
Compare BangDi and QuDi to choose beginner friendly Chinese flutes by size and tone. Select G, Diao Dizi, or C major based on hand size and preferred sound.
Discover two essential add-ons for the Chinese flute—the bamboo membrane and ah jiao—and how they help secure the membrane, with buying tips for online platforms.
Discover practical tips for buying a Chinese dizi online, guiding beginners to choose flutes under $100, avoid subpar $10 options, and shop at music shops for quality.
Explore the four parts of the Chinese bamboo flute—the blowhole, membrane hole covered with bamboo membrane or tape, six fingering holes, and air holes—and how covering them shapes the sound.
Hold the dizi with the airhole down; left hand covers the first three holes. Right hand covers rest; balance with left thumb and pinky, avoid moisture near the bamboo membrane.
Learn to paste the bamboo membrane on a dizi using ah jiao and light water, then align for vertical lines and dry to finish the membrane.
Learn proper embouchure and mouth position for the Chinese flute, with the 'tu' technique, watermelon slice exercise, and tips to produce a first consistent sound with controlled air.
Learn to read Chinese cipher notation and staff notation, map 1–7 to do re mi fa so la ti do, and use the fingering chart for dizi notes.
Master cipher notation by learning to read left-to-right, identify notes like Mi (3), and practice fingering exercises that prepare you to play the flute.
Master the sustained note exercise for the dizi, learning to hold each note for five seconds with diaphragmatic breathing, even air flow, and a clear, steady tone.
Test and adjust the bamboo membrane to produce a bright flute sound: tighten to stop buzzing, or loosen with breath or gentle sustained-note pressing, avoiding inner wetting.
Master reading rhythm in Chinese cipher notation and apply tempo, note duration, and fingering for the dizi. Use a metronome to learn the folk tune Xiao Bai Cai.
Learn to play the Taiwan Island folk tune on the C Diao Dizi by mastering rhythm with a metronome, applying precise fingering, and adjusting embouchure for higher notes.
Join a Chinese music community or online tutor to boost motivation for learning the dizi, then learn desired pieces and practice key exercises.
Chinese Flute: Learn Folk Tunes On This Bamboo Flute (Dizi)
In this class, you’ll learn everything you need to get started with picking up this awesome instrument - the Chinese Bamboo Flute, also known as the Dizi (笛子), and how to play 2 traditional folk tunes by the end of the course.
The course will be split into the following 3-part sections:
Fundamental Knowledge - We’ll learn what to look out for before buying your Chinese Bamboo flute, the different types of flutes, additional accessories to purchase, tips on buying flutes, its physical characteristics and how to paste a bamboo membrane on the flute which gives it unique beautiful sound to this instrument
Fundamental Techniques - I’ll teach simple music exercises even professionals practice, share how to breathe properly when playing any wind instruments, read Chinese music notation, learn how to play your first notes on the flute, and share 8 common mistakes beginner
Fundamental Pieces - I’ll share how to play 2 traditional folk tunes suited for beginners in a step-by-step manner - the course will end here with concluding thoughts on how to proceed in your journey in learning this instrument!
If you’re a complete beginner to flutes or interested to learn about Chinese music styles, this course eases you in with the core fundamentals.
This course is suitable for beginners who have no experience, or lots of experience in music. Even if you’re an experienced musician, I’m pretty sure you’ll find something that’s useful (I share the technical exercises even professional musicians use to increase their sound quality exponentially!)
Who am I?
My name is JJ - I’ve taught the Chinese flute for the past 12 years in dozens of schools in Singapore. I’ve won several national music competitions, went to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and achieved a Diploma of Merit from the Beijing Conservatory of Music in Chinese Flute.
Aside from that, I love music. I’m a founder of a symphony orchestra and am a member of multiple national Chinese Orchestras in Singapore. Lastly, I’m a piano teacher and play the western flute in community symphony orchestras too!.
I often get similar questions when teaching the Chinese flute and realized most materials about this instrument is in Mandarin (i.e not accessible to English speaking audiences).
So I thought I’d put this course together to show the fundamentals of how to play the Chinese flute, and to hopefully share the beauty of this instrument for decades to come :)