How to Make Wind Instruments


Wind instruments, also known as aerophones, are musical instruments which contain some form of resonator with a mouthpiece set at one end for a player to blow into to make beautiful music. The finger holes and the shape of the wind instruments determine the quality of the sound the instruments produce. There are 2 categories of wind instruments: brass instrument and woodwind instrument. Wind instruments are mostly made from wood but there are also some that are made of metal or brass, hence the name of brass instruments. The flute, whistle, clarinet, bagpipes and saxophone are some of the most recognized woodwind instruments.

What you will need:

  • Measuring tape
  • Linseed oil and rag
  • Propane or butane torch
  • ½ diameter steel rod
  • Oven mitt
  • Saw
  • Grease pencil or magic marker
  • Sandpaper
  • Drill
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Bamboo fishing pole

Wind Instrument - Flutes

Instructions

  • Select a bamboo which is at least 18” to 20” long and the diameter should be between ¾” and 1”. Measure the bamboo and mark the measured length with a grease pencil or magic marker.
  • Cut the ends of the flute and make sure that one end is blocked by one node or the fibrous material that can be found between the bamboo sections.
  • Measure 1” from the blocked end and mark the spot using a grease pencil or magic marker, this is the first mark. Then measure 6” distance from the first mark, this is the second mark, plus 5 more marks after the second mark with 1” intervals. Carefully mark each spot with a marker. After marking all the spots there should be a total of 7 marks on your flute.
  • Heat one end of your 1/2” steel rod with a propane or butane torch and carefully burn out the unneeded nodes or fibrous materials when the rod is hot. Hold the other end of the rod with and oven mitt to avoid burning your hand. Make sure that you will not burn out the end node or the blocked end.
  • Make holes on the 7 marked spots by heating the drill with a propane or butane torch. Hold the red hot drill with a vise grip and burn out the holes. Drilling the marked spots will result to a cracked bamboo, so do not drill it.
  • Roll up 3”x3” fine- grit sandpaper and use this to clean up the holes made by the drill. To widen the blow hole use the sandpaper.
  • Wipe the finished flute with linseed oil before you use it. This will protect your flute from drying and cracking. After this your flute is now ready for use.

Tips

  • Be creative when designing your very own wind instrument. You can color it and make ethnic designs.
  • Do not make a very big blow hole when doing some finishing touches on your flute.
  • You can also make a cardboard flute using the same procedure. This is easier than using bamboo.

Warnings

  • Be careful when you heat the steel rod; make sure that your oven mitt is very thick that the heat of the rod will not burn your hand.
  • Do not apply too much pressure on the bamboo as it may crack in the process.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment

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About the Author: Jason Prickett loves to write about home maintenance and stuff you can do yourself instead of hiring any professional. His step by step guides will assist you in completing your home maintenance tasks.

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