Other Instruments

I have been making and experimenting with other instruments besides flutes.

walking stick flutes

have made several types, some with multiple flutes. here are 3.

single side flute with doorknob head

2 flutes, side flute and shakuhachi mouth with western notes

2 flutes, side flute and Native American style, a Mystic (urRu) head

From Other Instruments

Digeridoo

have made several from large bamboo, and one from a naturally hollow cedar tree I found on a fishing trip in Canada.

Harp

am trying to make a ancient harp to play in the Bethlehem Revisited pageant.

gourd body, deer skin cover, cedar posts, crepe myrtle cross piece, cedar bridge, turkey wing bone tailpiece (is breaking, need something else)

glued a block in the bottom of the gourd/harp to hold the posts better.

am having problems with the tuning system; copied as best I could from pictures of Ethiopian harps (Begena) but I must have the wrap wrong because I keep breaking strings.

Erhu

made an erhu after seeing a tin can one and deciding I could do better.

 made one from things lying around my shed:  a gourd, fish skin (don't ask)  head, crepe myrtle bridge, bamboo neck, mulberry tuning pegs, old violin bow

   I put a tailpiece into the end of the bamboo neck to give a stopper to the end hole in the gourd and to give a smaller pin to stick through the gourd for the strings to fasten to. The fish skin is just glued on with white elmers glue; soaked the skin to soften it, used a large rubber band to hold it in place while the skin and glue were drying.

listen to what a good musician can do with this homemade instrument.

Ache, Paraguay: hunting bow and throat flute