FAQ
Sometimes choosing an instrument for Your Self or someone You love can be challenging.
This Q &A sections serves to help You find Your way and answer questions that may arise.
General
Whats the difference between 440Hz and 432Hz and 444Hz?
440 Hertz is the frequency at which most all concert instruments are tuned to. This is the most common tuning frequency. 432 Hertz is said to be the natural frequency of the earth, some call it the heartbeat of the planet. The notes will sound between 1/8 and 1/4 pitch lower in pitch from 440 or 8 cents lower, and is becoming more and more popular in the sound healing community. 444hz tuning is another scale coming from the sound healing modality. This scale is based on Gregorian Chanting and was created by Solfeggion. He had depicted particular frequencies that have a specific healing qualities and they are spread across several octaves. The Solfeggio frequencies. Tuning an instrument in 444 hz makes some of these available in particular tones of the instrument. Note that in the case of Chadagan Zither You are free to re -tune Your instrument to Your needs. If you want to play with other instruments, such as piano, or other pre-tuned instruments, we highly recommend getting a 440 Hz flute.
How do I know if an item is made-to-order or in stock?
Look to the title of the item! It will say "Made to Order" at the end of the title. The product will also have a drop down menu after the description that says "Made to Order". If it doesn't have either of these things, or says "in stock" in the title than it is In Stock! You can also check the In Stock page under shop of In Stock specific items.
How long does it take to make a made-to-order Instrument?
Please allow us up to 6 months to make your flute, Chadagan and up to 3 months for a drum or rattle. Some of our lines of flutes such as the simplicity series can be made in 30-90 days. The more complex the flute, the longer the time we need to make it. For more elaborate flutes, the wait time can be up to 1 year. This is subject to change as we need to take our time to create the custom pieces. We may sometimes take only a limited amount of custom orders and made-to-order items per month depending on volume of orders.
If I order a made-to-order item, will it be exactly the same as in the picture?
We do our best to make as similar of an instrument as pictured and described. We use the same wood type, key and design. However, the color, grain and texture of the woods we use will vary with its own unique personality as it will be from a new batch of woods. If we do not have access to the same woods we will contact you to discuss an alternative.
Can I customize a made-to-order item?
There are ways to customize a made to order item. When purchasing the item there will be different options for you to customize your made to order item where you can choose which key or hertz/frequency you'd like. You can also contact us with requests like adding an animal totem, or adding turquoise, or wood burn art. Please limit these additions/modifications to one or two. If there are more modifications you would like to make we suggest you head to our Custom Designs page and submit your customization idea there! Most times we can accommodate these few alterations, or we will give alternative suggestions to help you find the perfect flute for you. Prices will vary with add ons.
Selecting a Flute
What are different the ranges of your flutes:
High Range - B4 to D5
Mid Range - F4 to A#4
Low Range - C#4 to E4
Contra bass - G3 to C4
*The letter indicates the root (lowest) note of the flute.
*the number next to the note indicates what octave the note is. To give you some reference, middle C on the piano is C4.
I'm a beginner. What flutes are best?
First stop: you will want to purchase a Native American Style Flute in Pentatonic Minor Tuning . Aeolian tuned flutes are not the standard NAF tuning, and are not compatible for lessons on NAF's. The keys of „G” and „A” are one of the most common keys to learn on, but if you have smaller hands and have no musical experience, a key of B (not Low B) or High C are perfect! If you already have some hand coordination, or other musical experience, you could try the key of F & F# for a lower tone.
I have small hands. What keys are best?
Keys between High D & A (High D, High C#, High C, B, B flat and A) are excellent for small-handed players and do not require a long reach of the fingers. Keep in mind, the smaller the flute, the higher the pitch. You can always try to lower toned flutes. All flutes will have "SPECS" to reference before purchasing!
Can I start with a low-sounding flute if I am a beginner or have small hands?
Although we suggest beginners to start with the higher keys, between high D and mid G, and to work your way into lower keys, some people can also learn fine on a F# or even a low E. This depends more on hand coordination and finger dexterity than on your hand size.
When I'm shopping for flutes, how do I know what scale it is in?
This can be confusing. There are several terms for NAFs or Love Flutes that mean the same thing. If you are new, and you are looking for a "5 hole native flute, a Native American style flute, a pentatonic minor flute, or a native American flute or a Love Flute these are different names for the same type of scale of flute. We call this NAF minor, which is a pentatonic minor scale with a minor 6th.
In our shop, if the flute specifies the scale (eg. Major, Aeolian, Anasazi), then these are NOT the classic Native American flute tuning. These tunings are inspired from other world music scales and give a completely different sound. If the flute does not specify an alternate scale, but simply refers to a key (eg. A, G, E, F#) it is by default a NAF minor scale.
*We don't make 5 hole NAFs, but offer a leather strap upon request that quickly turns a 6 hole flute into a 5 hole flute.
How do I know which scale to chose?
There are a variety of scales that you can choose from. The most popular scale that we use is called the NAF minor. This is the most common scale that is used in the Native American flute (NAF) community. Other specialty scales you can choose from are, North American Indigenous, Anasazi, Major and Aeolian.
*Click on the links to learn more about each scale.
What Is a Drone Flute?
A drone flute is a flute that has 2 or more separate chambers that create a "droning note" or combined sound where several notes on one chamber harmonize with the other melody side of the flute. They come in many styles keys and designs. They produce a captivating and meditative sound. Many think of these as "ceremonial flutes".
I want my flute to play with my other instruments. How do I know which one to get?
It is important to know if your other instruments will be in A440 Hz; most "pre-tuned instruments" are. Keep in mind that NAF's are key specific, and you may need several keyed songs if you want to play in several keys. If you want to play specific songs, it is also important to know what scale that song is in, ie. G Major, G minor. A NAF in the key of G wont play with a G major song, because NAF's are typically in Pentatonic minor.
Can I play other tuning modes on one flute (like Major or Arabian on my Minor NAF)?
Every NAF in minor tuning has a full relative major scale, for example F minor plays G# major, A minor plays C major, E minor plays G major and so on. The easy answer is yes, but trying to play Aeolians and Arabians on the more common NAF is quite hard to achieve with half holing etc. and it is always recommended that for the most fluid and in tune transposing of songs, it is best to use the appropriate scale. Most Native American flute performers have a large collection of different flutes to achieve different sounds and flavors.
What is the difference between classical drone flute and Unity double flute?
The main difference between these flutes is that Unity flute is a traverse flute while Drone is a straight flute, apart from this there is only one blow hole in the Unity flute and the creation of sound happens much closer to the ears of the player, that brings a distinctly different impression. Unit flute is almost twice as long as the second chamber is created length wise.
Selecting a Drum
How does the size of the drum influence the sound?
The size of the drum influences the sound but is not the only factor. The main impact referees to the „spaciousness” of the sound and also its depth. The smaller drums eg. 30 cm tend to be more directed and les spacious at the same time carrying a wonder full vibration especially grat for sweat lodge or times when You need a faster beet. Check out the video to have a more reference point.
Is there a difference between hides of Deer and Goat?
Yes. There is a clear difference between each of this hides. The main is that each o this animals carries a different vibration. Deer are very wild and You can experience this while even preparing the hides. The animal carries the vibration of deep forest, while the goat originates fro the mountains, it tends to be a thinner hide but also more spacious like the mountains.
What is the difference between traditional Style Drum and Tunable drum?
First of all the Traditional drum is done once and for all and does not allow the possibility to change the tension of the hide. (apart from manipulating it with heat) With tunable drums You can adjust the tension by a simple manipulation with the rope. (see the video for instruction). The main difference is in the way the hide is mounted on the rim. In traditional style drums the hide is stretched directly on the wooden rim in this case with polypropylene rope that goes directly through the hide. These drums are always made with deer hide (with some rear exceptions.) in the tunable drum the hide is leaning on a metal ring that creates extra space between the wooden rim and the edge of the hide. The rope is woven i a way that allows it to move there fore adjust tension when needed.
Does the type of construction influence the sound?
Yes It does. These differences in construction also influences the sound of the drum - Traditional Style tends to be more „round” and directed in its vibration (more flat ) and the Tunable Medicine Drum has a longer reverb and can be more „colorful” in different aliquots.
Which Hides produce a deeper Sound?
This is a difficult question that does not have a single answer. The general tendency is that a thicker hide produces a deeper sound. The general tendency is also that if it is accompanied by expanding the size - than thicker and bigger drums produce a deeper sound. At the same time very thick hides can play very flat. Each Hide is different, there are no repetitions as to the drums and exactly this makes them so magical.
Questions about Chadagan Zither
Can a Chadagan play like a monochord?
Short answer is No. Chadagan is a zither in which every string plays a different tone as the lengths of strings a gradually shorter as they go up. So it is a melodic instrument rather than droning like monochord.
Does a Chadagan come in different tunning ranges?
Chadagan is a very is easy to re tune, however this re-tuning is available within certain parameters which are equal for all our zithers. The ranges available within it’s 16 strings start from G2 going up to B5
What are the lowest and highest tones available on Chadagan?
At this stage we are building a single size of Chadagans that gives a spread of tones between: Lowest tone: G2 to highest B5
Selecting a Rattle
What Materials are the rattles made of?
Made from raw deer hide, moon wood, and naturally dyed leather. The sound is produced by metal beads, quartz crystals, or sea stones. Some rattles are adorned with beads made from natural materials and feathers. You can find a detailed description of these materials here (link to the rattles page).
Where do You obtain the hides?
The skins used are obtained through recycling, and you can read more about it here https://metaphorictools.eu/the-workshop/.
What is the Difference between the „Creativity”, „ Wilderness” and „Simplicity” rattles?
The rattles vary in size, appearance, and sound. Wilderness rattles are the largest, and their sound is of medium volume due to the fur used in their making (fur dampens the sound). Creativity rattles are the smallest and have a distinct, not too loud sound. They are adorned with feathers and beads. Simplicity rattles are of medium size, and their sound ranges from medium to loud. They have no decorations. You can read more about these rattles here (link to the rattles page).
How does the filling influence the sound of a rattle?
To fill the rattles, we use metal beads, sea stones, or quartz crystals. Metal beads produce a sharp, even, regular, and distinct sound. Sea stones produce a quiet, not always regular but round and warm sound. Mountain crystals produce un regular, distinctive sounds. To Learn mor watch the video: link
Shipping, Returns, & Exchanges
Do you ship internationally?
Yes we do! We love to send our instruments throughout the world. Shipping prices typically are 30 euroEU to and 40 euro worldwide. We use DPD within the EU and registered priority mail International. Metaphoric Tools is not responsible for added costs from customs or country taxes. We insure all of our instruments. See our detailed policy by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page and clicking on "Processing & Shipping".
How do I ship my order back to you?
Use the return address on the box that the flute was sent to you, or the address on our website. We can return your shipping cost upon request if there was a problem with your instrument.
If my flute is damaged can I send it back?
If your instrument arrives with a damage, please do not try and repair it yourself! Email us right away with photos, so we can assess the damage and instruct you on how best to proceed. Packages are always insured and most times repairable. We can refund your shipping costs upon request if it needs to be sent back to us.
Can I exchange my flute if I want something else instead?
Exchanges are on a case-by-case basis and not available for custom orders. If you've purchased your flute in the past 30 days and want to exchange it, please email us at workshop@metaphorictools.com to begin the process. * exchanges are for flutes of equal or lesser value. Store credit will not be issued if you decided on an exchange that is less than your original purchase price.
Can I get a refund on an instrument, or accessory?
If you are unsatisfied with a product we hope you will reach out to us. We would prefer to exchange your instrument for another better option, but on a case-by-case basis we do accept returns for a refund. However, we ask that you please do your do diligence and research to find an instrument that best fits you before purchasing. Especially with the flute (eg. if you are in love with a low tone, but are a beginner, please check the specs to be sure it fits our hands. Instruments and accessories have to be returned in the exact shape that they were received, and packed safely in the same packaging within 30 days of receiving your instrument. We are not issuing refunds for Custom Design flutes or intentional drums and rattles.
Custom Designs Flutes
How do I go about ordering a custom item?
To get started on a custom order request, go to the "Custom Designs" page where there are more detailed descriptions on what our custom options are.
You should write to us in the contact form there with your custom design idea. You can build your idea from scratch or give us a reference to a product we have listed in our shop with your desired modifications and additions.
Once you submit your custom design proposal, we will contact you to let you know what we can do for you! Please note, all orders are paid in full upon final agreements. If we are currently not taking orders, still write to us! We can put you on a "wishlist" and contact you when something similar to what your looking for becomes available.
We appreciate your patience with this new method and can't wait to hear about your custom design dreams!
How long will my custom order take to make?
This depends on a variety of factors such as flute type, order volume and complexity of design. Once you submit your custom design idea and Miguel contacts you, he will give you a better sense of completion time. In general, please expect up to 1 year for completion! This is subject to change on certain orders. We will do our best to get you the highest quality flute as quick as possible!
Staying Inspired
This can be a challenge at times. We all can find musical ruts, and get impatient or uninspired. Be diligent, but also be patient with yourself. Watch our YouTube videos, try to learn songs by ear, reach out to community groups, take a lesson or online course, listen to flute music, or take your flute on hikes or camping! Flutes always inspire under the stars, at the beach, or under a shady tree. Connect with our newsletter for more community opportunities. You've got this!