Making a Kaval in C

[Krokus]

Greetings from Germany,

I am new to this forum, my actual name is Thomas and I am very happy that I have found this amazing forum.

My Question: I would like to make 2 eight hole PVC Kavals in C (Bulgarian and turkish stile).
Can any body send my the measurements for finger hole positon and bore lenth? The PVC pipes I can get here in my area have an inner diameter of 20 mm and a wall thickness of about 2 mm..

I hope somebody direct me. Cheers, Thomas

Some words about me:

I am a professional composer and live in Germany as performing artist and teach music whenever possible. Basicly I am a guitarist and bass player but due to my composition works I had to learn to play many instruments like Indian Bansuri, Indian Kanjira drum and some more. Beside this I am a specialist in Sound Design for movies and other media. About 5 years ago I decide to keep my commercial studio works as little as possible to get a maximum of time for my music. I went to India for 4 years, learned Kanjira and Bansuri playing, worked with tabla masters from Varanasi, played in temples as well as I worked for the Bollywood film industrials. In case anybody has questions about harmonics, composition, sound drones for flute (or whatever), guitar stuff, Indian rhythm language Konnakol, I offer my help in this forum as a turn back for all the helpful information and friendly people I have found here. In case this forum allows to I would to send you links with my music. So you can hear my idea of 'nice' music and how I play my music)

[DrPhill]

http://twjcalc.sourceforge.net/

[Krokus]

Great tool, this Tin Whistle calculator. Thanks!

But how to set the embouchure values for a rim blown Kaval? (Inner diameter is 20 mm, wall thickness is 2 mm. I have a 2 meter pipe. I guess that's my last question to be ready to make one.

Cheers again, Thomas

[Tunborough]

I have no experience with rim-blown flutes, but here's my wild guess, for what it's worth...

First, cut the whistle to length to tune the bottom note, maybe a wee bit sharp. (The closed toneholes tend to flatten the note a bit, in my experience.)

Supply the calculator with plausible values for the window dimensions, and use a length that predicts the right value for your bottom note. We can hope that length is close to the actual length, but don't expect much. If you have the patience, you can tweak the window dimensions to get it closer: smaller window if the calculator's length is too long, larger window if the calculator's length is too short.

Use the calculator to determine tonehole positions, but measure up from the bottom, not down from the top. As always, drill the holes a bit smaller than the calculator recommends, and enlarge them as necessary to tune each note, from lowest to highest.

In imagining how one might play a rim-blown flute, I have a suspicion that the higher tone holes will need to be farther up the tube, or larger, than the calculator recommends. But that's no better than a hunch.

I've no idea how useful the calculator's predictions will be for an overtone flute.

If you try it, please let us know how it goes. You may need several attempts to get something you're really happy with.

[Krokus]

Hi,

Thanks for your kind reply. With a rim blow flute the embouchure is more the lips and mouth then the actual flute. But with your kind ideas I will make a first one and let you know and hear what happens over here. Many thanks, Thomas

[MichaelLoos]

Thomas,

I sent you some measurements in the kaval forum.
Whereabouts in Germany do you live?

[Krokus]

Hi Michael,

I live exactly in Wuppertal. Nice to see you are busy with Kaval. Where can I find you measurements? Cheers und liebe Gruessse, Thomas

[MichaelLoos]

Here: http://tribes.tribe.net/kavals/thread/9 ... d64025680e

An inner diameter of 20 mm will probably make it hard to play in the upper registers, it might be better to look for a narrower tube.
Also, the holes might have to be a bit larger.
Sent you a PM.

[Krokus]

Dear Tunborough and Mick,

Thanks to your kind help I could successfully make two Bulgarian stile Kavals in C (C,D,Eb,E,F,G,Ab,A). Very nice! I am already used to the instruments, at least as far as I need for now, and busy with recording 2 tunes I made for it.
Mick, it was enlightening to talk to you by phone. It is not very common that people share some real information. I give special award for this to you. Feel free to ask questions about studio works, composition or in case you need a background for flute improvisation, just ask me, I will do one for free. When my two new tunes are done I will send you a message with a download link. That way you can hear what I do with this amazing instruments.

Cheers for Wuppertal, Germany. Thomas

[Krokus]

Dear people,

As promised I send you the my sound with the C-Kaval I could build with your amazing help. This is a brief excerpt of a studio session I made with this beautiful PVC Pipe. I really love it. Please click this link http:www.intercontinental-grooves.com/main_sound.mp3. All you hear is improvised and I play all instruments like Indian Kanjira Drum on the tracks as well I do vocals.
When I am done with this tune I send you a copy or send a link to the place where I publish my music. I hope you enjoy this. Cheers and big thanks again, Thomas

[Krokus]

I forget to say, that this a rough mix and you should use good speakers or at least headphone to listen it. The mix down is not made for crappy laptop speakers