There are many varieties of Bawu. Among the Hani people, there are single-pipe and double-pipe. Due to the difference in length and thickness of the bamboo pipes, there are also high-pitched, alto-bass and bass-based Bawu. There are two types of Bawu of the Yi nationality: vertical blowing and horizontal blowing. Among the Tulao people (the Yi branch) in the Mengzi area, there is also a double-pipe Bawu. The Bawu of the Wa nationality has a pipe length of about 25 cm, and there are 7 sound holes (6 on the back and 1 on the back).

Bawu bamboo tubes are different in length and thickness. Specifications can be divided into treble, alto, bass three. Treble and alto Bau, the tube length is 30 cm-50 cm, the inner diameter is 0.8 cm-1.4 cm, the bass Bau is 60 cm-80 cm in length, and the inner diameter is 1.6 cm-2 cm. On the pipe wall 1.5 cm-2 cm away from the closed end, there is a rectangular blowing hole, the hole length is 2.4 cm-3 cm, and the hole width is 0.7 cm-1 cm.

Double-piped Bau, also known as double-eyed Bau. A single-reed air-sounding instrument of the Yi nationality. Popular in Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Gejiu, Mengzi, Jianshui and other places. The tube body is made of bamboo, and is made of two vertical blowing single tube Bawu with the same shape and the same pitch tied side by side. The tube body is mostly made of a relatively thin green bamboo tube with a length of 20 centimeters and an inner diameter of 1 centimeter. There are six pairs of circular sound holes on the front, and the hole spacing is equal. Insert a piece of bamboo pipe into the upper end of the pipe as a reed pipe. The reed pipe is 4 cm long and 1 cm in outer diameter. There is a bamboo joint on the top, and the bottom mouth is connected with the pipe body. The bamboo skin on the front of the reed pipe is flattened, and a bamboo reed with a length of 3.5 cm and a width of 0.3 cm is carved under the knot. Reed tongue facing up.

Tie the upper, middle and lower parts of the two tubes firmly with thin wires. There are also double-barreled Bawu made of eagle leg bone, wild goose leg bone or silver. Among them, the double-barreled bawu made of eagle leg bone is 17 cm long, with six pairs of circular sound holes on the top, and a 3.7 cm long green bamboo reed pipe is inserted into each upper port. Bone or silver double-barreled Bawu is a sacrificial vessel that is collected by museums or folk collectors.

The sound of the double-pipe Bau is crisp and bright, and the volume is large. Often used as a soloist or to accompany folk songs and dances.