Let's Make Yokobue

You can make Yokobue

Yokobue is a catchall term of Japanese transverse flute, including Shinobue, Ryuteki, Komabue, Nohkan and so on. Shinobue is a Japanese popular traditional flute, used in 'Nagauta' or 'Matsuri-bayashi'.
There are several kinds of Shinobue flutes. For 'Uta'(song) or for 'Hayashi'(accompaniment).
And there are 12 or 13 steps(sorts) of flute, every semitone.
The '7-hon' flute, middle tone flute is popular.
Let's craft a '7-hon' flute.
We use more complicated making method for Ryuteki, Komabue, Kagurabue and Nohkan than Shinobue.

• Materials, Tools
  
• Scale, Making Hole
  
• Painting, Wind Calamus
  

Materials,tools

• Bamboo
  
• Calamus: winding material
  
• Flute pouch: made of brocade
  
• Gimlet: three prongs on the end
  
• Knife: slender one
  
• Saw: thin one
  
• Rasp
  
• Adhesive: glue or adhesive for carpenter
  
• Japan: Japanese traditional paint
  

Mr.Takahashi, Sponsor of our circle is a master of music shop Houseido.

He sells high-quality bamboo material, crafting tools-set and complete Japanese flutes.

Example of Scale

This scale is a reference of '7-hon' Shinobue flute for 'Uta'.
Each bamboo material is different, respectivery.
Therefore this scale is only one sample.
The musical scale of [0:zero] tone, called 'tsutsune' is about [A]:440Hz.

Making Hole

Shave the ellipse hole at a right angle.
Be careful not to be too strong. Do it gently.
You can get a Movie FILE of Making Hole.(460KB)

Painting

Paint inside the pipe with cinnabar japan.
The porpose of painting is to prevent splitting and to get a clear sound.
Substitute for 'japan' : 'Kasyu' paint or industrial 'japan'.
Paint 2 or 3 times.
Several days later, it will dry, and you can blow with upper stopper.

Wind Calamus

The porpose of winding the Calamus is to prevent splitting and for decoration.
Shave about 0.5mm depth the bark of bamboo ,and wind calamus with glue.