I modified one of my first-made bamboo…
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I modified one of my first-made bamboo #NativeAmericanStyleFlutes to have a wider TSH (True Sound Hole) and flue track -the intended carve-away shown in black magic marker in the first image.
The rule-of-thumb here is that the TSH should be approximately 50-60% of the inside-diameter of the flute for optimal sound. I've heard that this can go up to 75% of the width and also be fine. I think mine was less-than half the internal width even though it sounded acceptably loud.
Having made this alteration, I think the flute does sound a little better (even though I really don't play NA-s-F much.)
My first err was having not created the 'fundamental note' -that is, to make the flute length slightly longer than intended, and to cut-off the 'south end' until you find the lowest sweet note you want, -then determine your first, second, third, (etc.) finger holes.
There is a mathematical formula for determining all of these metrics, but I lean more towards 'traditional' or 'grandfather tuning;' that is to say, find the half-way point between the TSH and the south-end (the end farthest away from the mouthpiece. Your third hole goes a half-inch south of the half-way point, second hole an inch below the 3rd, and the first hole an inch below the second hole.
Return to the middle bisector and go 'north' a half-inch. Place your 4th hole there, 5th hole another inch up, and the final 6th hole an inch above that.
Then, 'tuning' begins by incrementally increasing the diameters of each finger-hole and checking the note on a tuning app, starting from the bottom (1rst) hole progressing up the flute.
The result of 'ear-tuning' is not always perfect and most assuredly unlikely to attain 'concert-tuned,' but you can make a reasonably nice-sounding flute using just this formula.
All of this makes me laugh. -The length of bamboo used here (about 18-inches length) and the minimal amount of my time to create, I would guesstimate the worth is 'about $3 or $4 dollars' to make ...yet I see (presumably well-tuned) bamboo flutes very similar to mine selling for anywhere between $100 to $200 and up!
Now, if only I can perfect my tuning, my wares might actually be WORTH something...
The rule-of-thumb here is that the TSH should be approximately 50-60% of the inside-diameter of the flute for optimal sound. I've heard that this can go up to 75% of the width and also be fine. I think mine was less-than half the internal width even though it sounded acceptably loud.
Having made this alteration, I think the flute does sound a little better (even though I really don't play NA-s-F much.)
My first err was having not created the 'fundamental note' -that is, to make the flute length slightly longer than intended, and to cut-off the 'south end' until you find the lowest sweet note you want, -then determine your first, second, third, (etc.) finger holes.
There is a mathematical formula for determining all of these metrics, but I lean more towards 'traditional' or 'grandfather tuning;' that is to say, find the half-way point between the TSH and the south-end (the end farthest away from the mouthpiece. Your third hole goes a half-inch south of the half-way point, second hole an inch below the 3rd, and the first hole an inch below the second hole.
Return to the middle bisector and go 'north' a half-inch. Place your 4th hole there, 5th hole another inch up, and the final 6th hole an inch above that.
Then, 'tuning' begins by incrementally increasing the diameters of each finger-hole and checking the note on a tuning app, starting from the bottom (1rst) hole progressing up the flute.
The result of 'ear-tuning' is not always perfect and most assuredly unlikely to attain 'concert-tuned,' but you can make a reasonably nice-sounding flute using just this formula.
All of this makes me laugh. -The length of bamboo used here (about 18-inches length) and the minimal amount of my time to create, I would guesstimate the worth is 'about $3 or $4 dollars' to make ...yet I see (presumably well-tuned) bamboo flutes very similar to mine selling for anywhere between $100 to $200 and up!
Now, if only I can perfect my tuning, my wares might actually be WORTH something...
| 2,000 mlx | |
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