Collecting flutes as a Hobby

[melodydad]

I have just replaced the membrane on my Dizu. I was given the flute by a Chinese composer with whom I have been working here in London. He gave me bamboo, not rice paper. It is the inner membrane of a bambopo shoot, dried - it is like a flattened hollow tube, so you need to cut it and open it out. The best way I have found to attach this is to crush a garlic clove and add a drop of water, soak the membrane for a few seconds then apply it to the hole, stretching it slightly. (Ideally you will end up with a slightly 'ribbed' effect which will give you a really good sound). Once dry you are ready to go! Eventually it dries out and splits - usually ata a totally inconvenient moment . . . ..

[Owen Meehan]

Yes, I've never heard of using rice paper on a dizi. I would think that rice paper would be much too thick to get the desired result in tone. I use either bamboo or fish skin.

[Owen Meehan]

Here's a link to a store that sells Dizi membrane: http://www.clarionmusic.com/

[fluternichole]

so what is rice paper?

[Owen Meehan]

Rice paper is paper made from rice.