PVC Native American Flute in A

This project will demonstrate how to construct a Native American-style flute out of PVC, tuned to A minor pentatonic. It was inspired by the Indigenous storyteller and musician, Tchin, who has led many workshops on constructing this style of flute. I attended one of his workshops. This type of flute has two air chambers: a breath chamber and a sound chamber. It does not require a special embouchure or blowing technique to achieve its gentle, mellow sound.

Materials:

• 3/4" PVC for main flute, approximately 16-18" long
• 1" PVC for cover (the "Bird"), 1" long
• 1 wine cork

Tools:

• Measuring tape or ruler
• Permanent marker
• Tube cutter or hacksaw with mitre box
• Drill press, with 5/16" and 1/4" drill bits (brad point, if possible)
• Small flat jeweler's file, 1/4" wide or smaller
• Large flat file with medium grit (approx 3/4" to 1" wide)
• Deburring tool or cylindrical file
• Brillo pad (for cleaning)

1. Cut a piece of 3/4" PVC to a length of 16-18". The breath chamber can be variable, hence the length range. Use either a pipe cutter or a hacksaw with a mitre box to make a clean 90-degree cut.
2. Mark a center line down the length of the pipe. An easy way to do this is to lay the pipe on a flat surface and run a pencil against the same surface with the lead against the pipe. Alternatively, use a straight edge to mark the line.
3. Cut a 1"-long piece of 1" PVC. Again use either a pipe cutter or hacksaw with mitre box. This piece is traditionally called the "Bird."
4. Mount the 1" piece sideways in a vise.
5. Cut a lengthwise channel that is approximately 1/2 to 3/4" wide out of the 1" PVC using a hacksaw.
6. Smooth out the extra burrs using a metal file, deburring tool, or sandpaper.

1. Line up a ruler or tape measure against the pipe. I used a vise and tape to keep the two in place.
2. I calculated the hole locations using Flutomat according to the dimensions of my PVC pipe.
3. Make markings at the following locations across the center line. (I converted the decimal measurements in the picture above to the closest fractions in 1/16th increments.)
4. 13 3/4" (breath hole)
5. 13" (True Sound Hole -- TSH)
6. 8 3/4" (hole 6)
7. 7 7/8" (hole 5)
8. 7" (OPTIONAL hole 4--I omitted this)
9. 6 3/16" (hole 3)
10. 5" (hole 2)
11. 3 15/16" (hole 1)

1. Mount a drill press vise to the drill press and clamp the setup firmly to the drill press plate.
2. The PVC tends to grab a drill bit on occasion, so clamping things firmly is important.
3. Use a 1/4" brad-point bit to drill the breath hole (at 13 3/4") and the True Sound Hole (at 13"). (A brad-point bit will keep the bit from slipping from the center of the pipe.)
4. Use a 5/16" bit to drill the finger hole locations (listed again below):
5. 8 3/4" (hole 6)
6. 7 7/8" (hole 5)
7. 7" (OPTIONAL hole 4--I omitted this)
8. 6 3/16" (hole 3)
9. 5" (hole 2)
10. 3 15/16" (hole 1)
11. Clear any debris from the holes using either a cylindrical file or a deburring tool.
12. To get the instrument perfectly in tune, you will need to enlarge holes 3 and 5 slightly, using a deburring tool and a tuner.

1. Use a small flat jeweler's file to transform the True Sound Hole (at 13") into a square.
2. Once you have achieved a square shape, you need to make a cutting edge that angles from the outside of the north end of the instrument (mouthpiece side) toward the inside of the south end (side with finger holes).
3. The fourth picture above shows the angle you should use as you file the cutting edge.
4. Make the cutting edge as sharp as possible by cleaning any extra debris.

1. Use a large flat file with medium grit (approx 3/4" to 1" wide) to flatten the pipe between the two breath holes.
2. This will create the channel through which air flows between the two breath holes.
3. Be careful not to shape the pipe on the north side of the breath hole, only filing down the material below it.

1. Measure the distance between the edges of your two breath holes. (It should be around 1/2".)
2. Cut the piece of cork and use a screwdriver to push the cork down the pipe so it lines up between the two breath holes.
3. Once the cork is in place, snap the bird onto the flute and push it down until it covers the breath hole and just meets the north edge of the square True Sound Hole.

Cover the flute in water and use a brillo pad to scrub all the markings off the flute. Clean all loose plastic burrs off, as well as any soap residue from the brillo pad.

Test play your instrument, adjusting the location of the bird for optimal sound.

This style of flute demonstrates very clearly the Venturi effect which is a common feature of many aerophone musical instruments. The Venturi effect is "the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section (or choke) of a pipe." For a similar example, this effect happens when one places their thumb at the end of a garden hose with the water turned on--the water’s velocity increases when the thumb is pushed into the hose's end. Similarly in this flute, air velocity increases as it travels between the breath hole and the sound hole.

A good explanation of the Venturi effect can be found on this page, including a cross-section of a professional wooden version of this style of flute.