Play the Andean Quena or Kena
Quena - the haunting, deep, and uplifting flute of the Andean Mountains. This is one of the most difficult flutes in the world to play, but once you learn, it can be a breeze.
Steps
- Select-a-Good-Quena-for-All-Levels-of-Play. This is most easily done through the internet on sites like eBay or Bolivia Mall.
- It is also possible to build your own for a few dollars and a couple hours. Although homemade flutes will be the most rewarding to play, they may be difficult to make or to play in tune.
- Lift the quena to your lower lip. The u-notch should rest on the upper segment of your lower lip.
- Blow straight out across the notch. Tilt the angle of the u-notch up and down until it makes a whistling noise. Your teeth will be slightly parted, and the opening between your lips will be wider than it is tall.
- Did you ever make a sound by blowing across the top of a bottle? This is the same sort of thing, except you're blowing across the top of the quena.
- Help start each note by making a voiceless "t" sound. This is called tonguing. Don't use your voice, but make sure you are saying "too" instead of "who" into the quena.
- Once you are able to do this almost instantly, start covering different holes, producing different notes. Your left thumb should go on the bottom hole, your left pointer on the first, left middle on the second, left ring on the third, right pointer on the fourth, right middle on the fifth, and right ring on the sixth.
- Your right thumb should support the instrument. Your pinkies can go where they feel most comfortable.
- Consult a fingering chart. The first octave worth of major scale will be fairly easy to figure out, but if you want to learn the additional octaves and the chromatic scale, it will help to
- Quena fingerings are sometimes imprecise, and may include half-covering a hole.
- Tune your quena. Unlike more advanced wind instruments, the quena does not have any moving parts to slide in or out to adjust the pitch, so if you are playing with other musicians, you will have to adjust using technique. You can also use these techniques if you want to bend the pitch.
- Blow harder to raise the pitch (make it sharper), less hard to lower the pitch (make it flatter). The amount of breath you supply also will affect how loudly you play.
- Tighten your embouchure (the shape of your lips) to bring the pitch up; loosen it to bring the pitch down.
- Tilt the quena down (away from your mouth) to raise the pitch; tilt it up (toward your mouth) to lower it.
- Raise the pitch even further by opening the bottom-most hole that is covered in any given fingering. Lower the pitch, on notes with many open holes, by covering a hole further down, or by partially covering the next lower hole.
- Sit or stand up straight and breathe from the diaphragm. As with singing, the tone on the quena will benefit if you support your breath this way.
- Purchase CDs of renown Andean groups and listen to them often. Get the spirit of Andean music inside you, and figure out how to play it on your quena.
Getting a basic sound from the quena: [1]Here is a video with some Quena techniques: How to Play the Quena
Tips
- Oil your quena with mineral oil regularly.
- Getting a tone can take minutes, or it can take days. Have patience. Once you learn it will come with ease.
- Learn about the principles of the Quena. If you know how it works, it will be easier to play. Since it is often a hard instrument to find information on, you might try looking for information on the principles of the Shakuhachi, the Japanese flute. Although they make different notes, you blow them the same way.
- Make sure you cover the hole completely. Any gap between your finger and the hole will throw off the tone.
- If you have large hands, try the Quenacho. This is a deep flute with a mellow tone.
- To reach the note an octave higher, narrow your smile and blow harder.
- If your fingers are too small to reach the holes, consider a quenilla. This is a smaller version of the quena.
- Quena is pronounced "Kay-nah" or sometimes "Keh-nah". The stress is on the first syllable.
- Good quenas are often difficult to find. Brands like Novica are overpriced and cheesy. Some good brands are Acha, Aymara, and Mundo de Bambu.
- Buy a copy of "Kena: Ancient Flute of the Andes". It has techniques and songs, and you do not have to know how to read music; it comes with a CD.
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