A nose flute is played by breathing out through your nose. If you’re buying one, check how it changes pitch. Some models use finger holes, while others respond to the shape of your mouth.
History of the Nose Flute
Nose flutes have long been played in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In the Philippines, they have been used for courtship, while Hawaiian nose flute traditions include storytelling and chants.
Types of Nose Flute
Traditional bamboo nose flutes often have finger holes, so you change notes by covering and uncovering them. With a model that uses your mouth to change pitch like our jackfruit wood nose flute, you hold it against your nose and mouth and change pitch by opening or closing your mouth as you breathe out.
What does a Nose Flute Sound Like?
This wooden nose flute has a warm, airy sound with a slightly smoky edge. Changing the shape of your mouth lets you glide between pitches, giving it a whistling quality that works well for bird-like calls.
Nose Flute
Change pitch with your mouth, much like whistling. Hold the nose flute against your nostrils, breathe out gently through your nose and change the shape of your mouth to glide between notes. Handcrafted in Vietnam from oiled jackfruit wood, it has a warm, slightly smoky tone. Its pocket-sized design makes it easy to take along and try bird-like calls or simple tunes.
How to Choose a Nose Flute
Choose a nose flute that sits comfortably against your nose and listen to a sound sample before buying. A model that changes pitch with your mouth shape lets you start without learning fingerings. If you prefer a model with finger holes, check that you can reach them comfortably.
Buying second-hand can save money. Check for cracks, rough edges and a blocked air channel, and ask how the flute has been cleaned. If you’re buying online, check the returns policy in case the fit is uncomfortable.
Unique Nose Flute Accessories
A soft pouch protects a wooden or bamboo nose flute from scratches, while a hard case gives a clay flute extra protection. Wipe the flute with a soft cloth after playing and let it dry before putting it away. For practice, choose a guide or fingering chart that matches your flute’s design.
Nose Flute in Traditional and Modern Music
The nose flute’s soft, breathy tone suits intimate music. In the Philippines, it has been played for courtship and ceremonies. In Hawai‘i and elsewhere in Polynesia, it has been used in storytelling and chants. Today, that quiet, airy sound also suits ambient music and experimental soundtracks, where it can add texture without overpowering other instruments.
Learn to Play the Nose Flute
The Complete Nose Flute Player teaches you how to produce a clear sound, control your breath and change pitch to create melodies, with practical techniques and exercises designed to get you confidently playing this unusual instrument.
