Do, Re, Me – the first three notes of any musical scale. Learning scales is one of the first things any budding musician learns. Making a xylophone out of PVC pipe is a great way to teach your kids about pitch and the notes on a scale. Learn how to make a homemade xylophone by following the steps below.
How to Build Your Xylophone
In order for your xylophone to produce different pitches, the pipes must all be different lengths. The longer the pipe, the lower the note. Below we’re going to show you how to build your xylophone in the C Major scale, starting at middle C. Some of the pipe lengths have been rounded to the nearest ¼” to make cutting easier, but if you’re looking for perfect pitch you can start with the pipe a bit longer and trim while tuning your pipe.
Want to build your pipe in a different key? Use the formula below to figure out how long your pipe needs to be. We used the sound of speed at sea level of 13397.244 inches per second for our equation.
Supplies
13 feet of 2” PVC pipe
(8) 2” pipe straps
19 feet of 2x4 board
Nails or Screws
Sandpaper
Directions
Step 1: You’ll need to cut your 2” PVC to size. You’ll need the following lengths:
26.5 (C4)
23.75 (D4)
21.25 (E4)
20.25 (F4)
18 (G4)
16.25 (A4)
14.5 (B4)
13.75 (C5)
Step 2: Next, you’ll need to cut your 2x4’s to size. You’ll need:
(2) 40” lengths
(2) 36” lengths
(2) 24” lengths
(4) 6” lengths
Step 3: Construct the feet and legs of the frame. Take one 36” board and line it up perpendicularly in the middle of one of your 24” boards and attach. The 24” board acts as the foot of the frame while the 36” board acts as the leg. Brace the 36” board on either side with a 6” piece. Repeat Step 3 a second time.
Step 4: Make the middle of your frame (where your PVC pipes will be attached). Connect the two pillars (or legs) you made in Step 3 with your 40” boards. The top board should be roughly 6” from the top of your 36” boards, and the second board about a foot below that.
Step 5: Using your pipe straps, connect your PVC pipes to your support structure, moving from your longest pipe to your shortest pipe. Each pipe should be roughly 2” apart to give enough room to connect your pipe straps to the wood.
Step 6: Make music with your homemade xylophone with your hands, rubber flip-flops, or fly-swatters with foam paper attached to the head of the swatter.
Learning Lessons Everyday
Building a homemade xylophone teaches kids many valuable lessons. Not only does it help them learn scales and pitches, but it can also help them learn basic skills. By building this together as a family, you can help provide a rounded education, make lasting memories, and learn about music. Not bad for a DIY PVC xylophone.