Erik the Flutemaker Ice Age Flute
Overview
The Ice Age Flute is made out of bamboo by Erik the Flutemaker. It is blown by holding it vertically, pressing the notch (the V shaped opening) softly against your lips and blowing with a smile. It requires some patience and practice to get the hang of it.
It has four top fingerholes and a thumbhole. It is tuned to itself, which means that the instrument will play in tune when playing alone, but when playing with for example a piano player you could be a tad flat or sharp.
How to play this flute?
- Put your lips against the notch and blow across the V-shape
- This requires some practice and patience
- The flute is held vertically
- There are four fingerholes on top, and a thumbhole on the back
- Cover the holes with the pad of the fingers, not the fingertips
The musical possibilities
- This flute plays easily the Major scale and in the Minor scale.
- It is also possible to play in other keys and modes.
- This would require you to cover half holes more often.
- The flute has a reach of approximately 2 octaves.