So, my aunt bought me a drone flute when she visited Tennessee a few weeks ago. She doesn't know anything about the flute, so she just basically bought it blindly. I was thrilled, but I've played it a bit and the drone is out of tune almost by a half step. I've also noticed that the top two notes of basic scale are airy and ten times more out of tune than the drone! I've tried to experience with different amounts of air and placement of my lips and such, but nothing seems to help.

Should I try to contact the maker or is this typical?

Not typical. If you know who the maker is, I'd contact them immediately and tell them the trouble you are having. If they are a conscientious flute maker they will fix/replace/refund if there is something wrong with the flute.

Emily, do you have 1 block or 2?

I agree with Geoffrey, if the flute isn't right and it was just purchased, then the maker should take a look at it, and try to make adjustments, or exchange it for another flute. If it was purchased from a shop, that shouldn't matter, as long as you can identify and contact the maker.

Rick,
My flute only has one block. I'm going to contact the maker early next week.

If it has a single block, then the drone and melody sides are controlled simultaneously, which requires that the maker tune the sides very precisely, to keep them well in tune with one another.

Best to send the flute for evaluation.

this is to bad -an out of tune flute -is no pleasure to play------------this is one of the reasons i decided to make my own plus the prices out there