Native American flute

Native American flute

Native American flute, Lakota culture, 1935 or before
Woodwind instrument
Other names	Native American 'style' flute, Indian flute, love flute, and others
Classification	Woodwind Wind Aerophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	421.23 (MIMO revision[1]) (Flutes with internal duct formed by an internal baffle (natural node, block of resin) plus an external tied-on cover (cane, wood, hide))
Playing range
typically 1 – 11⁄3 octaves
Related instruments
recorder (wood), quena (bamboo)
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The Native American flute is a musical instrument and flute that is held in front of the player, has open finger holes, and has two chambers: one for collecting the breath of the player and a second chamber which creates sound. The player breathes into one end of the flute without the need for an embouchure. A block on the outside of the instrument directs the player's breath from the first chamber—called the slow air chamber—into the second chamber—called the sound chamber. The design of a sound hole at the proximal end of the sound chamber causes air from the player's breath to vibrate. This vibration causes a steady resonance of air pressure in the sound chamber that creates sound.^[2]

Native American flutes comprise a wide range of designs, sizes, and variations—far more varied than most other classes of woodwind instruments.