Bamboo musical instruments: Some physical and mechanical properties related to quality

Bamboo is one of the most widely used materials in musical instruments, including string instruments and percussion as well as wind instruments. Bamboo pipe walls are complex, composed of a layered structure of fibers. The pipe walls exhibit non-uniformity in radial structure and density, and there is a significant difference between the elastic moduli parallel to and perpendicular to the bamboo fibers. This paper presents a summary of results from the literature on bamboo as a material for musical instruments. In addition, results are presented from recent measurements of the physical and mechanical properties of materials used in some typical instruments. In particular, a case study will be presented comparing measurements made on reeds and pipes from two Southeast Asian khaen. Of the two khaen discussed, one is a high quality khaen made by craftsmen in northeastern Thailand, while the other is an inexpensive instrument purchased at an import shop. For this pair of instruments, analysis and comparison have been made of the material properties of the bamboo pipes and the composition and mechanical properties of the metal alloy reeds.