take days. This page was last modified on 29 November 2016, at 09:42. Brought to you by High Spirits Flutes. The air pressure is modulated in the lungs to produce a desired air jet velocity. The overtone flute is available in two forms; as a fipple flute with a carefully crafted mouthpiece like a recorder, or as an open-ended notched flute similar to the S.American 'Quena'. Some good brands are Acha, Aymara, and Mundo de Bambu. If you have large hands, try the Quenacho. Once a tone is produced, try to remember exactly what that position felt like. For the last note in the scale, an F#, hold just the thumb on the back. Once you have mastered holding the clarinet and producing sound, try playing with the fingerings shown below. Your left thumb should go on the bottom hole, your left pointer on the first, left middle on the second, left ring on the third, right pointer on the fourth, right middle on the fifth, and right ring on the sixth. This is a sweet song, beautiful on the Native Flute. Tighten your embouchure (the shape of your lips) to bring the pitch up; loosen it to bring the pitch down. This is most easily done through the internet on sites like eBay or Bolivia Mall. Set the tuning machine to G. Shorten the quena in small amounts from the end until the sound you make with all of the holes covered matches the G on the tuning machine. Good quenas are often difficult to find. Watch later. The flute is fully made of bamboo, and is aproximately 38 centimeters tall. Quenas are woodwind instruments from the family of the flutes that are among the first musical instruments that humans have used. Info. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Re: Quena flute I bought one in Peru a few years back. Hold the quena with your right hand covering the bottom three holes. Once you have mastered how to produce the initial tone, it is time to learn the notes, or pitches. Bamboo flutes are played horizontally rather than vertically, in a very similar style to the western-flute. For the next note, C, uncover all holes held by the right hand. Spend time getting to know the exact position for blowing across the quena. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Keep your elbows out to your sides rather than pinching them close to your body, and try … Blow straight out across the notch. Post by fluteguy18 » Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:58 am. The sooner you learn what proper position feels like, the easier your progress will be. The quena is an original flute of South America at the Andean zone, it was played in the Inca Empire, and now in the whole world. The pitches are made by covering specific holes with your fingers. It requires no special embouchure (mouth shape). Quena - the haunting, deep, and uplifting flute of the Andean Mountains. Share. Oil your quena with mineral oil regularly. The quena player performs simultaneous and synchronized control over several parameters. Composed for Disney's 1995 version of Pocahontas. Your right thumb should support the instrument. Get the spirit of Andean music inside you, and figure out how to play it on your quena. This is called tonguing. The quena, or kena, is a handmade flute that originated in the Andes region in South America. Obtain a quality quena. Unlike more advanced wind instruments, the quena does not have any moving parts to slide in or out to adjust the pitch, so if you are playing with other musicians, you will have to adjust using technique. To raise the pitch and bring notes into tune, enlarge the holes a tiny bit at a time using the reamer. A mother of three, she was a pre-kindergarten teacher for seven years, is a Pennsylvania-certified tree tender and served as director of parks in her local municipality. The quena (pronounced kena, and sometimes spelled that way) is an Andean end-blown flute. Tune your quena. The quena (pronounced kena) is the Andean flute used in folk music across the various countries spanned by the Andes. This is the first note, a G. To produce a G#, hold that position, but slide your finger slightly off of hole 6. Re: Songs to play on my quena. Lower the pitch, on notes with many open holes, by covering a hole further down, or by partially covering the next lower hole. Incorrect posture will affect your ability to blow air into the flute. Quena is pronounced "Kay-nah" or sometimes "Keh-nah". It requires some patience and practice to get the hang of it. These can also be found in other places, but the music made with these is notably Andean. Playing one is a skill that takes time to master, but, as a folk instrument, is not beyond the average person to learn how to play. Hey Guys! The pitches are made by covering specific holes with your fingers. This quena covers a range of G4 to G6. Your left hand should cover the top three with your thumb covering the hole on the back. Up Next. Have patience. Place the thumb of your left hand over the back hole of the recorder and the index finger over the first hole after the mouthpiece. Tilt the angle of the u-notch up and down until it makes a whistling noise. This is the 2nd part of my Quena tutorial, we will go over mouth position and pressure along with learning a song, enjoy! Shopping. Raise the pitch even further by opening the bottom-most hole that is covered in any given fingering. How to play the flute Quena: Take a flute in the hands. Steps 1. Place the mouthpiece of the flute against the chin, with the lower lip protruding over the rim of the flute. The Andean Quena is the most famous flute from Latin America. Learn about the principles of the Quena. Form a 'U' with your lips and then blow across the rim. The amount of breath you supply also will affect how loudly you play. Quena fingerings are sometimes imprecise, and may include half-covering a hole. Although they make different notes, you blow them the same way. Since it is often a hard instrument to find information on, you might try looking for information on the principles of the Shakuhachi, the Japanese flute. *High D is easier to play if you release the index finger on your left hand. The u-notch should rest on the upper segment of your lower lip. It is also possible to build your own for a few dollars and a couple hours. Don't use your voice, but make sure you are saying "too" instead of "who" into the quena. The Native American Flute is the easiest of all of our flutes to begin playing. Once you are able to do this almost instantly, start covering different holes, producing different notes. The tongue provides an exit valve that is used to produce the different … of notched flute. To begin, hold the quena with your right hand covering the bottom three holes and your left hand covering the top three, with the thumb covering the hole on the back. Much like a western flute, the tone is produced by air being directed at the precise location necessary for it to bounce off the mouthpiece and funnel into the tube. Lifting one finger at a time, continue to tune each note, going up the scale. 2. fluteguy18 Posts: 2311 Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:11 pm. They are a lot of fun. This is a. Many beginners flail their fingers around and lose their position, making it difficult to play quick pieces of music. When holding the flute up to play, your shoulders and elbows should be relaxed. Although homemade flutes will be the most rewarding to play, they may be difficult to make or to play in tune. With all holes covered, blow into the quena. Help start each note by making a voiceless "t" sound. The quena has the necessary characteristics to be able to execute any melody and accompanied with all kinds of instruments. It has techniques and songs, and you do not have to know how to read music; it comes with a CD. Easily learn how to play Colors of the Wind by watching our free, easy to follow tutorial video. It is also The quena produces the pitches G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F and F#. It has been stated on more than one site that the quena is one of the most difficult flutes in the world to learn. It's a little tricky to play till you get used to it, but has a great sound. I make flutes of varying lengths and inside diameters, all of which produce different sorts of sound in various pitches and registers. It creates a low, dark and warm tone that some people describe as relaxing or haunting. Press the finger holes down one at a time, starting with the one closest to the mouthpiece. I can’t play it, so I was going to pass it on/swap it. As you lift your fingers, keep them hovering close to the instrument so that they can be used easily later. Any gap between your finger and the hole will throw off the tone. For an E, lift 2 and hold just number 1 and the thumb in place. Hold the quena to your mouth and close the top end of the pipe with the flesh between your chin and lower lip. If your fingers are too small to reach the holes, consider a quenilla. The second octave is achieved by over-blowing. Close the fingers of the left hand top four slot holes (those that are closer to the whistle): thumb – hole on the back of the flute, hereinafter – the index, middle, ring. Most players play them a little breathy, but I have heard them played crystal clear by a really good player, with top notch embouchure. Lift the quena to your lower lip. Blow harder to raise the pitch (make it sharper), less hard to lower the pitch (make it flatter). With all holes covered, blow into the quena. The most important feature on this instrument is the notch. # Posted by AB 12 years ago. Getting a basic sound from the quena: [1]Here is a video with some Quena techniques: How to Play the Quena, Select-a-Good-Quena-for-All-Levels-of-Play, Select a Good Quena for All Levels of Play, http://www.unmundodebambu.com.ar/consejosi.htm, http://www.kanji.org/kanji/jack/quena/qfinger.htm, https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Play_the_Andean_Quena_or_Kena&oldid=39917, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License. Buy a copy of "Kena: Ancient Flute of the Andes". The stress is on the first syllable. Try to purchase a quality quena from the start, since this greatly influences sound quality. Blow straight out across the notch. It's also the trickiest part to work on without the proper tools. I play strings but it was easier to get the flute in the suitcase! Your teeth will be slightly parted, and the opening between your lips will be wider than it is tall. Josie Myers has been a freelance writer and tutor since 2008. Brands like Novica are overpriced and cheesy. 3. Once the first octave described above is mastered, you can continue learning the next three octaves. Mar 12, 2017 - Explore JD Hanke's board "Quena" on Pinterest. To begin, hold the quena with your right hand covering the bottom three holes and your left hand covering the top three, with the thumb covering the hole on the back. Hold your recorder in your left hand. Feb 1, 2013 - Nayo Ulloa provides us with a close-up on how to play a Quena (or Andian Flute) At first I could not even get out a sound because I was using my … A handmade one can be found at local music fairs or from various sources online. Any of you Irish & beyond flute players have quenas? Make sure you cover the hole completely. Did you ever make a sound by blowing across the top of a bottle? For an A#, keep your finger off of 6 and half-hole number 5. Tilt the quena down (away from your mouth) to raise the pitch; tilt it up (toward your mouth) to lower it. Native Flute tablature is included. Traditionally made of caneor wood, it has 6 finger holes and one thumb hole, and is open on both ends or the bottom is half-closed (choked). Quena - the haunting, deep, and uplifting flute of the Andean Mountains. The u-notch / embouchure indentation should rest against your bottom lip. It is blown by holding it vertically, pressing the notch (the V shaped opening) softly against your lips and blowing with a smile. This is most easily done through the internet on sites like eBay or Bolivia Mall. Well, the North American block style flute is still different from the Quena, because the Quena is diatonic tuned. High Spirits Flutes are wood, handcrafted, easy-to-play, musician quality, native-style flutes that have been proudly made in the USA by Odell Borg since 1990. How to play Quena - Harevis. This is a smaller version of the quena. The quena(hispanicized spelling of Quechuaqina,sometimes also written kenain English) is the traditional fluteof the Andes. Myers holds a Bachelor of Arts in music and business from Mansfield University and a Master of Arts in English from West Chester University. To reach the note an octave higher, narrow your smile and blow harder. Purchase CDs of renown Andean groups and listen to them often. Lift the quena to your lower lip. A quena is an Andean flute, very common in Perú, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Check the resources for more information. This is the same sort of thing, except you're blowing across the top of the quena. Blow straight out across the notch. Like the Western Concert flute, it is blowing air across the notch that produces the sound. The quena is an easily-portable instrument that you can carry with you even while traveling. However, they can still play some great music, in the hands of a really good player. Tap to unmute. A new flute player. All music is produced using a scale, or a series of notes that are close to one another in pitch. Your pinkies can go where they feel most comfortable. Quenas have a hollow body that produce sounds when air is blown through it. Is it easy for a flute player to switch between this and a ‘normal’ flute? Bring your lips inside of the bamboo mouthpiece and blow a strong, steady stream of air through the instrument. Fingering and producing sound. Partituras Flauta Nativa Americana Canciones Flauta Cuencos Tibetanos Quena Nativos Americanos Libros Partituras De Flauta Hoja Para Canción The u-notch should rest on the upper segment of your lower lip. If you know how it works, it will be easier to play. Sit or stand with your back straight so that air can flow through your diaphragm easily as you play. To find out the key your Quena is in: play the lowest note into a tuner. Begin by placing the U-shaped notch on the lower lip. To produce the next note, an A, lift your finger completely from hole 6. There are many different varieties around the world, and the quena is the South-American style of this particular flute-like instrument. This is called the bell tone. Then the fingers of his right hand – the index, middle, ring closing the remaining three lower holes. The u-notch should rest on the upper segment of your lower lip. In order to find that precise location, slowly rock the flute back and forth to direct the air at slightly different angles. This is one of the most difficult flutes in the world to play, but once you learn, it can be a breeze. This is called "half-hole" and is used by many instruments to produce half tones, or sharps and flats. http://www.flickr.com/photos/puntodevista/97528832/, How to Do the Sad 'Wah-Wah-Wah' on the Trombone, How to Make a Vibrating Sound With Your Lips, Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. See more ideas about flute, native american flute, native flute. Now lift finger 5 in order to produce a B. Leave the right hand in place to help support the instrument. Finding the correct mouth position to produce a tone is the most difficult part of playing a quena.