BAMBOO FLUTE PLAYING INSTRUCTIONS

Playing a Transverse (side blown) bamboo flute is basically the same technique used in sounding a tone on the end of a glass bottle. The idea is to blow a stream of air over the far edge of the mouth hole, splitting the air stream in two. The air stream going into the blowhole starts the bamboo flute vibrating, producing a tone.

You place the bamboo flute to your lips with the open end pointing to the right (it matters not if your a lefty or righty). Do not put any fingers down on the holes quite yet. You must be able to get a strong sustained tone with all the holes open before adding fingers. The mouth hole of the bamboo flute is placed on the outside of your bottom lip so that the mouth hole is completely covered. With lips loosely closed, form a slight smile and slowly blow a thin,but strong stream of air while slowly rotating the bamboo flute away from your lip. As you rotate the bamboo flute you should hear the tone getting stronger. If you rotate to far you will lose the tone or if you do not rotate quite enough you will not sound a strong tone. The spot that gives you the strongest tone is the one you want. Ideally your lower lip should cover about half of the bamboo flute blowhole.

Once you can get and hold a good strong tone on the bamboo flute your ready to add your fingers. Hold the bamboo flute as above with the open end pointing to the right. Your left hand goes on the outside of the flute so that your palm is facing you. Your first three fingers of your left hand work the top three finger holes closest to the mouth hole. The right hand goes below the left hand with the back of the palm facing you. The first three fingers of your right hand work the bottom three holes.

With all the finger holes on the bamboo flute open, sound a tone as described above. While playing this note cover the top finger hole (the one nearest the mouth hole) of the bamboo flute with your index finger of your left hand. Put your left thumb on the back of the flute directly opposite your index finger and gently squeeze. Squeezing will insure that the hole is air tight. Use the pad of your finger to cover the hole, not the tip. Move your finger up and down to change between the two notes. The two notes you are playing are #7 (all open) and #6 (index finger down) as in our instructions.

When you can get a strong tone on your bamboo flute with your first finger down, add the second finger of your left hand to the next hole while still holding down your first finger and sounding the tone. With this finger down, you are now playing note #5 as in our instructions.

Slowly work your way down the bamboo flute until you can sound the bottom note with all your fingers down. This note is also the key that your bamboo flute is in (A,G etc). Don't rush it! Take your time and wait until your can get a strong clear tone before going to the next lower note. As you proceed to the lower tones be sure that the pads of your fingers are completely covering the holes. If there are any leaks it will be very hard to sound the lower notes.

TONGUING EXERCISE FOR SIDE BLOWN BAMBOO FLUTES

Every note played on the side blown bamboo flutes should be tongued. To do this, whisper the sound 'toooooo' into the instrument as you play each note. Tonguing gives each note a nice crisp beginning. Practice tonguing the bamboo flute over and over. Remember, whisper the sound 'toooooo' at the beginning of each note, while maintaining the smile position with your lips.

Play the following exercise over and over until you can do it perfectly. There are only two different numbers in this exercise, it's very easy. Be sure to tongue (say 'toooooo") each note. Remember that number 5 means that both holes are covered.

EXERCISE:

6 - 5 - 6 - 5 - 6 - 5 - 6 - 5 - 6 - 5 - 6