Japanese Bamboo Flute with Black Lines 7/8 Hon Handmade Bamboo Musical Instrument (7 Hon)

The build quality is amazing, if you know what you're doing, the sound is really nice, and rich. If you're looking to learn how to play a flute like this, I'd suggest it. Just be very very careful, and make sure it doesn't hit anything too hard, because judging from other reviews, you might break it. So be careful! Oh, and the little attatchment to make playing it without experience with these types of flutes is great!

I was amazed when it arrived. The flute was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, carefully packaged and included a felt bag, a fingering diagram, and a snap-on plastic mouthpiece that let me get a beautiful sound from the flute right out of the box.However, I knew that this was going to be a challenge to play for someone who had never played a real flute-like instrument (recorders don't count). But I just came back from Japan where I was at a local harvest festival and saw dozens of school kids marching with these along with taiko drums and wanted to give this instrument a try.As I anticipated, I put my lips to the blowhole, blew, and nothing happened, I then found Miko Saito's basic introduction on YouTube (she's wonderful!) and got to work. With the help of another diagram I found on the web, I managed to get a flute-like sound out of it a few times. Figuring out what made the plastic mouthpiece worked is helping as well. It does take hours or weeks to get past this hurtle. But I am looking forward to the beautifully expressive sounds a flute like this can create. For $18, it's a wonderfully fun challenge for me. I think if you approach it with that attitude, you will love this product!

I have tried every combination to get different sounds. There is some change on the FIRST hole from the mouthpiece. I have tried holding my fingers over several holes but NO difference. Also mine didn't come with any instructions.

The “mouth” end of this flute is plugged, so, to use this flute, you have to be able to play it by blowing into a hole on the side of the flute rather than that of a recorder style which is blown on the end, and so, you must know how to play a flute to use this piece, which, I do not know. The craftsmanship is very nice, (nicer than I expected for the price.) it is very nicely lacquered and polished and the black wrapping is very nice and nicely wound on the bamboo. The inside of the flute seems to be lined with some sort of red felt-like coating. In the end, this flute is very nice.

so good

Very easy to play, in tune. A very nice affordable way to start learning shinobue.

The media could not be loaded. I love the tune in this flute it is really amazing I know I am not a professional but as begging it sounds really wonderful for me

Luckily I’m just using it as a prop, but, it arrived cracked; be aware of breakability