How to Make a Paper Hand Flute

Tools: Paper, cutting tool, rubber bands/tape.

Paper hand flutes are very quick and simple to make, and not difficult to play.

Step 1: Roll Tube

First, roll up a piece of paper into a tube. It should be about as long as your hand, and just tight enough that the end can be covered easily by your palm. The tube should be fairly stiff, so if you are using regular letter or A4 paper you should use a few sheets rolled together.

Step 2: Cut Hole

Cut a roundish hole in the middle.

Step 3: Play!

To play, cover the ends with your palms and blow over the hole on the top just like blowing over the mouth of a bottle. This may take some practice. To change pitch, open you palms away from the instrument to let air escape. If you find that you can only make sound when your hands are tightly closed, you may want to try a stiffer paper (holding it tightly stiffens the paper) or practice different lip techniques. Finger holes can also be cut, with some care as to their placement.

Step 4: Experiment

Try making more of different lengths and widths, and out of different types of paper. Find different ways to decorate them. (But be wary of the effect of the moisture of breath. Watercolor painting, for example, may look lovely on a hand flute, but could get damaged without a coating.) Some examples: