Q&A for How to Make Pan Pipes

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Is there a blockage needed on the ends of the pipes to improve the sound?

Community Answer

Yes, without the closed off bottom you can't produce musical notes. Without a bottom you would just get a whistling sound.

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Question

Does the type of tape affect the sound?

Community Answer

No, the tape is on the outside. You can also add stickers and it won't affect it unless it's too heavy.

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Question

Is there a way to space them out more?

Community Answer

Yes, you can space out the pipes by adding popsicle sticks or wooden rods between each pipe. Put as many as you see fit to give you the spacing you want.

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Question

Do you think that I can make a pan pipe out of straw?

Community Answer

No. A pan pipe needs to be thick enough for you to blow into. Drinking straws work, but not straw.

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Question

Do I need to empty the whole thing of bamboo to make pan pipes?

Community Answer

Yes, otherwise the sound waves in the resonating tube would be disturbed by the fillings inside the bamboo chute.

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Question

What do I do if no sound comes out when I block my pan pipe with clay?

Community Answer

Double-check to ensure you are blowing correctly. You should be blowing at an angle.

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Question

How do plugs help make sound?

Community Answer

They create a echoing effect, and without them, there would just be a whistle. They are a must.

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Question

How many rows does a pan pipe have?

Community Answer

You can have as many rows as you'd like to produce a variety of pitches, but this article recommends eight rows. However, according to the Romanian school, you want only one row and according to the South American school you can have a second row. (You can alternate each tone up and down or put only the sharp on the second row). There exist pan flutes with 3 rows but this is rare. More rows get quickly harder for not much benefit.

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Question

Do I need separate pipes to make sharp and flat notes with a pan pipe?

Community Answer

You can add new pipes for the sharp and flat. As a second row or onto the same. The timbre will be closer to the natural pipe. If it is set as a second row, you'll have to correct the tone by alterate it up ( as the pan flute will be tilted) and if you put em onto the same row it'll make your movements a bit longer but you won't have to alterate at all. You can choose to not add those pipes. You can alterate down the upper pipe to get the flats. For example: If you tilt G, the sound will get lower to Gb witch is A#.. The tone color will get softer though.

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Question

How do you find the length for the pipe for different tones? What is the formula?

Peter Norris

Community Answer

Experiment to get it right and make notes of the results. Also remember that the plug will change the pitch. Other than being a mathematical genius, you can't beat experimentation. It's the most practical way possible!

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Question

Can I use glue to seal the ends of pipe instead of clay plugs when making pan pipes?

Community Answer

It would be too hard to shape, so the answer to that question is no. You could probably also use hardened Play-Doh, by shaping the plugs, and then letting them dry.

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Question

How to make a soft sound with pan pipe?

David Coulombe

Community Answer

Learn to control your breath to blow very lightly with a lot of support. Your sound should get much softer. Or you can get softer by alterating the upper pipe. The more you alterate, the more you'll get softer. (To use in very specific case.)

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Question

If I want to make a pan flute with 22 pipes or pieces of bamboo, how long should each pipe be?

Community Answer

It depends on what note you want each pipe to be. You could make it any size so long as they go in order.

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Question

If the pipes are plugged, how can it create sound?

Community Answer

The splitting edge works to create sound the same way it does on a recorder or a flute.

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