Pan flute is a musical instrument, consisting a number of pipes tied together, with a gradual increase in the length. Pan flute is basically an instrument generally used for folk songs, and the pipes are generally closed tubes. The pan flute is essentially made of bamboo or large canes or local reeds. The concept of pan flute is derived from the Greek mythology and was believed to be played by the Gods during a celebration and religious festivals. The pan flutes are formed with four to eighteen closed tubes, and then tied with cane, wax or flax. The pan flutes are played with both the hands and the each of the tubes are blown by the top and different sounds are produced by placing the hands in different positions.  The tie at the center also helps in making the sound deep and rich.

The formation or the shape of the pan flute is like a wave, as it is believed that it was the cane reeds or the water reeds, which were tied together by Pan, a Greek Pastoral God, and tied the reeds in a way, where the length of the cane reeds got gradually long, and thus this musical instrument was made, which is also known as Syrinx, after the name of the Greek Nymph, who was trying to get away from the affection of Pan God. Therefore, the Greeks use the Pan Flute, to respect Pan and also for the muse and during any celebration. It was believed that the shepherds of the civilization also used to play the Pan Flute.

The Pan Flute was founded by the Greeks and then from there, the Romans also learnt the use and incorporated the use of the Pan flutes in their religious ceremonies and other celebrations, at the banquet. However, according to the Historians, the usage of Pan Flutes, were also present in the ancient Asia, almost at the same time, and it was generally used during the rites. In Indonesia, the people evidently followed the practice and the use of the Pan Flutes. In a picture, kept in the British Museum, it was found that some Indonesian girls were playing Flutes, in a girl band, where, there were some other girls who were playing drums. In the central and South Africa, the use of the Pan Flutes, were also found, but it was not much prevalent across the whole society, and there were certain changes in the formations as well. For example, in Asia and in Greece, there were usually more than nine tubes bound together, and the numbers always increased, but in Africa, it was found that only three to four pipes would get tied together. However, in South America, especially, in Romania and Peru, the use of this instrument was much prevalent and the purpose of use were mostly for the folk songs in all the societies. In Oceania as well, the use of Pan Flute was present and the rope used to be cross beam or vegetable material.