How to make Angklung

HOW TO MAKE AN ANGKLUNG

1. THE BAMBOO ELECTION

Bamboo is the material of an Angklung. It is elected by its age. It has to be at least 4 years old and not more than 6 years old. It is cut on the dry season, between 9 am in the morning to 3 pm at the afternoon. After being cut at its base for about 2-3 span of the hand, it will be stored for about 1 week, so that the bamboo will contain less water.

After a week, the bamboo will be separated from its branches. It will be cut into certain various sizes. Then, will be stored for about one year to keep it from termites. Some of the procedures are: by sinking out the bamboo beneath mud field, pool or river, also by smoking it at the fireplace, and the modern procedure: by using a certain liquid chemistry formula.

2. SHAPING PART OF AN ANGKLUNG

Each Angklung consist of 3 parts:

The Voice Tubes
The Voice Tubes are the most important of an angklung, which produce the intonation made. Tuning process makes the intonations.

The Frame
Frame is supporting the voice tubes to stand inside the hollow space.

The Base
It is function as the frame of the voice tubes.

3. TUNING THE VOICE TUBE PROCESS

Half-Done Process
Shaping the bamboo become laths of voice tube.

Resonance Tuning Process
Blowing the lower part of an angklung to the floor and measuring it to the tuner.

Main Voice Tuning Process
Tuning the voice by increasing and decreasing the tone by strike voice. Increasing the tone by cutting its upper parts slightly, and decreasing the tone by shaping both voice laths with shaping knife.

How to Use a Tuner:

Make an attention to both of the lamps at the left and the right of the panel, and also the pointer needle.

For example, if you're going to make an "F" tone, so that when the angklung is shaking, both of the lamps will flame together, and the pointer needle will point the "F" letter.

4. FINISHING

After each of the voice tubes has its tone, then it will be put into the frame laths and being strengthen by tied of rattan.