Your Online Resource for Overtone and Willow Flutes
Learn to play the overtone flute (willow flute) with our free tutorials, sheet music, and guides. Explore the ancient Scandinavian sound and harmonic music today.
”Overtone flute, willow flute, pitkähuilu, sälgflöjt, seljefløyte, pikkvile, obertonflöte, flûte harmonique, koncovka, kалюка…”
The objective of this site is to offer as much information, self-study material, repertoire (sheets & audio) and listening tips on the Scandinavian overtone flute, in one place. This site focuses especially on side-blown overtone flutes with no tone holes, though all the exercises and tunes can be played with most of the overtone flutes (with no tone holes).
Check out our [free fingering charts for willow flute] here.
Most of the exercises and tunes on this site are written for a flutes tuned in D, but you can anyway play them with a flute of any key, though most of the audio samples are played with a D-flute. Congratulations to you that you have reached to this page and are perhaps willing to learn to play this ancient instrument. You are warmly welcome!
If you’d like to support the maintenance of this page, you can purchase a PDF sheet music book ‘Traditional Folk Tunes for Willow Flute’ here.
Exploring the World of Flutes: Overtone Flutes vs. Native American Flutes
While many world music enthusiasts are familiar with the soulful sound of the Native American flute or the woody timbre of the Japanese Shakuhachi, the Scandinavian overtone flute (or willow flute) offers a unique, minimalist approach to melody.
Unlike the Native American flute, which uses a block and finger holes to create specific notes, the overtone flute often has no tone holes at all. Instead of moving your fingers to cover holes, you play by varying your breath pressure and opening or closing the end of the tube. This allows you to tap into the natural harmonic series—the same ”pure” intervals found in nature.
Our overtone flutes share the same acoustic soul as the South African Umtshingo or Igemfe.
If you enjoy the meditative and earthy qualities of world flutes like the Bansuri or the Quena, the overtone flute’s ability to produce haunting, ethereal melodies with just a breath will feel both familiar and refreshingly different. It is the perfect instrument for those looking to explore harmonic music and intuitive playing.
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