How to Make a Native American Flute of Bamboo
According to flutemaker Erik Sampson, the "Native American Flute was a courting flute, with soft sensitive tones." The flute is easy to play and perfect for beginning flute players. It can be made in a variety of sizes to fit large and small hands. In these steps, you'll learn how to make an 18-inch Native American flute out of bamboo.
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Instructions
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1
Select your bamboo. For most flutes, you will need a mature piece about 5/8 inch in diameter. Don't use bamboo that is still green.
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2
Cut the bamboo to be 18 inches long and sand the ends smooth. Use the dowel to clear out the nodes inside the bamboo so that it is open all the way through.
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3
Cut a flat plane on the bamboo with the knife about 2 inches from the top of the flute. Keep the sliver that you've cut off. Sand the plane smooth.
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4
Put masking tape around the flute where you will drill to prevent the bamboo from splitting. Drill two holes 1 inch apart in the flat plane. Remove the masking tape. Sand the holes using a bit of rolled-up sandpaper.
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5
Carve the sliver of wood so that there is a small channel or indentation down the inside of it. Lash this to the flute on the flat area, covering the first hole completely and covering a quarter of the second hole.
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6
Drill six holes down the center of the flute, starting 6 inches from the top hole. Again, put masking tape around the flute where you will drill to prevent the bamboo from splitting. Each hole should be 1 inch apart. Remove the masking tape. Sand inside each hole.
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7
Varnish the flute. When the varnish is dry, it is ready to play.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear gloves and safety glasses when cutting or drilling the bamboo.
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Comments
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1000voices
May 22, 2010
Paz above is correct about re-directing the air to get to the embouchure. The simplest way to block the bamboo for that re-direction of air is by leaving the node closest to your mouth fully intact. To open the other nodes, a dowel rod won't work. There are two ways to do this. You could you use a drill with a long bit. This is risky, as bamboo cracks easily. I suggest instead that you use a section of copper tubing with a diameter close to the bore of the bamboo. Wrap some electrical tape on the handling end of the copper tubing so that you don't burn yourself. Using a propane torch, heat the open end of the tubing until it is at least orange-hot. You will hear the node sizzle, see it smoke, and feel the tubing penetrate as it goes along. After the initial hole, run the tubing through a few more times to smooth out the opening. Remember, bamboo is not actually wood, but is the... -
duendevision
Aug 22, 2009
In short this won't work as described.. the air needs to be redirected for the embouchure. There needs to be something blocking the air to direct it up and through that sliver they had you channel out in step 5. and then across the front hole he had you drill in step 4. Probably glue a piece of that dowel so it sits between the two holes you drilled in step 4, or just don;t know out the last section of that bamboo he had you knock out in step 2. Also in step 4, the hole drilled towards the long part of the flute should be drilled at an angel for a better embouchure (pointing the drill towards the front (long part) of the flute. 45 degrees or so. If not, you can just tape up all the holes and have a record sized soda straw :-) Paz Duende.
