Introduction
Are you excited to make your own bamboo flute with Flutemate?
In this article, we will take you through the step 1 on how to Make Bamboo flute with Flutemate or Bansuri Making with FluteMate.
Prior to delving into the topic, we want to confirm that you have reviewed and comprehended the preparatory steps.
Please review and ensure that you have fully understood the following steps:
- Selecting bamboo for crafting a flute and determining the desired scale of the instrument.
- Flute Measurement Charts
- Flute Making Tools
Flute making tools required
In order to complete the steps mentioned in this article, you will need the following resources and flute makin tools.
- Flute Measurement Formula FluteMate
- Bamboo or a pipe
- Measuring tape or a Vernier Caliper
- Hacksaw or Electric Saw for cutting bamboo
- Pencil
Make Bamboo Flute with FluteMate – The First 5 Step
In our previous article, we have guided you through the process of bamboo selection. Here is the quick reminder on how to select a bamboo to make bamboo flute with FluteMate.
Before selecting a bamboo, you must determine the desired scale of the flute you are going to make. Refer to the Flute Measurement Charts to obtain the necessary dimensions such as length, diameter, and wall thickness for the scale of the flute you intend to make.
Now, let us examine the steps of how to make bamboo flute with FluteMate using an example. Specifically, we will make an E Natural Bass flute.
Step 1 : Obtaining the Dimensions of E Natural Bass
What are the dimensions of E Natural Bass flute? To know this, let us refer to the Flute Measurement Chart. The dimensions so obtained are :
| Flute Type | Length (inches) | Internal Diameter (mm) | Wall Thickness (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Natural Bass | 30 | 25 | 2.5 |
You will need to convert the length of the flute from inches to centimeters. You can use our Inches to Centimeter converter tool to make the conversion
Step 2 : Cutting the bamboo
Next, select a bamboo with an internal diameter of 25 mm and a length a few inches longer than the 30 inches required for an E Natural Bass flute. Since the effective length of an E Natural Bass flute is 30 inches, it’s recommended to cut the bamboo a few inches longer, 31.5 inches to ensure it is long enough for the E Natural Bass Flute.
To cut the bamboo to the required length, you can use a flute making tool such as hacksaw or an electric cutting machine. Since, bamboo is fragile, so it’s important to take extra care while cutting it to avoid damaging the bamboo.
Step 3 : Marking the Line of Holes
As mentioned previously in How to Choose Bamboo section, bamboo can vary in terms of parameters such as straightness, diameters, and wall thickness. It is not always perfectly round and straight. Therefore, when drawing the line on which you will make all the holes, it is important to do so carefully in order to maintain the balance and symmetry of the bamboo.
It is important to take into account the natural bend of the bamboo when drawing the line for making holes. The bamboo may have a slight curvature, even if it is barely noticeable.
To ensure that all the holes are positioned at the top of the bamboo, draw the line along the same direction as the bend. This way, the symmetry of the bamboo will be maintained and the holes will be accurately placed. Once you do this, you are all set to go to the Step 3 to make bamboo flute with FluteMate.
Step 4 : Obtaining Measurements of E Natural Bass from FluteMate
To make all the holes of a flute, let us gather the measurements of the E Natural bass flute using our smart formula, FluteMate. According to the Flute Measurement Chart, the total length of the E Natural bass flute is 30 inches. Now, we will convert 30 inches to centimeters using our Inch to Centimeter Converter.
Please refer to the article How to use FluteMate to obtain the necessary measurements of the flute you want to make.
- So 30 Inches = 76.2 Cm
- Now let us feed 76.2 cm to the FluteMate and obtain all the calculations.
- So the measurements obtained from FluteMate are :
- Mouth Hole – 10.59
- Hole 1 – 37.01, Hole 2 – 41.73, Hole 3 – 46.14, Hole 4 – 52.01, Hole 5 – 55.14, Hole 6 – 60.88 and Hole 7 – 69.11
Please note that the distance of each hole is calculated from the top end of of the flute.
Step 5 : Figuring out the Upper End and the Lower End
Usually, a cut segment of bamboo does not have identical diameters on both sides. This is due to the natural shape of a bamboo tree, which is wider at the base and gradually tapers towards the end. Even when a single piece of bamboo is cut, this tapering tendency persists. Therefore, it is advisable to take into account the diameters at both ends of a cut piece of bamboo, as one end will always have a greater diameter than the other.
It is recommended to position the mouth hole towards the end of the bamboo with the smaller diameter. Consequently, the end of the flute will be situated at the broader diameter of the bamboo. If this is done in reverse, an unbalanced octave may result in the upper octave of the flute.
Step 6 : Marking all the hole positions
Based on the distances obtained from the FluteMate, Let us mark the positions of all the holes on the bamboo using a pencil. Be sure to position the mouth hole towards the end of the bamboo with the smaller diameter.
It is crucial to be extremely careful and avoid any mistakes when marking the hole positions. Even a slight error can have a significant impact, resulting in an untuned flute.
Final Thoughts
In this article, you have gone through the initial process to make bamboo flute with FluteMate.
In the next lesson, we will take you through the process of making the first hole, the mouth hole, tuning the mouth hole, determining Tivra Madhyam and finally making all the holes of a flute.
Please feel free to ask any questions or share any concerns you may have in the comment box below. We are here to help and provide clarification on any topics you need assistance with.
hello sir, madam.
from where can i buy flute making rods which you have not mentioned in your article please suggest me i want to buy the rods for making hole of flute.
7015958550, Shri Satya Pal Chauhan
Small confusion sir, distance of all the halls should be upto center of hole or nearest point of circumference of hall ?
Highly impressed by your in-depth study into till now much hidden knowledge.
Thanks !
Remember, you have to drill holes exactly at the marked points, ensuring that the holes are centered on these points. Therefore, the distances are measured up to the center of each hole
Very well explained in easy to understand language.
Thank you!