How to Make a Pan Flute With 8 Keys

Double the amount of keys you have by arranging the pipes in two rows.

A pan flute, or pan pipes as the instrument is also called, is comprised of an array of differently sized tubes. Each tube creates a different note, or "key" as it is otherwise called. The longer the tube, the deeper the note. Multiple varieties of the pan flute exist, each with a different configuration of keys. With an eight 8 key pan flute, you can play an entire octave of notes, giving you access to all notes in your selected key.

Things You'll Need

• 20 inch PVC tubing, diameter no greater than 1/8-inch
• 1/16-inch thick PVC sheet
• Pocket knife
• Bamboo, wicker or other robust binding material
• Glue

Instructions

1. Lay the PVC on a piece of paper.

2. Mark on the paper the intervals at which you plan to cut the PVC tube. The length of each section dictates the pitch of the note. While note configuration is a matter of preference, it's preferable to have a consistent harmonic interval between notes. For this reason, the difference in size between one next to the next should also be approximately the same. For example, mark a piece 6 1/16 inch for a C, mark a piece 5 3/8 inches long for a D and mark a piece 4 3/4 inches for an E.

3. Cut the pipe into segments using the paper marks as a guide.

4. Use the end of one of the tubes as a template to draw onto the PVC sheet.

5. Cut out eight circular discs from the PVC sheet using your pocket knife.

6. Glue a disc onto the bottom of each tube to enclose it. This creates a chamber in which the sound of your breath resonates.

7. Line the tubes up side by side so the unenclosed ends are level.

8. Measure the combined width of the tube array and note it down.

9. Cut two pieces of binding material, each to a length equal to twice the combined width of the tubes, plus one inch.

10. Wrap the first piece binding material around the pipes, half an inch from the top, and twist the spare material at the end into a knot to secure it. Take care when doing this so the pipes don't "bunch" and remain side-by-side.

11. Wrap the second piece of binding around the pipes, half an inch above the bottom of the shortest pipe. Make a knot in the end.

References

• Phil Tulga: Panpipes