The pan flute or pan pipes is an ancient instrument based on the principle of the closed tube.
Consisting usually of 5 or more pipes of gradually increasing length (and, at times, girth), it’s the world’s oldest wind instrument from which all other wind instruments or keyboard instruments (like organs) are derived. The instrument was known on nearly all continents. The most popular name for the instrument “Pan flute” comes from the name of the Traditional god Pan who had been the mythical creator of the instrument.
How the Pan Pipes Work
This kind of tube like-instrument doesn’t have both ends wide open. The bottom of the tube is covered or blocked, so the air doesn’t go through the tube freely. Sound is simply vibrations that move through the air. When you blow into the tubes, you have to get the perfect angle to make the right sound or note. When you correctly blow into the tube, air vibrates in a zigzag way to get to the bottom of the pipe before reflecting off the lower part, and emerging back out in waves.
There are usually five or more pipes on a pan flute. Each tube is made to a different length which creates different pitch. The longer the tubes, the deeper the pitch. Accordingly, the shorter the tube, the higher the sound. The frequency of each tube is determined by its dimensions.
In this case, sound is produced by the vibration of air blowing across the open holes of the tubes. Air blowing into a shorter tube moves quickly in one end and back out reflected off the bottom. These vibrations move quickly and have a high frequency, which produces a high pitch. Similarly, the same amount of air moving through a longer tube takes longer to come back out. These vibrations move more slowly, have a low frequency, and produce a low pitch.
Listen to the Pan Flute
I found a video that demonstrates how to play pan pipes. They sound so hauntingly beautiful to me.
In the past, instruments were created from different types of bamboo. Bamboo is ironically not, however, the best choice for good musical instruments. They require perfect geometrical design. Bamboo is usually not cylindrical and its particular tube dimensions will be variable which means that it is not possible to have a full, deep sound. Apart from that bamboo is definitely not a durable material. It often cracks and tubes may even stop producing sounds. These days the material commonly used by hobbyists is PVC pipe, half inch being the generally preferred diameter.
Sizing Your Pan Flute Tubes
It is possible to calculate the length of any pipe given that one knows it’s desired frequency. The formula for calculating the length of a pan flute pipe is
(the “theoretical” length in meters where c = 345 m/s). Because of a property of compression within the tube, the length must be a little shorter to correct flat pitch. The extra length is helpful for a maker, who can use a cork or plug at the bottom to adjust the pitch. Some instruments use wax or pellets to tune the fundamental pitch of each tube.
An inner diameter range between 1/7 and 1/14 of the length L is acceptable. If your tube is too skinny, it will sound “reedy” (mama bear). On the other hand, if it’s too fat it will sound “flutey” (papa bear). A tube that has a diameter 1/10 of its length yields a typical tone color or Timbre (Goldilocks).
| C4 | 261.63 | 32.97 | 12.98 |
| C#4/ D♭4 | 277.18 | 31.12 | 12.25 |
| D4 | 293.66 | 29.37 | 11.56 |
| D#4/ E♭4 | 311.13 | 27.72 | 10.91 |
| E4 | 329.63 | 26.17 | 10.3 |
| F4 | 349.23 | 24.70 | 9.72 |
| F# 4 /G♭4 | 369.99 | 23.31 | 9.18 |
| G4 | 329.0 | 22.00 | 8.66 |
| G#4/ A♭4 | 415.3 | 20.77 | 8.18 |
| A4 | 440.0 | 19.60 | 7.72 |
| A#4/ B♭4 | 466.16 | 18.5 | 7.28 |
| B4 | 493.88 | 17.46 | 6.88 |
| C5 | 523.25 | 16.48 | 6.49 |
So here’s another video to give you a preview on how to build one!
Make Your Own Pan Flute
My homemade pentatonic pan flute always surprises those I play it for because it has a lovely tone (better than my purchased bamboo one) and plenty of volume. As promised, here are simple instructions to build your own pan flute:
Materials
- about 2 1/2 feet of 1/2″ PVC pipe (available at hardware stores)
- a plastic ware lid or nickles to seal the ends
- colored string or embroidery floss
- two craft sticks (optional for horizontal braces)
- hot melt glue
- beads and/or ribbon (for optional decoration)
Tools
- small saw and/or knife
- marker
- sturdy scissors
Measure, mark and trim as accurately as is feasible. (Remember cutting a bit long is safer than cutting too short.) Then trim with a knife to fine tune if needed. (The PVC pipe is pretty soft.) Tip: There are free tuning apps for your smartphone. Use one.
Measurements:
- C — 6 1/16″
- D — 5 3/8″
- E — 4 3/4″
- G — 3 15/16″
- A — 3 7/16″
- C’ — 3 1/32″
Using the end of a little bit of pipe as a template, trace end caps onto a plastic lid. Cut the caps out with scissors and stick them onto the lower end of each tube. (Hint: Use the smoothest, prettiest cut ends of the pipes for the top openings where your lips will touch.)
Place pipes in order left to right, shortest to longest. You may choose to use two craft sticks, one on each side, to secure the pipes. (On this particular flute, I merely wove the thread very tightly.) Weave and or wind colored string or perhaps embroidery floss among and around piping (and craft stick, if applicable) to bind them together. Wrapping up knots with a few drops of glue is a good idea. Put tassels made from the string/floss and beads or charms if perhaps desired.
Voila!
You have a playable pan pipe to be proud of.