Pan Flute

musical-instrument · folk-music · wind-instrument · ancient

Multiple pipes together. A pan flute has lots of pipes lined up next to each other, each one a different length. When you blow across the top of each pipe, it makes a different musical note, kind of like how a longer pipe makes a deeper sound than a short one.

Made from nature. Pan flutes are usually made from bamboo, giant cane, or reeds that grow naturally. Some are made from wood, clay, plastic, or metal instead, but the natural materials make a warm, pretty sound that many musicians love.

Popular around the world. Pan flutes have been folk instruments in many different cultures for a very long time. People from South America to Eastern Europe have played them for thousands of years, and each place developed its own special style.

How it works. The pipes are closed at one end, which means the air you blow can only come back out the top. This creates the sound, and because each pipe is a different length, you get different notes just like with a full-sized flute or whistle.

Famous in folk music. Pan flutes are especially popular in traditional music from South America, the Balkans, and Greece. You might hear them in world music or see performers playing them at cultural festivals and celebrations.