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Pi Siang Nok (Bamboo Bird Slide Whistle, Khlui Nok) — Bamboo 1-1.5 × 20 cm, a 45° Mouthpiece, a 0.5 cm Triangular Vent and a 20 cm Slide Rod; Slide It In and Out for Rising and Falling Birdlike Notes
ปี่เสียงนก (pi siang nok, bird-sound pipe; also khlui nok) is shaped like a pipe and made from bamboo. It can be blown to imitate many bird calls; sliding the rod in and out makes the pitch rise and fall.
This blueprint makes a real pi siang nok to the sizes in the source.
Intermediate
About 1-2 hours
Instructions
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Real sizes
Real sizes
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Blown bamboo instruments, before it
Blown bamboo instruments, before it
The jing nong is blown and plucked; the pi siang nok is blown while a slide rod changes the pitch.
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Read from the source
Read from the source
"Blow into the slanted head end, and with the other hand pull the slide rod in and out, giving high and low notes in turn, like a bird." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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Pipe
Pipe
Cut small bamboo about 1-1.5 cm across and 20 cm long. Cut the front end at 45°. About 3 cm in from that end, cut a 0.5 cm triangular vent to let the air out.
Materials for this step:
Bamboo Poles1 pieceTools needed:
Knife5
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Plugs and slide rod
Plugs and slide rod
Shave soft-wood plugs to fit the pipe, for the head and the tail. Shave another piece of bamboo about 20 cm long into a round rod and fix it to the tail plug as the slide. Cut the head plug slanted to match the pipe, leaving a groove on top for the air (like a whistle), and glue it in.
Materials for this step:
Wood Glue1 piece6
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Fit the slide
Fit the slide
Insert the plug with its slide rod from the tail end, and close the tail with a thin wooden disc drilled through the centre so the rod slides freely but cannot come out.
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Real photos
Real photos
Photos of a real pi siang nok (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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How to play
How to play
Blow into the slanted end and pull the slide rod in and out with the other hand; the notes rise and fall in turn like a bird.
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting the pi siang nok.
Flow
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History and limits
History and limits
The pi siang nok can imitate many bird calls. Take care with the knife when shaving and cutting.
Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ปี่เสียงนก", author not named (CC BY 4.0 licence).
**Limits** The source gives no depth for the air groove. There is no product line for general soft wood.
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