Flutes

Simple Flutes

The flute is one of the most ancient and most basic of instruments. As intricately expressive as any work of the hands and as close to the heart as the very breath of life, it's an almost magical means of communication on the emotional plane. In its myriad of forms its power has been recognized, celebrated, and sometimes banned as dangerous.

I'd like people to know more about flutes; how to play them, how to make them, and how to open hearts with them.

Original Material

A double-piped whistle
Step-by-Step Instructions! CPVC Flute in G, complete with a full-size template that you can cut out and tape to the pipe. So easy, anyone can make a flute!!
Modifications to Mark Shepard's "Plumber's Pipe"
Materials for Flutemaking
Methods for Crafting Your Own Flutes
General Principles of Flute Design
Dimensions for a Grey PVC Flute in G and a CPVC Piccolo in D
Reed instruments
Experiments with Membranes (i.e. Dizi-flutes, Dizi-whistles, and Kazoos!)

Other Related Resources

Mark Shepard's Flute Pages including
- How to Play the Flute and
- Making the "Plumber's Pipe"
Tai Hei Shakuhachi
Andean Music and How to Make a Quena
Japanese Flutes
Billy Miller's Windwood Flutes
Musical Instrument Makers Forum
FOUR WINDS
Chiff & Fipple

rdmiller3@gmail.com