Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Traditional 6-Hole Qin Xiao (C fundamental, F tonic):

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^                                                  ^
0                                                  88

Overall Length:  88 cm
Outer Diameter: 2.5 cm to 2.6 cm tapered

Hole Length: 1 cm
Hole Width: 0.8 cm

Hole Centers:
 
     Mouth: 0 cm (0.5 cm semi-oval notch, angle slopes inside tube, reverse of shakuhachi utaguchi!)

     Upper Hand Thumb:    27.3 cm (in back)
     Upper Hand Index:     30.1 cm
     Upper Hand Ring:       35.1 cm

     Lower Hand Index:      40.3 cm
     Lower Hand Middle:     43.7 cm
     Lower Hand Pinky:      48.8 cm

     Upper 2 Resonators:   57.5 cm (in back, 2.5 cm apart) -- using flexible ruler around outside diameter
     Lower 2 Resonators:   63.8 cm (in back, 2.5 cm apart) -- equals 1.25 cm offset from back center line


These measurements are taken from a well-tuned, basic black bamboo qin xiao made in Shanghai, China.
Normally this type of xiao is made of thin-walled "purple" bamboo; common varieties & other materials will work.
Tube length between lower resonators & end of flute may vary.   Historically qin xiao have been up to 1.2 meters long!
I recommend searching www.eBay.com where sellers always have inexpensive xiao for sale with plenty of photos on display.
Please visit NAGA www.guqin.org --> listen room for some fine xiao/guqin duets -- classical sizhu silk & bamboo ensemble pieces.

Last edited by xiao_guy (2006-11-03 10:14:48)