How to Make a Pan Flute Out of PVC

Make a fun musical instrument for school or play.

Pan flutes have been used for hundreds of years to create music. These flutes consist of five or more pipes that are closed at one end. Bamboo or reeds were used to create these flutes in the ancient world. Today, we can use PVC pipes to create working replicas of the pan flute. PVC is inexpensive and easy enough to use that small children can create their own pipes.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• PVC cutter
• PVC pipe, ½-inch diameter, 31 Centimeters long
• PVC pipe, ½-inch diameter, 28 Centimeters long
• PVC pipe, ½-inch diameter, 25 Centimeters long
• PVC pipe, ½-inch diameter, 21 Centimeters long
• PVC pipe, ½-inch diameter, 18 Centimeters long
• Paper
• Clay
• Dowel rod, ½-inch diameter
• Paint, contact paper or decorations
• Duct tape
• Yarn or string

Instructions

1. Measure each pipe and ensure the dimensions are correct. The 31-cm pipe produces a C note; the 28-cm a D; the 25-cm an E; the 21-cm a G; and the 18-cm an A. If the dimensions are off, the pan flute will not produce the right note.

2. Roll out the clay and make five 1/2-inch circles. The dowel rod can be used to make sure each circle is 1/2-inch.

3. Place a piece of paper on the table. Stand each pipe on its end, one at a time, on the paper. Press the clay circle into the hole on the top of the pipe and use the dowel rod to push the clay to the bottom of the pipe. Remove the dowel and look down the pipe. The clay must cover the entire opening in the pipe. If it doesn't, the pipe will not produce the right note.

4. Twist the pipe and pull it off the paper. Smooth out the clay with your fingers and allow the clay to dry.

5. Decorate each pipe separately. Do this while the clay is drying, if you want. Use contact paper, paint, glitter or any decorations to make the pan flute your own. Allow all the decorations to dry.

6. Lay the pipes on a table from smallest to largest and line up the open end of the pipes. Measure 6 cm from the lined up edge and wrap duct tape around the pipes. The duct tape keeps all the pipes together and ready to use.

7. Wrap yarn or string around the duct tape to decorate the pan flute. To play, hold the pan flute vertically below your bottom lip and blow air downward.

References

• Washington County Public Schools: How to Make Pan Pipes

Resources

• Phil Tulga: Pan Pipes