Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Most of my flutes have relatively thin-walled aluminum tubes.  My lightest weighs only 95 grams.  I find that the mouthpiece jumps a bit when I pounce on the finger holes.

I've made heavier brass flutes which are steadier on my lips.

When I place the head end on a scale while supporting the tube at my normal right thumb position, the head of the lightweight flutes read only 30 grams lighter than the brass flutes - despite the much greater total weight difference.

So I've experimented with added weight near the head.  I've tried 30, 60, and 90 grams.  I like 30 grams best. 

I made brass sleeves to match my machined head piece.  But for a bamboo tube, you could try wrapping a bundle of wire near the head.

Perhaps heavier bamboo flutes have no need for added weight.  But it's easy to try and you might like it.

Alan Adler