Made of bamboo, the Dizi is a cross-blown (heng chui) flute with a blow hole and six finger holes. An additional hole, between the blow hole and the first finger hole, is covered with a thin membrane stripped from the inside of a bamboo or other river reed. This membrane vibrates when the flute is blown, giving the Dizi its characteristic buzzing timbre. Two final holes near the end of the flute are provided for tuning and for a cord with which to decorate or hang the instrument. Many modern Dizi are provided with a joint between the blow hole and the membrane hole to facilitate tuning. Since each instrument is diatonic and can play only in one scale, Dizi come in families, one flute for each key.
