Thanks tara and super-D!
Tara, being a veganish vegetarian or a vegetarianish vegan, I always throw the leather straps away immediately! But these straps look SO good on this flute I haven't thrown them away yet. I am looking for a suitable substitute and then I'll have to figure out how MGA does that special wrap and try to duplicate it......although the leather wrap he usually puts on as a block was wrapped around the paper and I did throw that away. So to answer your question..I am using a piece of cloth wrapped around the flute as a block...when I need to cheat and just play. But I am also using my finger and trying to perfect that method...although it is difficult. i haven't figured out quite how to do it yet. I can play all right, but I am not satisfied. The tone isn't as clear as it should be and I don't have enough control. I need to find someone who really knows how to wail on one of these and maybe she..oops, I mean they can tell me how...but who?
Super-D..unfortunately, someone who spends all his money on wood and bamboo has no money for technology. Right now i am unrecordable, but i would like everyone to hear it.
I have a question for fellow papagoists and pimaists..what is the scale of your flute? I have a book on Papago music which says that the scale was G#, D#, C#, B...but mine is G, G#, A#, B. I'm just curious if mine is different or does MGA make his with a slightly different scale?