1. Introduction
Before embarking upon the process of making your dream professional flute on your own, it is important to bear a few key facts in mind. The first and foremost step is to determine the scale of the flute you wan to make.
It is noteworthy that every scale of the flute requires some fixed parameters such as the length of the tube, its internal and external diameters and wall thickness.
The flute measurement charts provided in paragraph 4 contain information about the length, diameter, and wall thickness of either a tube or bamboo. This information is crucial for crafting your own flute with a particular pitch.
These charts are for your handy reference Refer to this flute measurement chart when every time you wish to make a new flute.
2. Types of Flutes based on their sizes
It is worth noting that there are primarily two types of flute categories based on the length of the tube and the octave of sound they produce – Bass Flutes and Medium/Middle Flutes.
In addition to these, there are ultra Bass flutes, which are also known as Shankh Bansuris, and ultra treble flutes, commonly referred to as small flutes.
In the following paragraphs, we will delve into these flute categories and understand them better.
Bass Flutes
Bass flutes includes a set of 12 flutes – C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A# and B.
These flutes are designed to produce sound in the 4th octave, producing a mellow and low-pitched sound that is pleasing to the human ear. The sound they produce is neither too low nor too high hence classical and semi classical music are mostly played on bass flutes.
Medium Flutes
Medium flutes includes a set of 12 flutes – C,C#,D.D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A# and B.
Medium flutes are designed to produce sound in the 5th octave, producing intermediate frequency and rich mellow tone suitable for light classical and folk music`. The sound they produce is comparatively higher hence folk and semi-classical based light music is mostly played on medium flutes.
Lower Bass (Shankh Bansuri) Flutes
In this particular category, there exist only a limited number of flutes due to the challenging nature of crafting Shankh bansuris, which are known for their elongated physical structure.
Flautists who possess long fingers, such as Pandit Ronu Majumdar ji and Paras Nath Ji, are among the few who can play the super bass flutes or the Shankh Bansuris, which include A Shankh, A# Shankh, and B Shankh. Shankh bansuris are 3rd octave flutes and produce super bass sound.
Super Medium or Small bansuris (Piccolo)
Not many flutes are made in this category due to the narrow hole spacing and complex crafting process. Additionally, these flutes are rarely used for professional music performances.
Small flutes including C, C#, and D scales have been made and played. Flutes smaller than these are not suitable to professional music playing due to the intricate handling they demand.
3. What Flutes will you learn to Make with FluteMate?
On this website, we are not going to teach you how to make all the scales of flutes, instead we’ll guide you through the complete process of making one flute utilizing the flute measurement chart and our secret formula, FluteMate.
Once you are conversant with the various steps involved in making a professional bansuri, you’ll be able to make any flute effortlessly. Therefore we encourage you to pay careful attention and learn each steps religiously.
4. Flute Measurement Chart
Once you are going to make a particular scale flute, you should know that length of the bamboo to be taken. For example the approximate length of E Natural Bass is 30 Inches, so you have to take a bamboo a few inches longer than 30 inches. It is ideal to take one extra inch.
You can get the length of all the flutes if you google. Some of the flute brands like Poonam Flutes and DP Flutes have their product written in this way : E natural base Bansuri Flute 440 Hz (Right Hand) 29.63 Inches, or E Natural Bass Bansuri (SAFED-3) 30 Inch (76.2 Cm ) Professional Bamboo Flute.
However we intend to give you all the necessary details right here in this website.
FluteMate’s Flute Measurement chart provides all the necessary parameters you will need to consider before making any scale flute. While this chart is for your reference only , it gives all the prerequisite details to start using our secret flute making formula FluteMate.
Please note that the values given in the charts below are approximate; there may be small variations.
Note : You will need an inch to centimeter conversion tool while using FluteMate.
Click on the button below to access the converter.
Check This : 👉 Musical Notes & Music Frequency Chart
Bass flutes measurement chart
| Scale | Length (Inch) | Diameter (mm) | Wall (mm) |
| C Natural Bass (White-1) | 36 | 28 | 3 |
| C Sharp Bass (Black-1) | 34 | 27 | 3 |
| D Natural Bass (White-2) | 33.5 | 26 | 2.5 |
| D Sharp Bass (Black-2) | 32.5 | 26 | 2.5 |
| E Natural Bass (White-3) | 30 | 25 | 2.5 |
| F Natural Bass (White-4) | 28.5 | 24 | 2.5 |
| F Sharp Bass (Black-3) | 27.5 | 23 | 2.5 |
| G Natural Bass (White-5) | 25 | 22 | 2.2 |
| G Sharp Bass (Black-4) | 24 | 21.5 | 2.2 |
| A Natural Bass (White-6) | 23 | 20.5 | 2.2 |
| A Sharp Bass (Black-5) | 22.5 | 20 | 2 |
| B Natural Bass (White-7) | 20 | 20 | 2 |
Medium flutes measurement chart
| Scale | Length (Inch) | Diameter (mm) | Wall (mm) |
| C Natural Medium (White-1) | 19 | 19 | 2 |
| C Sharp Medium (Black-1) | 18 | 18 | 2 |
| D Natural Medium (White-2) | 17 | 17 | 1.5 |
| D Sharp Medium (Black-2) | 16.5 | 16.5 | 1.5 |
| E Natural Medium (White-3) | 15 | 16 | 1.5 |
| F Natural Medium (White-4) | 14.5 | 15 | 1.5 |
| F Sharp Medium (Black-3) | 14 | 14 | 1.5 |
| G Natural Medium (White-5) | 13.5 | 13.5 | 1.2 |
| G Sharp Medium (Black-4) | 12 | 12 | 1.2 |
| A Natural Medium (White-6) | 11.5 | 11.5 | 1 |
| A Sharp Medium (Black-5) | 11.5 | 11.5 | 1 |
| B Natural Medium (White-7) | 11 | 11.5 | 1 |
5. Flexibility of FluteMate
The above given flute measurement charts provide the necessary specifications for 24 flutes (a complete set). However, there are other flutes that can be crafted apart from those listed above. These flutes include super bass flutes (Shankh bansuris) like A Shankh, A# Shankh and B Shankh and super small bansuris like C small, C# small, D Small or D# small or so on depending on the availability of appropriate tubes.
6. Reliability of the flute measurement charts
The data provided in the flute measurement charts above are accurate. However, it is suggested to obtain a tube that is a few inches lengthier than the given measurement. This is because the ultimate length of the flute is only ascertained once it is completed.
It is sensible to opt for a longer tube than the indicated measurement because there are various parameters such as the density of the material, maturity of the bamboo, and its weight that can lead to minute variations in the final length of the bansuri.
7. Conclusion
We are delighted that you have chosen our platform to learn the art of making professional flutes. We are confident that your dedication and willingness to learn will lead you to create your dream flute.
Our flute measurement chart and secret formula FluteMate will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to craft high-quality flutes. We encourage you to approach this learning experience with an open mind and a willingness to practice, as this will ultimately help you master the craft.
We wish you all the best on your flute-making journey, and we hope that our platform will serve as a valuable resource for you.
FAQs
How is Bansuri or and Indian flute made?
The process of making a bansuri, which is a type of Indian flute, involves choosing a straight bamboo stick with a uniform diameter, cutting it to the desired length, drilling holes at the right place, sanding the bamboo to smooth out any rough edges, shaping the embouchure, and adding cork or rubber stoppers to the ends. The shape and diameter of the holes, as well as the embouchure, will depend on the desired tone and key of the flute.
To ensure accuracy, you can refer to a flute measurement chart and use a formula called FluteMate to plot the holes correctly. With these tools, you can make a professional-grade bansuri effortlessly.
How can I make a flute at home?
Making a bamboo flute at home can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. With FluteMate, our unique and secret formula, you can easily learn step-by-step instructions to make a professional-grade flute in the comfort of your own home. Simply visit our website at www.flutemate.in and follow the instructions provided in each section. By doing so, you will acquire the necessary skills to make the flute you desire.
What is the measurement of Indian flute?
The measurements of an Indian flute are based on the shruti theory, which can be a complex process to understand. However, with FluteMate, our unique formula, you can easily obtain the correct measurements to make a professional-grade flute. By referring to the flute measurement chart provided in the article above and utilizing FluteMate, you can make flutes of any size with ease.
How are flute holes measured?
To craft a flute with the desired tone and key, the holes are measured based on the specific scale and spacing of each note within that scale. This involves calculating the distance between each hole, which can be a complex process.
To ensure accurate placement and size of the holes, a flute measurement chart and FluteMate, a specialized formula for plotting the holes on a flute, can be utilized. These tools enable the precise determination of each hole’s location and size, resulting in a flute that produces the desired tone and key.
Great effort. This is the most comprehensive website I have come across on the making of a Flute / Bansuri.
Looking forward to the future lessons.
Thank you for your sweet comments Faisal Bhai.
Is this a Piccolo flute
Length ia around 11 inches
6 key flute
No, its a short bansuri.
Bansuris and piccolos differ in terms of their construction, design, and materials used in their make.
Needs tunning guidelines with tuner .
What is four hole flute ?
Coming soon.
The Native American flute has 4 holes.