How to Play Xiao

A Brief Introduction to the Chinese Vertical End-blown Flute

The Chinese Xiao flute is famous for its soft, gentle sound. These flutes are usually pitched lower than their relatives the transverse or cross-blown flutes, also known as di or dizi. The traditional six-hole xiao plays a major scale, usually in the western key of F or G Major, with the fifth pitch (sol) as its lowest tone. The scale of the lowest octave on a flute in G is:

To play the xiao, stand or sit upright. Hold the flute away from the body vertically, in a relaxed posture with elbows out from the sides. The left thumb covers the back sound hole, index and middle fingers on the upper two front sound holes. The right thumb supports the flute, so the lower three front sound holes can be covered by three fingers of the right hand. The little finger may be used on the lowest hole if the reach is too far for the ring finger. The flute should feel comfortable to hold. Left and right hands may be reversed if that feels more natural or comfortable.

Touch the top of the flute below the lower lip. Form the smallest possible circular opening with your lips and inhale deeply. Relax. Blow gently, aiming a thin stream of air directly at the edge of the sound notch opposite where the tube touches your lower lip. Make sure the lowest three sound holes are unobstructed. The thumb and top two sound holes should be securely covered, but don't pinch or apply pressure.

To make a first sound, you may need to experiment with the direction of blowing. Try moving the air stream down deeper into the flute, or out away from it more. Move slowly, small changes make a big difference. With a little experimentation, you'll find a spot where the flute makes a clear pretty tone. Listen carefully to the sound you are making and try to focus it. Do not blow harder until the note sounds pure.

Opening and closing sound holes in sequence produces different pitches. Concentrate on producing neighbor pitches with similar loudness and clarity. Producing pitches in the upper octave requires the air stream to be more focused and aimed slightly higher toward the top of the notch. Do not try to get the higher notes by just blowing harder.

Xiao Fingering Charts
The fingering charts show standard fingerings for the major scale tones over the two lower octaves for both 6-hole and 8-hole style flutes. Please note the altissimo register should not be attempted until the lower and upper octaves can be sounded with consistent volume and tone color.

6-hole xiao

Lower Octave

Upper Octave

Altissimo Octave

L Thumb

L 1

L 2

R 1

R 2

R 3

8-hole xiao

Lower Octave

Upper Octave

Altissimo Octave

L Thumb

L 1

L 2

L 3

R 1

R 2

R 3

R 4

Refer to these fingerings to play simple songs, like the ones shown here.