About the Drone Flute
A drone flute has two pipes side by side, played at once: one holds a steady note while the other plays the melody, giving a rich, haunting sound. This is a printed take on the Native American style, in F# at A = 432 Hz. The designer drew on flutopedia.com, a big resource for flute makers.
It's meant to play in tune straight off the printer, but material and settings vary, so you may need to adjust hole sizes for the tone you want. The parts go together from mouthpiece to end in this order: mouthpiece, true sound hole, spacer, finger holes, end. On top sits the 'block', which directs your breath over the sound hole. Sliding it towards the mouthpiece makes low notes easier and less squeaky, at the cost of control up high. Don't glue it, since moisture collects there. Tie it on with a string or shoelace instead, as on traditional flutes.
The designer asks that it not be sold, out of respect for craftspeople who make wooden Native American flutes for a living. The licence is non-commercial anyway.
Who it's for. Flute players and anyone drawn to meditative drones. The demo video shows the sound.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- Mouthpiece, true sound hole section, spacer, holes section and end
- Block
Bought parts
- A string or shoelace to tie the block
Tools
- Files or a drill to adjust holes and plugs if the fit is off
Build overview
Print settings
- Tolerance: 0.15 mm; oversize holes or undersize plugs for FDM if needed
- ? Material: Not specified by the designer (who used a resin printer)
Video
Play video: Drone flute demo (loads YouTube)
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