Parts of the flute

Small Air Chamber (SAC)

Flute Anatomy

The Block

The block sits on top of the flute and is usually quite decorative. It has a small gap/channel along the bottom which allows the air to flow from the small air chamber and onto the true sound hole.

The block should be positioned a millimeter or two behind the edge of the true playing hole (see diagram) but feel free to move your block slightly to change the sound of your flute on any given day. Different flutes sound better with the block in slightly different places but they are usually around the same sort of area.

Block position

You can take the block off whenever you like. It’s just a piece of wood tied on to the flute. All you have to remember is which way, front/back, it was when you took it off. Some flute makers make blocks which are reversible, this allows for a slightly different sound to be produced if you want. This is usually fairly easy to remember by the shape of the fetish (animal carving) but some of the flutes have a square block. On rare occassions the block may be glued to the body of the flute. If this is the case then you will not be able to move the block at all, although it is a good idea to get in contact with the maker to confirm whether they glued the block or not.

It maybe that the block has temporarily become stuck possibly due to exposure to extreme heat. But if it cannot be moved easily always check with the flute maker before trying to prize it off as the last thing you want to do is damage the flute.