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For the purposes of simplicity, let us consider a twelve-inch long flute. Be sure one end is sealed off by a node, cork or wood dowel. Use a drill with a 3/8 inch bit to drill a hole one inch from the end. Carefully shape this hole with a small round file so the opening is oval in form. Sand the area of the hole smooth. You might want to make the edges of the hole as vertical as possible. Since the most important part of the flute is the mouthpiece itself, test the flute in progress by blowing gently across the hole. If you get a pleasant tone, you ready to continue. Otherwise, widen the hole carefully to no more than about one third of an inch. Probably diameters between three eighths of an inch and one quarter of an inch are optimal.

Place finger holes in the same line as the mouth hole either according to how your fingers fit on the tube or according to proportions. Here's one method, considering the latter: Divide the length of the flute by four and you get the distance from the end of the flute opposite the mouth hole and the furthest finger hole. Mark five more spots for finger holes an inch apart. The last finger hole (for one of the index fingers) will be closest to the mouth hole. I've also added a hole on the bottom for thumb.You can put this below the spot between the index and middle finger holes. These holes may be between 3/8 and 1/4 inch. You might want to experiment with how wide the finger hole diameters are. This is another factor to consider in terms of sound quality. If you work with a piece of bamboo that is more than twelve inches long, adapt these instructions accordingly. Some bamboo flutes are so long, they double as walking sticks. Consider drilling the first finger hole you make closest to the far end rather than that of the mouthpiece. If a finger hole is too close to the mouthpiece, you may be unable to hear a clear, pleasant tone.

Playing bamboo flutes can be challenging. Hold your model so you can blow across the mouthpiece comfortably. Let your thumbs support the flute. If you are left handed, you'll probably be supporting the flute with your right thumb while your left thumb covers the thumb hole. Use your fingers to cover all the finger holes. Blow gently across the mouthpiece. Hopefully, you'll get a clear tone. That's the fundamental (produced with all fingers covering the appropriate holes, no less). Try playing a scale. Blowing a little harder will likely produce more, higher notes. At best, your flute will have the range of at least one octave.

Use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the inside and outside surfaces of the flute. Apply one or two coatings of shellac, such as Bullseye Clear Shellac (TM) Finish and Sealant. If you apply more than one coat, allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next one.

If you have a piece of bamboo with thin (about 1/8 inch) walls, a drill might cause the wood to crack and split. Instead, use a small round file to create little gouges on the surface where you want the mouth and finger holes. The wood is thinnest at the bottom of each gouge. Carefully poke holes with the tip of the file and widen the openings. Sand smooth. Theoretically, the best bet is to have bamboo which is about one quarter of an inch thick and is fairly durable.

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