How to make a Shakuhachi

In this instructable you will learn how to make a shakuhachi, an end blown flute! * (with out the coupling, it's not needed)
materials you will need are:
 21 1/2" piece of 1" sch 40 PVC pipe
a coping saw
a unibit and drill
an xacto knife
tape measure
steel square
100 and 220 sand paper
optional:
spray paint
angle measuring device

Here is a link to a video of how it sounds. Keep in mind that I used a picture camera to shoot the video so the one you make will sound richer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ90ipNFKE0
P.S. I had to use a link the embeding thingy didn't work for me.

Step 1 Step 1

make a 2 marks about 1 1/8" wide as indicated by the red arrows and 9/16" in as indicated by the black arrow.
Then draw an ellipise connecting them and cut the section out with the saw.
 

Comments

[ilpug]

Made it! Now I just kinda suck at playing it. Can I blunt the edge slightly to make it easier to play?

[jtx86]

Blunting the edge makes it more difficult to find sound.

[ilpug]

I will make one as soon as possible! I have always wanted one of these, but I never had any bamboo. I never even thought of PVC!

[ilpug]

Made it!

[ericocean]

I very much enjoyed the no-nonsense approach of your project. Well done.

Skyfinity first introduced me (for which gratitude) to the shakuhashi. I made his transverse bamboo flute while I was working in Morocco and had time on my hands. Now I am on a project in Sudan with time and a piece of pvc pipe. I found an incredible wealth of information on the following site: http://www.navaching.com/

One remark. The statement you make concerning the necessity of a sharp edge is incorrect. An airstream blown against any edge, sharp or blunt, creates turbulence. A small part of this turbulence is amplified and channeled through the tube, creating harmonics or the sound you want to hear. The shakuhashi with a blunt edge is more forgiving to play for a beginner and a sharp edge lends itself to more pitch bending.

[ericocean]

I very much enjoyed the no-nonsense approach of your project. Well done.

Skyfinity first introduced me (for which gratitude) to the shakuhashi. I made his transverse bamboo flute while I was working in Morocco and had time on my hands. Now I am on a project in Sudan with time and a piece of pvc pipe. I found an incredible wealth of information on the following site: http://www.navaching.com/

One remark. The statement you make concerning the necessity of a sharp edge is incorrect. An airstream blown against any edge, sharp or blunt, creates turbulence. A small part of this turbulence is amplified and channeled through the tube, creating harmonics or the sound you want to hear. The shakuhashi with a blunt edge is more forgiving to play for a beginner and a sharp edge lends itself to more pitch bending.

[NaturalCrafter]

I rated your project. Very nice one.

[Omegablood]

Thanks NaturalCrafter. If you liked this one you might like my ocarina instructables as well. :)

[NaturalCrafter]

I bet your right..My brother used to have something called a "Potato pipe". I really was intrigued by it. Never have seen one since.

[Skyfinity]

Very nice instructable! I made a bamboo one of these babies a few years ago, and it's nice to see that someone provided an instuctable for a PVC alternative! Great Job!

[joey99]

its called a recorder

[Omegablood]

Ummmm, no. It's called a shakuhachi. A recorder is a different instrument with different size, construction and more holes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakuhachi

[joey99]

okay sorry :)

[jamiec53]

:O So gonna make this :D
Thanks for sharing! I'm literally grinning with the awesomeness! :)

[zazenergy]

Very interesting! I would love to see a video of how this sounds. Thanks!

[Omegablood]

ask and ye shall receive! Thank you.

[Omegablood]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ90ipNFKE0