Useful Scales for Native American Flutes

The documents on this page grew out of a comprehensive scale catalog that I've built. Of the 944 scales I have cataloged, the documents below select those that are “potentially useful” on a typical Mode 1/4 Minor Pentatonic Native American flute, and a flute that uses the Anasazi-7 tuning. A “potentially useful” scale is one that does not require half-hole techniques.

Using the Useful Scales Documents

These documents have an extraordinary number of scales in them: 672 scales for the Minor Pentatonic Native American flute and 317 scales for the Anasazi-7 tuned flutes. How might you use a table of so many flutes?

I believe they are a great way to get out of a rut. Simply browse through the pages and pick a random scale. Play the notes up and down. Play a scale song. using the new scale. Then introduce some leaps into your melodies. If don't have a lot of experience playing these flutes, you can gravitated to the scales in green — especially the darker green — since they are easier to play.

Mode 1/4 Minor Pentatonic

Comprehensive Scale Catalog — Useful Scales for Mode 1/4 Minor Pentatonic Native American Flutes

Anasazi-7

Comprehensive Scale Catalog — Useful Scales for for Anasazi-7 Tuned Flutes