How to play the Dizi ( Chinese Bamboo Flute )

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Below is the music sheet for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star:

It uses all the notes you have learnt so far. That is:

bass 1, bass 2, bass 3, alto 1, alto 2 and alto 3

Below is the music sheet for "Au Clair De La Lune" :

It uses only 3 notes: alto 1, alto 2 and alto 3.

Below is the music sheet for the song Merrily We Roll Along:

Note that it uses only the notes: bass 5, bass 6 and bass 7

Today, we play a favourite popular melody called "Hot Cross Buns". The music sheet is as shown below:

Is uses only 3 notes:

alto 1, alto 2 and alto 3.

Below is the fingering chart for notes of the first octave:

The dot below each number indicates a bass note.

Below is the music sheet for the BAG Song:

Below are several pictures on how to hold the dizi:

Note the importance of the right hand 4th finger (pinky). It helps to hold and stabilise the dizi.

The cross section of the dizi when blowing is as shown below:

Notice that part of the air goes in the dizi whilst some go across. The splitting of the air is what makes the sound.

Watch the video here