How to Make a Pan Pipe
The pan pipe comes from truly mythic origins: Pan, the ancient Greek half-goat half-human god of shepherds, flocks, mountains, hunting and, of course, rustic music, played these pipes in a competition against Apollo, the god of all music and arts. Despite their lofty origins, simple pan pipes can be constructed in your home and nearly anyone can learn to play them. Make this instrument as a thoughtful homemade gift for someone of any age, or as a new hobby for yourself.
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Instructions
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1
Acquire at least 1 1/2 feet PVC piping from a hardware or construction store. The pipe should be 1/2 inch in diameter.
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Cut the PVC pipe into five separate pieces: 6 inches, 7 inches, 7 1/2 inches, 8 1/2 inches and 9 1/2 inches.
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3
Sand the ends of the PVC piping with sandpaper so the edges are completely smooth. Blow away any dust from the tubes, inside and out.
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4
Tape pennies to one end of the pipes, sealing that hole completely.
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5
Line up the non-taped ends of the pipes so that the openings are completely even. Tape together tightly using duct tape. Be sure not to cover the holes with the tape.
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6
Blow across the tops of the pipes, as you would with soda bottles, to make sounds.
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Tips & Warnings
Measurements for pan pipes may vary. Another recommended cut for length of pipes: 3.4 inches, 3.9 inches, 4.8 inches, 5.4 inches and 6 inches. These pipes are slightly smaller, and so will produce a more high-pitched sound.
Instead of pennies, you can insert corks into the bottoms of the pipes to seal the hole. Using corks will allow you to adjust the sounds slightly, as the deeper into the pipes the corks are inserted, the higher the pitch will be.
Wear protective goggles when you are working with a PVC cutter, saw or sandpaper, as these activities produce dust that can damage the eyes.
