Bamboo flute playing for beginners

Author: Chief Editor: Wang Tiechui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-19
Features: The bamboo flute is an ancient and bright wind instrument without reeds. It is considered the "light cavalry" among China's national wind instruments. With a simple structure and easy blowing, it produces a melodious and resonant tone, rich in expressive layers. It can be used for self-entertainment or performance, as solo, accompaniment, or ensemble, and has long been favored by the public, earning a vast number of players. For thousands of years, the sound of the flute has never faded, which is why it was praised in ancient China as the "roaring of dragons and the singing of phoenixes."
Content Summary: This is an introductory book on bamboo flute playing, compiled by the renowned flute and xiao performer Wang Tiechui. It includes: the history of the bamboo flute, its structure and types, quality and selection, maintenance and repair, reed collection and pasting, playing posture and techniques, sound production principles and wind control, breath control, articulation, and finger techniques, as well as how to master the basics of bamboo flute solo playing. The book is divided into eleven sections. It is rich in content, concise in writing, features beautiful melodies, and provides a clear learning path, making it suitable for beginners and also serving as a reference for musicians and professional training.
Excerpt: The bamboo flute is divided into three registers:
- Lower register (567), with a deep and mellow tone.
- Middle register (1234587123), with a crisp and round tone, being the most vibrant and expressive register of the flute.
- Upper register (45671), with a sharp tone. Notes 7 and 1 are usually used as passing tones and rarely played.
Bamboo Flute (also known as Short Flute): It is named after its use in accompanying Hebei Opera. The bamboo flute has a thin diameter, short body, and produces a clear and loud sound, with a pitch range one pure fourth higher than the qu flute. It is more popular in the northern region and is commonly used in the instrumental ensemble of Hebei Opera.
- G-tuning bamboo flute: The (fundamental note) is D, and the third hole is G.
In Yunnan, the Jingpo people use bamboo flutes made of Jiangwei bamboo, which have one blowing hole, six finger holes, and no reed. When performing Wenbeng music with the elephant drum, cymbals, and military drums, their bamboo flutes create a unique style.
In Xinjiang, the Uyghur people use bamboo flutes with reed but cover them with thin paper instead of reeds, producing a sweet and powerful tone. For accompanying Inner Mongolia Erren Tai opera, the sixth hole's 4 note is slightly higher than the equal temperament 4 note, while the fifth hole's 3 note and the second hole's 7 note are slightly lower than the equal temperament 3 and 7 notes. This is designed to meet the needs of transposition in Erren Tai opera music.
In recent years, large-sized bB, A, G, and F-tuning bass bamboo flutes have been developed. Yang Sheng and Hu Jisheng designed a low-tone flute called "Bow Flute" based on ancient flute depictions found in the stone caves of Mount Leshan in Sichuan. It has a thick diameter, long body, and a deep, mellow tone. The flute has one blowing hole, six sound holes, and is shaped like a dragon at the top and a phoenix at the bottom, symbolizing auspiciousness. The body is made of redwood in an arched form, facilitating playing. Feng Haicheng, a skilled technician, created a Bow Flute from purple bamboo with additional reed. It combines the round and rich tone of the dizi with the loudness of the bamboo flute, offering a distinctive charm.
Additionally, technicians have produced equal temperament flutes with added keys.
There are many types of bamboo flutes, but the most commonly used are the qu flute and the bamboo flute.
### 3. Quality and Selection of Bamboo Flutes
Bamboo flutes are made from bamboo. The tone and pitch of a bamboo flute depend on the quality of the bamboo material and the level of craftsmanship. When selecting a bamboo flute, choose one with solid bamboo, fine grain, a perfectly round inner diameter (an uneven inner diameter can cause pitch inaccuracies), smooth and evenly thick walls (too thick walls produce dull sounds, while too thin walls lack tonal depth). Based on experience, the wall thickness of a qu flute should be 3.5–4 mm, and that of a high-tone bamboo flute should be 2–2.5 mm.
The positioning of the reed also affects the tone. If the reed is too close to the blowing hole, the sound will be narrow and; if it is too close to the sixth finger hole, the sound will be dull and dark. The ideal position is slightly below the middle between the blowing hole and the sixth finger hole.
When selecting a bamboo flute, first check if the distance from the reed to the sixth finger hole and the distance from the sixth finger hole to the blowing hole are roughly the same. Then, play the scale starting from the (fundamental note) 5 in order to check the pitch. Verify if the octave and fifth intervals are accurate, and ensure that the harmonic 2 played by fully covering the flute matches the fourth finger hole's 2 note. If the bamboo flute produces sound easily upon trial playing, with a soft, pure tone and smooth control of dynamics, it is considered a high-quality instrument.
For participation in ethnic orchestras, the A note (440 Hz) should be checked to ensure pitch accuracy, and other notes should be verified based on the A note.
Temperature changes can affect the pitch of a bamboo flute. In cold weather, the pitch may drop slightly, while in hot weather, it may rise slightly. To adapt to climate changes, a bamboo flute with a pitch adjustment mechanism can be chosen.
When selecting a bamboo flute, consider individual playing needs. Professional flute players demand high craftsmanship. Currently, the high-end bamboo flutes made by technicians Chang Dunming and Wang Yiliang at Shanghai National Musical Instrument Factory are well-regarded after expert supervision and instrumental testing.
For general bamboo flute enthusiasts, common flutes made of white bamboo, purple bamboo, or red bamboo are suitable. Young children with small hands and weak breath can start with vertical flutes, which are easy to master and help develop interest in playing the bamboo flute. Primary school students should choose thin-diameter, short-bodied bamboo flutes, as the close spacing of the holes saves breath and is easier for beginners.
Generally, northern bamboo flute players use E, F, G, or A-tuning bamboo flutes for solo performances, while southern players prefer C or D-tuning qu flutes.
In summary, to find an ideal bamboo flute, careful and thorough trial playing is necessary, along with learning some maintenance and protection methods.