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Flute

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 11:21 am
by MaineGeezer
A few weeks ago I heard this guy: https://hawkhenries.com/

That inspired me to try to make a flute. I knew nothing about it -- for that matter, I still don't -- but somebody told me about flutopedia.com . It seemed to have enough information to get me in trouble, so I decided to see what I could do.

I got a cedar log that I was able to get a sufficiently large knot-free blank from, and started whacking away. The result isn't great, but it makes a sound --- which I wasn't sure I'd be able to achieve -- and the finger holes mostly work. It still needs more precise tuning (by selectively enlarging the holes) and the tone could be more clear at some frequencies. At any rate, it's keeping me occupied while I think about what I might do for another guitar.

Here is a sound sample and a picture.

Re: Flute

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 11:36 am
by Kevin Sjostrand
That is awesome. I have been wanting to try a flute/recorder. This inspires me to try it. I am going to try a duck whistle to go along with my mallard hen calls.

Re: Flute

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 12:20 pm
by Danl8
Very nice flute. I'm going to add that to my bucket list...

Re: Flute

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:22 am
by MaineGeezer
I've now got it more or less correctly tuned, I think. I need to talk to somebody who actually knows something about these flutes!

Re: Flute

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 12:37 pm
by Kevin Sjostrand
That is sweet. I've got to make me some of those

Re: Flute

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 2:07 pm
by MaineGeezer
I got all the construction information from http://www.flutopedia.com/

Re: Flute

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:30 pm
by Mal-2
1/2" Schedule 40 pipe is a good, cheap material for testing flute designs. If you're building a transverse (side-blown) flute rather than a fipple flute, it is necessary to use pipe with a narrower inner diameter for the headjoint, or your octaves will get flatter and flatter as you go up the instrument. (Or you can go the recorder route and have a wide head and tapered body.) This may also be necessary on fipple flutes as well, but I get the impression Native American flutes are rarely played high in the second octave where it becomes really noticeable. Either that, or awkward cross fingerings that pull the impedance peaks into line are considered acceptable.

I've built dozens of flutes, and even sold a few. In terms of hours invested and materials costs, they fetch a much higher rate of return than assembling acoustic guitar kits. All you really need is a drill press, a lathe to cut your bore taper, and possibly tools for making tenon joints if you want them to come apart. If you want to never leave the most fluid keys of C, G, and D (relative to the instrument) then you need five instruments ranging from F# to Bb (or G to B) to cover all keys. This pretty much eliminates the need for keywork, and without any moving parts, the instruments will be almost indestructible as well as much cheaper to manufacture.

Re: Flute

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 1:40 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
Love it! I think I may try my hand at it one day.