If you are creative, you can make a piccolo out of PVC pipe. The diameter of the pipe, the material the pipe is made of and the spacing of the finger holes foe the pipe all have drastic effects on the sound you will get from the piccolo. The root note of this piccolo is D A separate term for this piccolo is a fife as the bore of the instrument is slightly smaller to accommodate the root note of D. Therefore, you need to place the holes in the correct locations so you can create accurate notes with the instrument.
Things You'll Need:
- Electric Drill
- Miter Saw
- 1/2-Inch Diameter Schedule 40 Pvc Pipe
- Precision Ruler
- Drill Bit Set
- Utility Knife
Cut a piece of 1/2-inch diameter Schedule 40 PVC pipe with a miter saw to a length of 12 inches.
Remove the burrs from each end of the pipe with a sharp utility knife.
Draw a straight line down the length of the PVC pipe to denote the centerline of the Piccolo.
Measure 10 21/32 inches down the pipe with a precision ruler and place a mark on the centerline. Measure to the left around the PVC pipe 3/16 inch and place a second mark. The second mark indicates the embouchure hole. Drill a hole through the sidewall of the PVC with an electric drill and a 3/8-inch bit. Remove the burrs from the hole with the utility knife. The Embouchure hole is the hole you blow in when playing.
Measure down the pipe 5 23/32 inches and place a mark on the centerline. Measure down the pipe 4 31/32 inches and place a mark on the centerline. Measure down the pipe 4 1/4 inches and place a mark on the centerline. Drill a hole through each of the three marks with a 5/16-inch drill bit. Remove the burrs from the holes with the utility knife.
Measure down the pipe 3 11/32 inches and then place a mark on the centerline. Drill through the mark with a 7/32-inch drill bit and then deburr the hole.
Measure down the pipe 2 5/8 inches and then place a mark on the centerline. Drill through the mark with a 3/8-inch drill bit and then deburr the hole.
Measure down the pipe 1 13/16 inches and then place a mark on the centerline. Drill through the mark with a 7/32-inch drill bit and then deburr the hole.
Clean the piccolo with soapy water to remove all of the PVC residue created while drilling.
Writer Bio
Since 2006 Zyon Silket has been writing for companies such as SEOWhat, L&C Freelancing and T-Mobile Wireless. He has extensive experience working in supervisory roles within the wireless and Internet technologies fields. Silket is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in business management and network technologies at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
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