PVC Recorder

Always wanted to make your own recorder? me too. check out this tasty musical instrument.
steps 1-7 = photo instructable
step 8 = video instructable

Step 1: Parts Layout

+The PVC Recorder uses 3/4" diameter, 1/16" wall PVC. Pipe length is variable. A foot length is a good place to start.

+ about an inch of 7/8" or 15/16" dowel rod.

+ a saw, a drill, a file, tinsnips.

Comments

[ezetuloveth]

what an interesting webpage can i view this from unn.edu.ng

[kmm0931]

I am a music appreciation teacher, and I brought this project to my classroom. It was awesome!! It cost under $20 for 45 students to do the project. We employed physics to understand how wind through a column creates sound, and used mathematical calculations to figure out where to drill the holes to get certain pitches. Thanks so much for an easy, "fool-proof" project that helped my students understand how science and math affect music! They loved it! Thanks!

[stubbsonic]

I'm wondering if it would be possible to make a much larger version of this and create a very low bass sound. I imagine that the holes would probably not be easily worked out without a fair amount of trial & error. Perhaps a "slide whistle" type of approach to vary the length will work better.

[TheAntiHeroHimself]

Haha, I had an extra feet or 2 of PVC and found this Instructable, so I had my PVC and my Hack saw, and it turns out I have the EXACT SAME hack saw as you. I got it from Lowes, its pretty good for its size/price.

[TheCheese9921]

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PLAY A RECORDER!!! lol Very cool Idea but there Is really no way to make sure the holes are in the right place to get the correct notes ****

[Thinkenstein]

What I usually do is make a few sacrificial flutes. If the holes you drill don't give you the right notes, cover them with tape and drill again near them until you get it right. Take the measurements from that and then do the final flute holes in an un-butchered piece of pipe. Once you get it right, you can make any number of copies following the same measurements, since the PVC pipe diameters are so uniform. That's one advantage of PVC over bamboo, say, every section of which is not uniform.

[CoolKoon]

Yes there is. There must be a way to have the holes in the correct place as to have them "tuned" correctly. How do you think the recorder makers do that?
This should give you a clue:
http://www.flute-a-bec.com/accordgb.html

[MrSalvador]

"You can do alot of reading and measuring and get western notes, or you can drill haphazardly and get cool stuff." Awesome instructable, cant wait to make it :D

[spiffytessa]

Nice glasses! :)

[hacedor]

lol

[Mr.NHRA]

I have made a pvc saxophone but i can't get any of the pitches. i have to cover all of the holes to make any sound can you help?

[schaude]

for a proper tuning you can also follow the instructions on this excellent site. there are several basic tunings possible depending on the overall measurement of the whistle. best wishes from rhine and moselle rivers!

[whiteoakart]

Tuning the instrument is not as hard as you might think. This is for a minor scale and requires a little trial and error.

Drill the first hole about an inch and a quarter from the bottom. Play it. With a keyboard or digital tuner find the closest matching higher note. To fine tune it, start grinding off the end of the recorder a little at a time. Making the recorder length shorter raises the pitch. Check the note by playing it after each pass with a grinder. Sneak up on it.

Once you match the note, drill the next hole 1 1/16 inch up the barrel. It is wise to start with a smaller drill bit. This should give you a whole step. Check the note to the next whole note on your designated tuner. If it is a bit flat, make the hole a little bigger with the next size drill bit. If it is a bit sharp, you need to make the hole smaller (good luck, that's why you should start with a small bit).

Next hole 1 1/16 inch up.

Next hole 1 inch up.

Next hole 1 inch up.

That gives you a four hole recorder. The scale will be a custom key to your flute, but it will at least be playable.

If your flute is longer, add more holes, an inch at a time.

Remember, the order of notes in a scale is:
whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

This is how Native American Flutes are often tuned, which are similar to recorders, but include a separate air pressure chamber.

[MikeW1231]

I like what you did, I've been tasked by my 8 year old to build a musical instrument. Thanks for the how to!

[egreen767]

cool

[pyro13]

how tightly does the wooden dowel have to fit?

[TheBlackViper]

A very neat instrument. For anyone that does computer-based music production, it makes for a very sample-able little thing. I made one for just that purpose, and came up with something pretty neat within a few minutes of setting up the samples that I recorded in Cubase. Here is a little something I recorded.

[pyro13]

dude thats amazing, howed you play that well?

[Speidumb]

Here is a link to a similar version, though slightly more advanced... I hope instructables doesn't eat my link... :(

http://profs.sci.univr.it/~gonzato/whistle/

[Peter3D]

http://profs.sci.univr.it/~gonzato/whistle/

I get the message: Forbidden. . .

[psoplaya]

nice bong man.

[whiteoakart]

Hey, Cool-
Check out my new Instructable, I hear the makings of a Maker band!
the Dr Seuss-a-phone

[manimawesome]

learning the recorder was a requirement in my third grade class. no one remembered anything to it in the fourth grade. ehh, we got a free recorder out of it, anyway. just saying.