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English
Pi Bai Mai (Rolled-Leaf Reed Pipe, Pi Noi) — Toddy-Palm, Banana or Coconut Leaf, or Rice Straw, Wound into a Cone, Wide at the Bell and Narrow at the Mouth as a Reed; Pinch Narrow for a High Note, Open It for a Low One
ปี่ใบไม้ (pi bai mai, leaf pipe; also pi noi) is a children's toy blown to make a loud sound. It is made from many materials, such as rice straw, toddy-palm leaf, banana leaf and coconut leaf.
This blueprint makes a real pi bai mai following the source.
Beginner
About 15 minutes
Instructions
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Parts
Parts
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2
Pipes, before it
Pipes, before it
The pi siang nok is made of bamboo; the pi bai mai is rolled from fresh leaves.
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Read from the source
Read from the source
"The pipe sounds high and thin if the mouthpiece is pinched narrow; for a fuller sound, open the blowing end a little wider." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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Cut the leaves
Cut the leaves
Cut leaves with a knife, such as toddy-palm, banana or coconut leaf, or use rice straw.
Tools needed:
Knife5
5
Roll the pipe
Roll the pipe
Wind the leaves round in overlapping layers, wide at the bell and gradually narrowing to the mouthpiece.
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6
Reed
Reed
At the mouthpiece, press the leaf together into a reed, or pinch the blowing end narrow so the air rubs and makes a sound.
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Real images
Real images
Drawings of making and blowing the pi bai mai (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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8
How to play
How to play
Blow at the mouthpiece, cupping the hands together and moving the fingertips in rhythm while blowing to vary the pitch. Pinch the mouthpiece narrow for a high, thin note; open it a little wider for a fuller one.
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9
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting the pi bai mai.
Flow
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History and limits
History and limits
The pi bai mai is made from natural materials found all around. Take care with the knife when cutting leaves.
Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ปี่ใบไม้", author not named (CC BY 4.0 licence).
**Limits** The source gives no leaf size or pipe length. The illustrations are drawings.
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