How to Make Instruments Out of PVC Pipes
PVC pipe is an inexpensive and versatile material that can be easily fashioned into simple and complex musical instruments. For example, you can simply cut two 12-inch pieces of PVC pipe and bang them together to make a simple percussion instrument. However, you can also use PVC to make more complex instruments such as panpipes, a Peruvian instrument traditionally made out of bamboo.
Things You'll Need
- Yardstick
- Permanent marker
- 1 10-foot length of 1/2-inch PVC pipe
- Hacksaw or PVC pipe cutter
- Fine sandpaper
- 4 size-5 rubber or cork stoppers
- Clear packing tape
Instructions
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1
Use the yardstick and permanent marker to mark the 10-foot long PVC pipe at 4 inches, 9-1/2 inches, 15-3/4 inches and 24-1/4 inches.
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2
Use the hacksaw or PVC pipe cutter to cut the pipe at each marking, giving you four pipes measuring 4 inches, 5-1/2 inches, 6-1/4 inches and 8-1/2 inches.
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3
Sand the rough edges of the pipe where you made your cuts.
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4
Insert a stopper into one end of each of the pipes.
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5
Lay the pipes down side by side from smallest to largest and with the tops (the end without the stopper) flush.
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6
Wrap the clear shipping tape around the pipes to hold them together and in place.
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7
Play your instrument by holding it vertically to your mouth, pulling your bottom lip back and blowing air gently down each pipe as if you were blowing on your own chin.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want more notes, add more pipes of different lengths to your instrument. The length of the tube determines the note; with longer tubes producing lower notes.
If a note sounds too flat or sharp, move the stopper slightly up and down in the end of a pipe to tune it.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tuyaux image by rachid amrous-spleen from Fotolia.com
