I’ve made a couple of useable D pvc flutes following Doug Tipple’s instructions. I’d like to make a very quiet flute for practicing when I don’t want to be heard. Any thoughts about dimensions? Would it work to make a D flute out of 1/2" pipe? Should I use 3/4" and make very small holes? Thanks.
Instead of making a whole new flute, why not just use the one you have? If you “roll out” until you get just an airy sound, isn’t that what you’re looking for? Your tone will, of course, be quite sharp, but that doesn’t really matter when you’re just practicing. An added benefit (besides not having to make another flute!) is that you don’t really have to change your embouchure (much) an you get to use your normal finger positions. I just tried it on the homemade PVC here in my office and it works great. Only problem I see is that your hand position is a little awkward, but not bad. I DO have to roll out a lot to make the tone completely disappear, however.
Pat
I read on McGee’s site that you can add a piece of blue tack to the edge of the ombrouchre to disrupt the thing and that quites it.
Or roll way in (twist the head to keep hand positions normal) and blow very gently. Or just practice playing piano/pianissimo in normal posture/with normal embouchure - it’s very good for the embouchure and breath control, though of course you can’t practice honking the low end… but you’ll find benefits with that (and with air economy/ability to play longer phrases) when you can play at full whack as it disciplines the lips to a smaller aperture.
Thanks for all your answers. Looks like technique is the way to go.