How To Make A Homemade PVC Flute

A how-to tutorial on making a homemade quality native American style flute out of inexpensive PVC. The sound of this inexpensive flute rivals or exceeds many commercially made wood flutes. I personally do not care for a "breathy" sounding flute but this can be made to produce nice clear tones.
Here is the web site for determining finger hole placement and sizes.
www.flutopedia.com/naflutomat_...
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[@JAKE-qr3rv]

ill never forget the first time i heard someone play a flute, i was 12 years old camping with my parents. sitting down by the lake watching the sun go down and i heard that beautiful sound, a girl in the campsite over was doing the same thing but playing her flute also. long story short me and that young girl have been married 43 years now.

[@BostonBB]

JAKE that is beautiful. May you continue making beautiful music together for many more years 😆

[@seller559]

JAKE That's awesome.

[@megjenkins4689]

i am deeply touched may you be married many more years!

[@redmensch101]

Nice, I am gonna be replicating this particular flute for my Tech Theatre class project for the Magic Flute.

[@bryanotero123]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing, incredible story

[@dontroutman6699]

I’ve never made a native American flute but here goes following your directions. My first instrument was a flute and I loved it. Music is one of my favorite pastimes. And I know will enjoy this flute as much as I have any musical instrument. I love the haunting sound it makes. Thank you so much for this gift of music.

[@philm9593]

Some folks just don't get it, but once in awhile it just feels good to sit down and make your own stuff. Good job Lonnie liked it. 👍😎

[@bobicard2503]

Yep...

[@eld208]

It's that feeling of accomplishment

[@RimWulf]

Anyone noticed how calming his voice seems, or is it just me?

[@RimWulf]

This video popped back in my suggestions and this dude has a voice like public speaker or story teller. I'm serious vary calming.

[@Crimsonedge1]

He's a white Morgan Freeman.

[@seanrezendes2346]

Sy W amen

[@alivevinnie2935]

RimWulf Randall he must be related to bob ross

[@maxkim7937]

bob ross

[@funkencool]

Been watching you for years and look who I stumble into again when I have a sudden interest in making myself a flute. Awesome video!

[@TFWS6]

I made this using only a saw, file & xacto knife. It actually sounds very satisfying for pvc. I think I'll take it camping with me to torment sasquatch. I'd play it at home but my wife....... Well I'm less afraid of sasquatch....

[@junaidsaifi8942]

Zero Negativity

[@roramos5913]

Zero Negativity lol 😂 😂😂😂

[@sejlamarie9861]

How do you make a sound out of it

[@jadedlion1001]

My old man had a similar issue when he started learning to play bagpipes 😂

[@valvol4388]

You're a very brave man😉

[@jonnyboat2]

When I got interested in getting a N.A. Indian flute, I wanted to understand how it worked and how I could make one. You just answered every question. The demonstration was priceless in understanding this. Thank you. You are an excellent teacher and engineer.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Excellent video and thoughtful instruction. Thank you!

[@craigoldsen1667]

I've watched a lot of these PVC instructional videos, but this is the only one that gives me the confidence to build one that will actually sound the way it's supposed to! Once again, I THANK YOU for a great, no BS tutorial on something I've always been interested in!

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

+Craig Oldsen Thank you for the encouraging words. Don't be afraid to jump in there and mess up. A 10 foot length of PVC pipe is only a couple dollars and you have plenty of length to make mistakes with. Each mistake is a learning lesson and a potential key to point you in the right direction. eventually after being armed with enough knowledge gained from learning what does not work, you will end up with something that *DOES* work. Of course it is always best to have enough knowledge to start with that you can avoid the majority of mistakes.

[@pro-pain40]

I must of watched 50 videos until this one. All questions are answered and explained without all the uncertainty. Excellent presentation that finally made me feel confident in my first two build's. PVC to start following up with a bamboo. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@jynx-vu2zc]

Sir that was the best pvc flute build I have seen, I can't wait to try this, love your videos, thanks for sharing

[@TuckerSP2011]

Lonnie there are no limits to your talents! Your greatest talent is your ability to teach, that flute sounded so awesome! Many thanks for the instructions!!!

[@droneon8408]

You are truly the Bob Ross of life in the woods! Thank you!!!

[@nathangagnon701]

No way I thought the same thing Bob Ross

[@littleredhen3354]

Same thought❤

[@jilllong1433]

This is amazing! I would love to make one of these, don't have the tools, but will keep this for reference. Love the tones coming from these flutes. Just absolutely beautiful!

[@phillipdavis1533]

I made one back in the 80's, I used 1" pvc, used a cork to direct to air flow, sounds deep and beautiful. Good video 👌👍✝️👍

[@brians5458]

Lonnie, I've watched many of your videos. Today I watched this one again and finally undertook the flute making project. I'm ecstatic to report that it worked. Thanks for the gift of sharing your many talents. Best of luck up North this winter and please keep the good content coming! I'm taking my flute on my next campout for sure.

[@ceci9336]

Great video, thanks so much! I just made this for my physics class and it came out awesome!! ☺️

[@shackman9566]

Sir, that is awesome. I don't know what your back ground is but you are one cool dude. Thank You for sharing your back country wisdom. I'm beginning year three of a pretty extreme hardship. I have always loved camping and the outdoors and due to some really bad misfortune I am surviving full time. I have always practiced many of the skills in your videos, my father taught me a great deal and I have always been pretty self sufficient but trying to get back to a more normal life is a daunting task. I am married to a wonderful women. She stays with her mother at night so she can ready herself for work. We see each other most every day. We lost our home, but we own a small property in the country but are not permitted to have a well or sewage system and we are not permitted to build a home. It's in a flood zone. So we haul water from a natural spring and use a small amount of solar power and and old truck to charge a couple deep cycle battery. My shack is 8' x 12' but it is pretty well insulated I use a small one burner propane stove to heat water for tea and coffee. And keep the window cracked a bit for obvious reasons. There is so much more to our story and I know I can be of help to others even less fortunate. I would like to share some of the solutions to problems we have encountered but I would like to stay anonymous so as not to further aggravate our circumstances.

[@genesmith2355]

Your amazing Shack Man

[@garylee8132]

Good luck, hope you find what you are lookin for.

[@lisadarrah5251]

the music you make with your flute is sooo relaxing and calming ….I love it I have tried several times to make a flute and I keep failing but I will rock-on and never give up. thank you for sharing your talents!

[@edwardmorton6691]

Soon as the store opens I'm away to get the makings for your flute. I've already got the tuning app downloaded. I'll get the hole measurements template on line and that's my project for today. Thanks for the instructions and inspiration, you're a mighty fine gentleman.

[@susanbailey36]

Been trying to make one of these for a week now. Watched a bazillion videos each one gives me a little different take on how to make a flute. Yours has offered some things new I am dying to try. I'm using PVC because it is readily available and inexpensive. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. You've made a beautiful sounding instrument.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Good luck on the project.

[@Waldhandwerk]

Awesome, great job and sound! Thx for sharing.

[@sampickett3843]

Waldhandwerk - BushcraftSurvival i

[@indrasinghrajput2692]

Waldhandwerk - BushcraftSurvival ,i

[@williamwinter2638]

The best explanation of a flute build that I have seen on a video yet. I have learned things and I have been making flutes for over 20 years.

[@mojetrouba]

Just amazing. Can't wait to make one of these and learn how to play. Thanks so much for your generosity. Such a balm to a troubled world.

[@RobertMcKenzie]

That's really slick! I've been wanting to buy a flute but I think I'll give this a got first. Nothing to lose but $2 in pvc tube and a bit of time. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@zedomonte4339]

thanks professor Dumbledore

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

bowl4two Thanks for standing up for me but I did not take his comment as an insult but rather a compliment. Professor Dumbledore was the headmaster of Hogwarts school of wizardry in the Harry Potter book series. He sported a *LONG* gray beard and was considered, I believe to be a wise individual.

[@zedomonte4339]

***** I wasn't serious. I didn't mean to be disrespectful. Just a joke. Actually i like your videos and you're a very good "teacher".

[@MmMm-he8cz]

(ი.ი)

[@GuyBaldridge54]

I love how precise he is I wish all my teachers were as patent as he is

[@GuyBaldridge54]

You can't tune it you can tune a fish ha ha ha

[@cherokee4070]

I enjoy you so much. Even your voice is so calming. Native American flute is soothing. Nothing like it. Thank you.

[@0boardcertified0]

I cannot thank you enough. You made an incredible tutorial. Love and light my friend!

[@mountainviews5025]

So Lawny my friend I truly appreciate you taking the time to teach us/me how to make this awesome little flute I'm really excited about this I am going to try and maybe make one out of some teek wood I have I will let you know how it goes thank you so much sir

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Yes I would enjoy knowing how it turns out for you. I had my flute out just yesterday tooting on it briefly.

[@fnersch3367]

Love your efficiency & simplicity. I've been making musical instruments myself for almost 60 years and love every minute of it.

[@aaronlarsen7447]

That's the only video you need to get started. I've been looking for a straight forward video. Really appreciate that.

[@TheWtfnonamez]

That wonderful moment when you are looking for flute making information, and end up back on a channel you are subscribed to for wilderness camping advice. This man has too many skills.

[@CIubDuck]

I've watched for 3 seconds, and I already like the guy

[@Taromovies]

Great work and very good explanation Lonnie, the sound is just great my friend, thanks for sharing and take care, Taro

[@Biglandtrapper]

Very cleaver Lonnie, I know more about flute construction than I taught I would ever know, thank you it was very interesting.....

[@lubinburger2795]

What an excellent tutorial! Thank you sir for posting this. I cannot wait to try to make one!

[@crittercosner2877]

You're voice made me grow a beard.

[@Popopatop]

Critter Cosner Lol I found myself in a tree

[@motivatedbuilder7227]

Critter Cosner. Lol.. 😂😂😂

[@viperking974]

i became a tree

[@raservesthedinner7620]

his voice made me wiser

[@cr3atur321]

Critter Cosner your*

[@pierre5325]

Dear Mr. North, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed your instructional video. Your slow, measured pace, and even volume made it easy for me to understand. I thank your for your gift to us. Blessings, pierre from New Mexico

[@stillbill3018]

pierre5325 I GUESS HERE ISN'T VERY MUCH I CAN ADD TO THAT EXCEPT TO SAY, , ME TOO!

[@jasonskinner1555]

I live in las cruces I love New Mexico!

[@vaseenaranamirthagam1138]

still bill g

[@orionlopez8707]

@@stillbill3018 Me too *2

[@jackiemargaret1758]

Wow that was such a treat ...many many thanks for your generosity. The sound of the native American flute is so hauntingly beautiful. I live in New Zealand. BLESS

[@WiltshireMan]

Very welldone Lonnie. You explained that very well. The end result sounded very good. Sandy

[@samplants5184]

It sounds as good as my $90 (PROMINENT NAME GOES HERE) Native American flute... You have inspired me. Thank you.

[@joelburdick3456]

I watched your video the first time and downloaded "gstrings" to my Android device and followed along with your instructions, -very well done!! I have been playing around with a 23-note pan flute, a pentatonic 15-note pan flute AND a tunable PVC pan flute that I built. I knew that I needed some audio-scoring device to more correctly measure the lengths (not just to rely upon actual physical length of each tube) and this instructional tutorial will greatly assist me. My next project it to make a Native American flute as per this tutorial. Yours sounds very good! MUCH thanks for posting this video!

[@blackhatbushcraft]

Beautiful project Lonnie! Sound fantastic! Thank you for sharing this!

[@Iconiq]

Thanks very much for this. Just the right amount of info, I made two today for my son and I, turned out great. Was a great afternoon project!

[@TheSpeenort]

I use schedule 80 pvc for my flutes. Using a thicker walled pipe makes for a less reedy sounding instrument.

[@synthetic_paul]

I like the beige type myself for a lighter sound, but sch 80 is for most purposes the finest pvc for flutes

[@bobbyb7127]

Well, I made 2 PVC flutes this past weekend. Thanks so much for your video, especially the NAFlutomat sight; what a wealth of information, the app tuner and for you just showing how to do it. Thanks again!

[@KrawllUnchained]

that flute sounds incredible , amazing !!!!

[@SanjayMandal-de3eo]

Hello Sir, I'm Sanjay Mandal from India...I'm watching your video and I must say with Love and Respect - You are a ARTIST ...

[@TacBlades]

Great work, very clever, and sounds great :)

[@williamburnett6616]

Great job Lonnie a man with great skills. See you in the woods.

[@sheilam4964]

I watched this yesterday and it left me shaking my head in disbelief. Your knowledge and talents seem to have no end. AND you are tech savvy too. I couldn't decide whether I should say so or not then thought if I had a friend that thought that way about me I wouldn't mind hearing it.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

We as people are always open to "attaboys" "kudos" etc. Thanks much for the kind words and thanks for watching.

[@floridahuntsman7915]

That was the best Native American style flute video I have ever seen!

[@TheVespap200e]

Another Awesome video by the Master Bushman! Thanks Lonnie for your time and effort in making this video.

[@fattboyzz1355]

I really enjoyed this video Lonnie . Thanks for showing us how :0)

[@karlregan5276]

Loved this! Thank you for all the detail!

[@oldpisces49]

Thank You Lonnie! Your knowledge and wisdom is only out distanced by your ability to share them with us! My best to you and Connie.... Regards....Old John

[@armyrabb1]

I didn't have any corks so I used a corn cob, making it ever so slightly larger than the hole and forced it in. Also, I had the idea of taking a pvc coupling and grinding out the inside lip and sanding the inside to where it would slide over the pipe with a bit of resistance and it worked perfectly for the "bird".

[@tonystites2134]

Man of many talents. Loved watching how you build it. I'm tone deaf so no making music for me.

[@TheDungeonMasterz]

Doesn't mean you cant make music! There are apps for tuning, and with practice anyone can become fluent in recognizing tones. Never give up friend

[@tonystites2134]

no you don't understand I'm tone deaf that means you can't tell the difference between different tones. I played the trumpet in school for one year. my instructor would tell me over and over it's the wrong note. and when I finally got it right I would just remember how I made it, but I could not tell the difference between that note and the note I made before it. yes I can make noise but not music. trust me you don't want to site next to me in church lol

[@ruslanbeglaryan9171]

Tony Stites ù.

[@raygun8097]

Tony Stites

[@violeman]

My grandfather use to make a simple flute with a piece "A branch" from a tree, guessing maple, a young Maple branch then made a small flute like whistle for me as a kid out on the Farm!! He used his jack knife to pull out the center of the piece of wood " the core" then he would Enoch it on an angle, then shove it back in to the outer skin of the branch!!! This is awesome and brings back memories .. Thanks 4 sharing bud.!!

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

I have also made whistles similar to what you are taking about. Make A Wilderness Willow Whistle kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2XGiXh7aMSBd6s

[@sircurtisseretse3297]

Thanks for showing this. That's a lovely rich sound.

[@pacificbushcraftandfirecra6358]

Awesome and informative video. Thanks for sharing Lonnie! Peace!

[@Hylanda11800]

You'll be making a disc for us soon I'm hoping Lonnie? Thank you for a very good video and thanks to Connie for the video editing. Really nice visiting with you both. Take care because we care... Duncan & Rebecca

[@Snailmailtrucker]

Too Cool ! Great video ! Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge !

[@robinserna7152]

wow .. you're a born teacher .. so clear I think I could do that.Thank you very much!

[@kante6803]

PVC for survival situations, lets check it out

[@pafix_ok8952]

thats the new bait PepeLaugh

[@theoriginalmakaaka101]

Just make sure you coat the PVC with a safe coat or use tape to cover the exposed area. Do not put your lips on the plastic. My brother is a chemical engineer and he explained to me how PVC breaks down and is absorbed through the skin if any heat is applied and if there is moisture in the skin / on the skin.

[@miguelbarajas6528]

The greatest Flute making tutorial out there!!!Thanks a million!!!!!!

[@BEARivrman81356]

One of the most soothing sounds ever . Thank you.

[@amitgoswamiforyou]

Thanks sir for this video .... I make a bamboo flute and a pvc flute

[@dwaineclick2197]

Still drums music

[@ameamanaviation9412]

How You prepared it Bro. I wanna see please

[@basiliobastardo255]

Gandalf wow

[@apodis4900]

I can appreciate the work that goes into a professionally made instrument, but I would much rather create my own like you have. Great job, thanks for the time and effort.

[@mountainfox6412]

Sir, absolutely amazing and now I understand why native American flutes are so pricey, didn't know it such was refined art and science. Thank you for posting this video and being so detailed in your explanations and for sharing your wisdom on this subject.

[@williamconfer9784]

Great Job....

[@areesomrat6195]

Wow! Just a PVC pipe, but it gives a very beautiful sound...

[@jennetvirgina0453]

Presented it so well, thank you very much Mr.North.

[@Jack-ge1st]

Awesome, I have watched many many videos on KZbin and your by FAR is the most well articulated. Thank You

[@comradematthew4895]

Could I use copper pipe instead? Just thought it would make for a cooler looking flute

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

I do not know how much the thin wall of the copper pipe would affect the performance. I guess you could try it and see.

[@322doug]

GoSub, let us know the results man

[@afronprime51]

Paint it.

[@jasonbass5443]

the thinner the wall the more high pitched sound ya would get I believe

[@vernonsteinkamp1088]

@@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival I don't think the wall is thick enough to file the correct flat spot where the air holes are.

[@crconwayjr]

Lonnie, I liked your presentation and wrote up the instructions you provided so that I could sit down with my grandkids and make flutes with them. BTW, my daughter is not happy with me right now... teaching them how to play the flutes comes later! I'm writing up the instructions more neatly with screenshots of your video. Would you like a copy to go over and, once everything is written up the way you like it, a final copy to provide to your channel followers if they ask for it?

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

The more i think about it the more that sounds like a good idea if it is in a digital format of some sort. If you don't mind, I would like a copy. I do not have a web page yet so am not sure how to make it down loadable for those interested other than just email it I guess.

[@crconwayjr]

Absolutely. I'll try to have you a draft for review by the end of the week

[@crconwayjr]

I have been thinking about that. Have you considered posting it on the www.instructables.com/ website and adding the link to your video description?

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

That sounds like an excellent idea. Don't know when I'll get the time to bring that about but I do like that idea. it sounds like a win win situation for everybody.

[@crconwayjr]

Lonnie, I'd like to apologize for the delay. Some things have come up and they have put me behind a bit. If you would like to see what I have SO FAR just shoot me an email: [e-mail] and I'll send you what I have so you can review it. I'm looking at needing at least another week so I can take care of what's going on and then get back to finishing the instructions. Again, sorry for the delay.

[@wolfquiet1084]

woot, i made one. just got to tune it right and then make it shine! thanks for your awesome video tutorial.

[@royboggs3849]

Thhe best details of ANY flute making vid!! ✌️✌️👍👍👌👌👏👏

[@bushfosterdad]

man thats technical how do you suppose the old ones did it? thanks brother long beard!

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

+Ted Palmer I am sure of one thing, I'll bet they did not use PVC from Home Depot. They probably tuned by ear to sounds that were pleasing rather than tuning to a predetermined note. There are several natural plant materials that have been used traditionally. "River cane" and bamboo are a couple that come to mind. I have personally made some "bushcrafted" flutes out of dried last year's "cow parsnip" stalks but I doubt that was used traditionally.

[@RobMacKendrick]

They also had different scales, which is what gives some First Nations music a "weird" sound to Western ears.

[@user-yi8dw4ts9y]

хто українець лайк.За відео лайк і підписка.

[@cameronstujustnarthhtvdjmi273]

Thank you ,for sharing your skills and experiences of bush craft, careful now some people may call it art. Much love from the great white north.

[@Dennis-hu5tp]

Thanks for a great educational (so that even I understood) video, how to make this flute. You are in the top 10 of the coolest dudes I know. Greetings from Sweden

[@learningcurve1395]

He surprisely look like Rabindranath Tagore.............xD

[@formation1now517]

My favorite poet!

[@user-fi5fd2ky6e]

Yasuo?

[@jerryhinds6009]

What an amazing talent you have! This was awesome to watch and totally impressive to see the end results. 👍🙏✌️

[@mikevasquez8270]

Finally found a video where the flute maker describes the process in a simple way that even a dummy like myself can understand. Lol Thank you for sharing this video brother. I think I'm going to try this method first before I attempt to try and make one out of wood. Take care and God bless.

[@PghFlip]

Drill the small holes [and then a miracle occurs] Tuned flute! :) Thanks for sharing Far North.

[@qiqi2692]

Very nicely explained , executed , and thank you for the website !!!!

[@susanstoltz2555]

Wow, that’s great sound coming from PVC. Amazing! Good job, great video Lonnie!

[@bekayjay2289]

WAW Sir. never seen anything like this, absolutely fantastic. Thank you

[@jms91177]

Great job, Lonnie. It sounds amazing. Thank you my friend.

[@johnmartin9090]

Your a great instructional teachers. Very easy to follow. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@YourOldDog]

Nicely done fella ! Wanted to make one for ages and now I got a good starting point! thanks for taking the time.

[@whatzthis64]

That was a very cool video. Thanks for taking your time to show it. Atb Brian.

[@garreb7]

Good instructional video, you have a calm organized teaching style. very easy to follow.

[@dpbeardslee]

Way cool. That was fascinating - thanks for posting.

[@isaiahlawsom6494]

Super video. I'm making a bamboo flute, but no bamboo flute videos go into as much detail. For example, none mentioned that the spacing can be changed from flutomats measurements and that holes will just need to be adjusted to the correct size for whatever note we want. So glad I found this. Thanks!

[@danaepattersonii2839]

Thank you so much!when I went thruogh my awaking these style flutes really became a big love to me.I joined a group to make them but don't have the money or resources they do.But this I can afford and do!I love building things out of simple houshold things!peace be with you brother!