How to make a Low Bass A Native American Flute from PVC
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- Learn how to make a Bass flute using PVC. We chose PVC for its availability, however if you want to make it out of wood, here are the measurements:
Total length is 30" and Diameter needs to be 1 1/4 inches.
Hole placements from top (mouthpiece) are:
* 14 1/4"
* 15 5/8"
* 18 1/8"
* 20 5/8
* 21 7/8
For this build please check out our other videos on how to make flutes and tuning.
Be sure to subscribe as we have a ton of videos coming up soon!
visit us on the web at www.bluebearfl...
Happy Flute Making and Playing!
After many tries and frustration I finally broke down and bought your book. Well I still wasn't sure if I had managed to make a successful flute. But when I showed it to a friend who actually knew how to play it, I was shocked at how beautiful sounded! Now I have something I can learn to play on. Thank you so much for responding to my questions and comments. Your the kind of teacher who inspires his students to succeed!
Hey Susan! I'm so happy to hear that it worked out for you. Please continue the art of flute making and be on the lookout for upcoming flutes playing classes.
Otimo trabalho mamde as madedas ok e um estrumemto estorico
E otimo trabalho mande as mededas ok
Praise the lord brother I want to make a flute at home for myself I am a musician I'm a keyboard Artist and I am a drummer as well as I am a guitarist for first time I'm trying for flute so I want to make it I just need an measurement of flute like a fruits comes in a scale like CED and all so anyone scale can you give me the measurement how to make it how the full I can make it can you make a diagram and send it to me and say my number with you 900 47 67 687 it's India's number and surely make it and I'll treat and upload my video to you you can share that on your channel that I made and I learn also I know music I know all the notes all the chords and everything it will not take time to make me learn but I need in the technique how to play flute where we should have to make a whole for a fruit and all how much the measurement and all I hope you will send me could be waiting for your reply
I started making this yesterday, and started with a breathy, high-pitchy flute, that jumped octaves unpredictably. Then I started watching the video over and over again, listening critically, and pushing that plug up and back to change the sound hole shape, adding paper shims, and sliding the block in relation to the front edge of the sound hole, and now, this afternoon, I have finally have a great flute. How cool. I'm so glad I did this before I started in wood because these relationships, I think, really have to be experienced, and it seems to me that PVC is a good, cheap (in time and material) playground. Still, I can't wait to get the Blue Bear book to jump up to the advanced course now that I KNOW I can do it. Thanks, Charlie.
Thank you so much for posting this. I've always wanted to make a flute and this was a great first run before I invest in some good wood. Between finding this video and playing the finished flute took me 5 hours yesterday, and that includes going to the store and making dinner for the kids. Thanks again!
Wow! That's cool!
Very good & informative.
Watching this reminds me of Bob Ross. You're so calming. I'm glad I found this channel!!
Thank you for your kind words, please be sure to check out our many other videos!
Very helpful information. Your videos offer so many options for making flutes! My first PVC flute came out well, but your video really helped answer my questions. Thank you!
👍
I have been wanting to try to make one of these. Thank you for taking the time to go into such detail. I am going to give this a try. You answered so many questions I had about making one of these. I will try PVC first then I may try wood. Great video!
One of the things that I truly enjoy about your videos is that you don't assume that I know Jack Diddley. :o my You're a true "Teacher". Thank you.
Thank you so much my friend! More Jack Diddly videos coming soon!
I am extremely appreciative for this. I love going out to the woods to get away from the stress factors and business of everyday life. I've been wanting to buy a N.A. flute to play out in the wilderness but havent been able to. This just saved me! Thank you thank you! Many blessings!
Excellent my friend! Have you seen this ruclips.net/video/ZIAUWbT9Frg/видео.html
Or this ruclips.net/video/QMUW21jBMXg/видео.html
Thanks again for watching!
@@BlueBearFlutes I have not, however, I have subscribed and will definitely be trying a lot of these out!
I accidentally drilled 2 holes incorrectly but I found that if I wrapped "baking parchment paper" (NOT wax paper) around a dowel rod and inserted it into the bore, underneath the hole and then filled the hole with hot glue, that the glue did not stick to the parchment and I had a reasonably permanent fix. How fun!
Thank you for this post.
Charlie fantastic demo on making a Bass A flute🖐High Five! I have successfully make several A 440 flutes and a G, along with a couple of Bass D flutes (one 5 hole and the other your 6 hole pattern)👊Bam! Thanks so much for your great book and all you do here on your RUclips. I'm having a lot of fun making flutes and I'm now learning music!👍🙂👍#Heart
More videos coming soon my friend! Thank you so very much for watching!
G'day Charlie. That is better than I can get them to sound. lol (PVC that is) Thank you , as usual I got a lot out of that. Tom
Thanks Tom
My Friend! You are so generous in your videos Love your work! Older video but I'd like to suggest getting a step drill. Step drills have been used by electricians or sheet metal people a long time used to be very pricy. If you go to Harbour the freight store they sell a 3 piece set cheap. You won't miss the money once you dig into plastic. they leave a very smooth hole and you can even bevel the edge with the same drill. I built a few Aquariums having to make a separation screen. several hundred holes, not one cracked or pulled the material up and PVC will work even better. My separating plexiglass looked pro and would never have gotten it done without reshaping a drill bit or using a Step Drill, take my word for it they come in very handy.
My best wishes to you.
We do use step drills in the shop for a few things however because we usually make flutes out of wood, I don't use them on those as often. Thanks for watching and for your suggestion!
really enjoyed your video, packed full of information and i will definitely be watching it again as a reference. I want to try my had at making a flute out of bamboo, I've been looking at other videos but yours is the most helpful.
Thank you so much my friend! We have several other videos making flutes with bamboo.
I have made Native flutes since 1992 and I love to use Black Walnut, Cherry, and Maple. I've done flutes in Rosewood, Bloodwood, Tulipwood, zebrawood, and other exotics. I never liked the PVC models simply because I always believed the sound was better from porous woods.
Thank you for showing us the process
You bet! Thanks for watching!
Tim Blueflint offers a pvc "hybrid" flute, that has a wood nest bonded to the pvc. Neat idea.
Tim bluefint does for his hybrid flutes. And they will cost you $100.00 and up
I really enjoy your videos. Keep it up!
I made the PVC 4 hole whistle with a group of Cub Scouts and they loved the project. Their parents were not as enthusiastic.
I'm making both A and D. Never played flute or made one. Will let you know how it goes. Also plan to make 4 hole whistle.
A brade point drill bit would be a good choice I'm not saying it will work but with the point of the bit to get it started would more than likely help stop the rolling.
Thanks for the interesting and informative videos. There is an idea to make a pimak from a square aluminum pipe. The plug and clamp with an air channel can be cast from a mixture of silicone sealant and starch, in a plaster mold.
It certainly is an idea.
Thanks for this, I noticed your video description has different spacings than what you measured in your video:
Video Description:
30 cm soundhole at 3 3/4" (95mm)
* 14 1/4"
* 15 5/8"
* 18 1/8"
* 20 5/8
* 21 7/8
What you measured:
31.5" (800 mm) soundhole at 3 3/4" (95mm)
* 14" (356 mm)
* 15 3/8" (392 mm)
* 19 5/8" (498 mm)
* 21 3/8 (543 mm)
* 23 1/8 (567 mm)
unfortunately I used the description numbers, so I'll have to redo the entire thing haahah hopefully this helps anyone else who accidentally used those numbers instead of what's in your video!
Damn turns out the pipe I bought was mislabeled 1-1/4" while it actually is 1-1/2" haahah (that was my real issue with not getting much sound). I was able to widen the channel at the top, and length it too, then lengthening the wood dowel inside to match it really helped boost the volume and responsiveness (so it proportionally matched yours)! Another +1 was adding a shorter dowel in the mouth piece area with a hole drilled in it to make an additional chamber, that really helped with the tonal quality! I found dialing all these things in to balance that whispy sound vs the shreek is the art. I have enough taped holes on this thing to keep me busy for a long time, and and some very interesting combinations. Next I'll experiment with hole size and placement I guess. Thank you again for this, completely fumbling through this trainwreck project turned out to be a much greater learning experience and I have my first homemade giant sized flute which sounds pretty awesome, currently around a C4 and I have F and ~G going hahaha. Next I might pick up some of those tiki lanterns to cut up! Although I was more attracted to the bassier flutes, which I definitely have now. I'll send you a video sometime!
Something my granddad used to tell me it doesn't really matter where you place the fingerings. We know that it does matter to some degree, however variance can happen. This having been said, the description is based on the wooden version and in the PVC version I made some adjustments.
So want to make one of these. Now you have provided me the info to do so. Thank you
Wait until you see the next PVC video! 😁
Schedule 40 at my local Home Depot the color is black ⚫️ and you can buy it anytime you want.
😁
wow nice, that sound!!
Thank you for this great video. I am French and it's really nice to give the lengths in centimeters and millimeters.. Now let’s go 😎
Thank you my friend!
I sure appreciate you helping me get rid of all my extra PVC. Thanks for the videos Charlie my friend.
Hi Charlie, very good video! If you ever do a bass c, could you post the hole measurements? Thanks!
We do make a low C! That is a great idea for a video!
Thanks Charlie ! I've been wanting to do this . I've heard people say PVC isn't safe . Funny , they use it for drinking water .
I'm only concerned with the dust that is created and dispersed when using saws or rotary tools.
Great video and now i have yet another flute to build lol cheers
You bet! Thanks again for watching!
Yes, awesome!
Thanks for Sharing
-Bob Athens. GA
Otimo
Obrigado!
Thankyou, you are great. Made 20 flutes thus week. H a poy, very happy 10, happy 7, firewood 1. Great score but no, I really don't burn pvc as firewood.
I went to Home Depot last night, they don't call it Schedule 20, they call it "Class 200". The wall thickness is 0.063 inches... basically a 200 PSI rated PVC pipe. 🙂
We even had schedule 80 when I was young, but it's hard to find these days also because it is too dense which makes it dangerous for us. 🤣
Very nice tutorial!
Blue bear, how’s it going? Been awhile I moved farther north. That Alabama heat and to be closer to family I ended up in NC.
I know what you mean, I do love the heat especially at the beach! I do go visit my family in North Carolina when I get the chance though. 😄
Thank you very much Charlie!
Love the tee shirt.
Very detailed in your information but I have a question why are you mentioning different measurements than you have put in your description? Very confusing which one should we go by?
Thank you.
Great videos, thank you.
You bet my friend! Thanks for watching!
Tjeng Yau Somat 👉👍👍🙏🏼🙏🏼👋👋Aaminn
this tutorial is awesome. am looking forward to a database where all NAF makers will place measurement of their flute made and bore diameter
Gracias Charlie, siempre mágico.
Un abrazo desde Costa Rica
My first attempt was a fail lol, I get an air sound but not a tone. It was schedule 40 though. The cover over the sound hole channel was a bugger to get over the body of the flute.
Hey, if you send me a picture through my website of what you're working with, be glad to help you!
I couldn't find a way to attach a pic on the website so I dropped it on facebook lol flute troubles tech troubles ,I'm a mess clearly Ty for all your help.
@@BlueBearFlutes
Awesome bro
I wonder if you could make a flute out of balsa. That is some of the most soft wood 🪵.
Absolutely! That video is coming soon!
Are those hole measurements to the centre of the hole, or to the closest edge?
@GarryBurgess always the center, however you've got plenty of wiggle-room
I've followed 3 of your videos I have tried wood twice and pvc once and can't get the thing to even make a peep like blowing straight through a pipe
@thegaminghunter5246 Please message me through my website bluebearflutes.com, after which I will ask for some pictures of what you've got and I will be able to help.
@BlueBearFlutes I did what you asked ik your a busy man but would love some help
@@thegaminghunter5246 responding shortly...
One more question Charlie: who is the maker of the original flute that was gifted to you? I would like to go to his RUclips channel and give it some love!
Hahaha! He was 50 years old 30 years ago. I'm not sure if he has a channel. 😊 I haven't talked to him in a while.
@@BlueBearFlutes my fault, the pvc flute. Looks like one by CS Fuqua.
Love the Tee-Shirt.
CM
A question, if the holes for the fingers instead of placing them in line, are arranged in a slightly staggered way (to be more ergonomic at the length of the fingers) do you think that the intonation of the musical notes is affected?
That is a great question! It actually won't affect the intonation of the flute at all however what we perceive to be ergonomic has not shown the test of time! Thank you kindly for watching and asking my friend! Please be certain to share my videos as this helps my family immensely!
@@BlueBearFlutes Thank you! I will sharing your videos with pleasure and will continue to follow you!
OK Bluebeard cut my bamboos n put n my holes to4in,5in, 7 1/8, 8 1/4 n 9 1/4 now the mouth piece is done.ok now ready to tune it .where to buy that tuner to CK if it's correct ?n how am I supposed to play it n send it to u.all I know is texting u .I'll ask around ,if not able to ,I'll ask u how .anyway where can I get that instrument that lets u know say for a g flute.
I'm excited because I made one n it looks better than the flute I just bought from Amazon.i paid 109.00n it looks cheap.my bamboo flute looks better .now I want to make sure it's a g flute.please answer me if u can .just love it,thank u so much Bluebeard.
a question, i have a 30" bambu piece but the diameter is about 1 inch, it works for this flute? or what flute you recomend me
How long is the wooden plug? Thanks
Schedule 20 isn't sold in Washington State at any major, or so far minor, retailers. What compensations should be used for Schedule 40?
Doesn't the 1 & 1/4" refer to the nominal Inside Diameter?
Bo Whitten I may have mentioned in the video that it is possible to make this from schedule 40 - 1 1/4 inch PVC however 1 1/4 is not available everywhere either. :) One important consideration about schedule 40 is the depth of the track. You will certainly have to fill it in some using this particular technique. There are of course other techniques and the one I used in making our PVC bow staff video would work well with it.
Thanks, Charlie, I will check out the staff video.
Hi again. I went to make a D flute now as well. In the video when you are giving measurements of the total length in inches it is 24 and in millimetres you give 555 measurement. I think there’s an error in one of the measurements because 24 inches equate to about 61 cm. My question which one is true ☺️?
As an ancient Egyptian proverb goes, truth is in the eye of the beholder. If you seek the truth, you certainly will find it. If you look for a lie, you will find that as well. It is your choice in life which one you decide is which.
This having been said, the placement of the final fingering is at 555 mm as per the instructions. I could certainly go through the rest of the video for you and give you all of the measurements however there's a good chance they're in there as I have had thousands of people proof this video for me.
I hope sincerely that this helps you some.
I had the same question - at 33:10 you actually do say "the length of the flute at 555mm". I really appreciate this video, and you sharing your dimensions with us. It's possible that other viewers have just made it with the inches and never noticed the metric difference. There is also a difference in measurements with the 3rd fingering hole from inches to mm.@@BlueBearFlutes
Hello ! Im a french guy, thank you so much for your knowledge , thats beautiful !! Im trying to make somes flutes also but i would like to know the exact meusure in function of the exact size of the piece of the support (bamboo or pvc anyway) how can we calcul the exact meusure in fonction of the piece because it depends of what we find in the nature, i hope you understand my question and you will answer, my english is not very well, thank so much and see you soon ! :)
I have countless videos to help out with that and calculating the sound holes is something people have been wanting to do forever which takes it away from its original design!
Thank you for the detailed instructions.
I am holding a PVC almost flute. I have made the sound and air holes and track. It plays a beautiful G4. It is schedule 40 3/4 inch. Where do I put the fingerings?
I just made this flute as close to the given measurements. I used sch. 40. What causes the high whisling note when no fingers are on the holes, and what needs to be adjusted when you do lift a finger off a hole and there is very little note change?
Hi after watching the video I got exited and started making this low A flute. Would you be so kind Charlie and let us know what keys should those five fingerings be. I think mine isn’t spot on. So I want to cross check that with a tuner and fine tune. Thanks a lot!
From all holes covered and starting at the bottom uncovering one fingering at the time (leaving each fingering uncovered when removing it and the next), the notes are A C D E G A. 😀 Great job by the way!
@@BlueBearFlutes wow it was lightning fast reply. Didn’t expect that. I’ve checked the notes right away an as I was suspecting they were out by quite a bit. Not sure where I went astray. Will try to make it right. By making holes bigger or smaller as you showed in another retuning video. Cheers
why does your hole placement on the video vary from what is written down in the video description?
Thanks for mentioning that. The reason is I copied and pasted the size from my wooden low a flute video. The wooden flute had a slightly different size diameter and the fingerings needed to be slightly off from the placement of the PVC fingerings. The reason for this is primarily the track area and the perfect roundness of the PVC verses dealing with actual wood. I'll go back and correct them shortly.
Very good video makes me want to make a PVC flute. Could you put a rounded end cap on the mouth side and drill a hole so as not to have a wide opened end?
henrycems yes you can use a round PVC cap for your PVC NAF.
Thanks.
Hi, great instructions but can you clarify? In the description it says 1 1/4" diameter pipe and in the video it seems you say 1".....which is it? (I assume inside diameter, right?)
Check out 9:17 in the video
@@BlueBearFlutes Yup, that's the place in the video where you said 1".......so you are saying the video description is incorrect, and it's definitely 1"?
@@j3ffn4v4rr0 Hey jeff, I would love to admit to being wrong however it's rare that I need to do that for this exact reason. There are countless misinterpretations in language. Some of the misinterpretations are regional and some are social. In recent history, language has been changed even yet to reflect the social control over those misinterpretations. That is a sad realization that I as a linguist have come to expect. Language lesson aside, in the description it says the diameter needs to be 1 1/4, it doesn't say 1 1/4 pvc. The fact that within the video I said "comes close" should tell you something. Since the meanings of words are currently under a constant state of flux, everyone will start reciting the mantra that I quote in each of my videos when making flutes "This ain't rocket science". Feel free to use whichever PVC size yields the closest diameter to 1 1/4 - quoting from both the video and description. If you can't find PVC that is that size, feel free to utilize my other video on changing the size of a pattern to fit your needs. In essence, you can use 2" PVC to make this flute if you can figure out where to put the holes although I personally would stick with 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inside diameter for the sound quality. I hope that this comment finds you well and helps you. As a little side note, I will let you know that thousands of people have contacted me after making this flute some getting hung up on sizes and dimensions and others not. Typically the ones who don't get overwhelmed by thinking something has to be "perfect" make the best flutes with the least difficulty. Take care and always feel free to ask questions! They help me to make new videos. Thanks again for watching.
@@BlueBearFlutes Thanks so much for the detailed response! I appreciate the info, and all your videos, and now I understand the measurements you give are only guidelines
@@j3ffn4v4rr0 There are numerous reasons for this. Many people use online calculators and don't look at them that way however they are merely guidelines as well. When you put the track in your flute, you change the design mildly enough that the fingerings could be slightly off. Same as where you put the block. There are thousands of idiosyncrasies like that. 😉
Is it possible to add another hole in the blank space to make it a 6 hole flute?? If so what would the measurements be with the 6 holes?
Have you seen any of my 6 hole flute videos? Check these out:
ruclips.net/video/U5ybYvI14qE/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/Hp86Ng7IUkk/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/z87bkk8x-K8/видео.html
What are the measurements for the Flute you made in this video?
11:04 🙂
Really like the sound but that schedule 20 pipe is impossible to buy now days. Need a video on making one with schedule 40 pvc pipe.
It's about the same, I just prefer the 20 since it is a little less dense.
Hello artist! Have you made any videos where you build a native bass flute in C? 🙏 thanks a lot.
Ciao artista! Hai fatto dei video dove costruisci un flauto nativo basso in C? 🙏 grazie molte
You know, come to think of it I don't believe I have. I will though!
@@BlueBearFlutes and I will wait. thank you very much. I wish you and your family a peaceful Merry Christmas. Take care of yourself.
@@disegnaecreaconalessio you as well my friend!
@@BlueBearFlutes 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻thanks. Buon Natale a te e famiglia
The distance measurements in the description are different that the measurements in the video.
Wish me luck!
Instead of me saying something witty - which I am known to do - just go and read my funny comment to the last person who said that! If you need me to copy and paste it, please reply.
Hi Charlie. I have started the PVC low A. Thank you so much for your video. You are so easy to listen to. Like we were right there with you. My PVC is schedule 40. Will that be ok. Assuming I might have to make the track not as deep as the wall thickness. Build it up with paper like you mentioned? Thank you very much.
That should be just fine! Great job and keep up the good work! Thanks again for watching my friend!
I watched your bow staff video. I'll try that track technique.
If you use 2 90degree elbows and a T fitting you could make a drone. I'm going to try it .
my flutes work ok but, there's always a but, right? I get the flute tuned to Get but the first hole from the bottom doesn't seem to work after getting all the other holes drilled and set to your measurements, have made four and they are all the same, what am I doing wrong?
Wow! You made four since this video was posted a few hours ago? That is amazing! ( :) ) There is something misplaced in the measurements somewhere and/or the track is not just right. Feel free to contact me through my website so I can get some pictures of them.
Awesome video Charlie thank you :)
At first u didn't get to the point lol but u did good man thank ima go make one now
hello my friend! great videos! what are the diameters of the fingering holes in the D version? made the low a and it is greatsounding.. still a bit airy but i think adjusting the plug will do!
i'm also lucky and unlucky at the same time. in italy we have 2 mm thick pvc pipes but slightly diffrent diameters. for instance if you buy a 25 mm diameter pipe it's the external diameter.. the inner is 23... i made my low a using a 30 mm which is actually 28 mm internal
i enlarged the sound hole of 0.7 mm or so and it worked quite fine, i guess im gonna buy your book.. does it also include the measurements for pvc or only wooden ones?
My book primarily focuses on wooden flutes however I do have videos as well as information in the book on how to change a pattern to fit your material's size. Although the 2 mm difference inside diameter may affect the sound, the thing which affects the sound mostly is the track and the soundhole. For that reason, the diameters of the fingerings usually vary accordingly. I recommend starting off with 1/4 inch holes and enlarge until they come in tune. Of course a larger whole is more sharp. Please let me know if you have more questions!
How long is the wooden plug ? 1” 1 1/4 ?
26:18 and 33:55 should help. 😉 Thanks for watching!
@@BlueBearFlutes *stares in confusion 😶
The "sound hole" I think is what is also confusing me, you mention 5/16 hole, but say it's 1/2" wide 🤔
The dowel rod length starts to sound like an algebraic word problem lol
@@BlueBearFlutes instead of drilling a 5/16 holes for the track should we just use 1/2 drill and square up? Since the bit sets the width? 🤔
I have in my notes you said 1/2 width for the low bass A and 3/8 width for the low D.
I am assuming the 5/16 holes are just to get you started? I apologize for being thick headed about this.
@@KeithFeickert that's correct. As Yoda says: "absolutes are the path to the dark side". Don't forget, we have hundreds of videos on making flutes! Thanks again!
@@BlueBearFlutes thank you! I've definitely been watching them! I liked the popsicle stick idea mentioned in the portable Low E video, though while watching the alignment struggle I started to wonder if the stick could just be glued to the collar to make alignment easier? I'm hoping to not epoxy my fingers together this weekend trying to find out LOL
🤙
How wide and long does the air escape has to be from the mouth
I can't remember if I have a video for that or not. If not, will by the beginning of the week! The truth of the matter is, it doesn't really matter. You can make it as long or short as you like. 🙂
Forgive me for asking because maybe it should be obvious but I'm kind of confused but you didn't say how wide your plug is and it looks wider than an inch track. I understood you said the track should be an inch long. And how wide is the block. I just want to make sure my measurements are correct before I start. 🤔
26:18 and 33:55 should help. 😉 Thanks for watching!
@@BlueBearFlutes I guess I missed it, how long was the block used in the second flute?
@@bobicard2503 if you are talking about the pine flute (second one in this video) the length of the block is such that it covers the air supply hole and fits about 1mm behind the sound hole -not covering the sound hole at all. So its length is completely up to your needs, so long as it covers your air supply hole and sits about 1mm behind the sound hole. Other than that, it doesn't have to be specific. I hope this helps. Also, we have other videos on the subject.
U re a fking genious, sir! Thank you!
How do you know where to put the finger holes? I want to make one smaller
Sometimes trial and error. Sometimes I use patterns from a long time ago. At this point I can look at a piece of material and see where the holes need to be.
If you haven't yet, check the rest of our videos. Chances are we have a video for making a flute the size you're looking for.
bluebear what do I need to do to make low tone pvc 1"schd 40 pvc would you please go into extreme details
Hey, no problem! Here you go: ruclips.net/video/pO4TjwSfaPE/видео.html
Does the length of the pipe effect the sound of where it's drilled
Absolutely! Great question! We do have some videos on that as well. Thanks for watching!
I recognised that first flute straight off...
I love your videos, you are sharing great information. Your low D flute had more air noise than the low A. Do you know what is causing that and how I can avoid having that in my flutes?
As I mention in the video that I didn't spend as much time on the D flute as I did the A Flute. If you will notice I went back and layered paper in the track of the A flute which made it sound much better.
I made this flute. The volume is very low. It is my first flute and I followed the direction pretty closely. Any suggestions?
Hey Michael, thanks for watching! Usually the volume being low could be due to a couple of factors however it is almost always around the track area of the flute. If you could send me a message through the contact form on my website bluebearflutes.com I will respond and you can send an attachment to the next with a picture of the track area. Also sometimes air leaks can cause a similar result. In any case, great job getting that far! I'm sure it just needs a little tweaking.
Michael Desabrais Several factors can contribute to low volume. The bore ID to length ratio could be off, I. e, too long..... The flue or track for the air flow can be too deep.... Or the sound hole is too big, in the North to South measurement . Try to keep the sound hole just shy of 1/4", but the main cause is the cutting edge that splits the air isn't centered in the airstream coming down the flue
Question
I'm currently trying to make a D5 pvc flute (my first try) using this method, but I tried using the NAFLUTOMAT tool for the finger hole placement, with the holes all one size (on recommendation of another video). The end result was... embarrassing.
I might try sizing and tuning each hole individually this time, But is there a simpler way to figure out where your finger holes will be placed, without having to use the computer?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Great question! Finger placement programs have only been around for the last couple of years and don't have the experience necessary to make a good flute! :)
The way I created all of my fingerings was trial and error based on a few of the original flutes. You can find them listed in my book (bluebearflutes.com) and many of my videos!
Thank you for all your videos, just got into fluting a couple months ago. From all the videos of PVC 3/4 to bamboo I can tune them and make them play. This one I can't get it to blow and make a sound. And if it does make a sound it's like super high pitch. For the air divider I used a bamboo piece then the track was too left too deep. Ive fixed it but Didn't work right. Just made another one today with a end mill 3/8 and for a divider I've found that a coca cola plastic cap works great. Going to test later see if can get it to play. track is about .030 " to .025 deep x 3/4 long and 3/8 thick. I hope it works this time. Should I be making the track thinner? Like 5/16.?
Thanks! Love your videos!
Can i buy? I wish i have that flue to song all i want to play. I love music. Sir. Please
I sell flutes on my website
Always watching.....thanks!
Lots of good information love this guy
Mande mededas para fase unma
eles estão nos meus outros vídeos!
Great video! Any tips on translating these measurements to work on a 1" schedule 40 pvc?
There are calculators online people use to make Flutes from different size materials, however they do not understand sound dynamics. What this means is, it is predictable to make a flute in any key from any size material, but it does not predict the quality of their tones. If you make a low bass A flute from 1" pvc the fingerings are going to be slightly more spread and won't sound as clear (by a long way).
@@BlueBearFlutes Thank you!
I've usually seen most flutes like this with six holes, is there a reason you only use five or am I mistaken and there is only five
Native American flutes originally came in a number of different hole types. There is a reason I promote five hole flutes more than others however. This will help: www.bluebearflutes.com/6-hole-flutes
@@BlueBearFlutes thankyou
Would this be the same with a 1 1/4 with schedule 40 ?
Very very very close!
I just spent the last 2 hrs trying to make the flute I made blow..............unless the goal was just me running out of air. I don't think I accomplished anything. How do u know when to move the block. And when to close or open the bridge more or less. Is there a video on tuning ?
I do have videos on tuning however it would be best to start with the secret to flute making, how to perfect the track, and my newer video is what track is best. Please let me know if you have any difficulty finding them and of your progress.
One other thing, if this is the first PVC flute you have ever made or especially the first flute you have ever made, I would recommend checking out some of my other PVC flute videos since this is probably the hardest one!
@@BlueBearFlutes thanks , now he tells me" it's the hardest one " lol, it was my fav sound. And yes this is my very first flute ever. I must also add, I also have never attempted to learn or try to play a flute. But I'm pretty savy. I will go check out the other videos. Do u ever hold workshops ?
Hey Charlie! I found some bamboo and want to try my hand. Will the wood measurements be the same if I use bamboo?
Yes. Roughly the same, just don't forget to knock out the nodes did aren't necessary and leave the one that is necessary. The important thing is the inside diameter and the length. I would love to see a picture of it if you want to email through the website. Thanks Tom!
@@BlueBearFlutes OK - I will. Thanks Charlie -- you rock!!
By the way -- the 3 flutes I got from you for Xmas were a huge freaking hit!!!! We are LOVING them!!!!!!
Hello, thanks for the video, could you please tell the measurement for the very first hole (the blowing hole) where the cork is?
Thank you very much, is the only measurement that I couldn' t find.
Cheers!
I mean the measurement, the distance from the head of the flute to the sound and air supply holes.
Thanks,
Hello Charlie, I found the answers after watching the video 2 more times, thanks for the great video, I am excited about building my first PVC flute!
Cheers
So there was something I didn't understand about the plug. You pushed that plug in and what I wasn't understanding was how is air going to get past the plug. I rolled back your video to see if there is something special about the plug and also to see if you did any thing to the plug and of course I didn't see anything at all.
I do have a few other pvc videos which may help, too.
where do I get a schedule 20 pipe?!
Home depot, Lowes, Ace hardware etc. It's other name is irrigation pipe.