Pan Flute Care & Tuning Instructions

Below you will find important instructions and useful tips to help you maintain your pan flute in the best possible condition. Please read them carefully before use.

How to Use a New Pan Flute

Before playing, let your pan flute adjust to room temperature. Then break it in gradually:

1. Week 1: play 5-10 minutes per day
2. Week 2: play 15-20 minutes per day
3. Week 3: play 25-30 minutes per day

Before each session, warm up the pan flute by blowing warm air into it. A cold pan flute will sound hoarse.

How to Clean and Oil Your Pan Flute

1. For a new pan flute, treat the inside of each pipe regularly with boiled and cooled linseed oil. Apply it with a rod wrapped in cotton fabric, then wipe off the excess oil after a few hours. Let the pan flute rest for at least one day before playing.
2. Clean the inside and outside of the pipes after each use with clean, dry cotton. Without regular cleaning, the pipes can crack or come apart over time.
3. After cleaning or playing, let the pan flute dry for at least an hour before placing it in its case.

How to Store a Pan Flute

Store your pan flute in its case, or on a shelf, away from direct sunlight, heaters, radiators, steam and sudden temperature changes. Keep it at a stable temperature and humidity:

1. Temperature: 15-20°C (59-68°F)
2. Relative humidity: 40-55%

How to Tune a Pan Flute

Every Hora pan flute is tuned before it leaves our workshop, but humidity and temperature changes can shift the pitch of individual pipes over time. Each pipe has a rubber cork inside that sets its pitch, so you can fine-tune it or retune it to another key at any time.

1. Use a wooden stick with a straight (90-degree) end that fits loosely inside the pipe, so it doesn’t press against the pipe walls.
2. To lower the pitch, push the cork down. To raise the pitch, pull the cork up. Adjust gradually until you reach the note you want.
3. While checking the pitch, hold the pan flute at the same angle to your lips each time, since tilting it can raise or lower the note you hear.