endblown

Endblown refers to a method of sound production used by certain wind instruments, most commonly flutes, in which the player blows air directly into the end of the bore and the air is split by an edge or notch at the instrument’s mouth opening. This contrasts with side-blown flutes, where the airstream is directed across the edge on the side of the bore, and with fipple or duct flutes, where the air is guided by a built-in mouthpiece.

In endblown instruments the pitch is typically changed by opening and closing finger holes along the bore and by adjusting the embouchure and lip shape. Endblown instruments vary in orientation and construction: some are vertical, some horizontal, and some use a notch or edge at the blowing end to create the necessary split in the air stream. The timbre and range depend on bore length, hole placement, and playing technique.

Notable examples of endblown flutes include the shakuhachi of Japan, the xiao of China, and the ney of the Middle East and North Africa. The shakuhachi is a vertically held, endblown flute often associated with Zen practice and traditional Japanese music; the xiao is a Chinese vertical endblown flute; the ney is a long, endblown flute often made of reed or other materials and used in classical and folk ensembles. Endblown instruments appear in many regions and historical periods, illustrating a broad diversity of forms and playing styles within this classification.