Don’t worry if you’re at the beginning of your flute journey. These tips will help you to connect with your Bansuri.
Read through these instructions below in a calm moment while holding the Bansuri gently; it’ll make all the difference.
Stay relaxed. Pay attention to your breathing. Let it flow naturally, and then give it a go.
I want to share something valuable – I have small hands and fingers, yet I can easily play a D Bass Bansuri. It’s all about finger placement. Unlike Western-style silver flutes, we do not use our fingertips.
These flute recommendations are based on the student wanting the deepest sounds:
For a Man – an F – Bass – 71 cm
For a Woman – a G – Bass – 64 cm
For a Child – a C – medium – 50 cm
NOTE: This is a very broad and general observation about hands and sizes of fingers, and not true for all. These are guidelines only. Technique and experience is still the key.
Below is a comparison between the 3 recommended Beginner Flutes for size. (F – top / G – middle / C – bottom)
Starting from the mouth hole, there are six holes along the flute. Numbered 1 to 6 from the top to the bottom. There’s also a tuning hole near the end for fine-tuning the sound.
If you’re right-handed, hold the flute across your right side, from your mouth toward the right. Your left hand is closer to the mouth hole and the flute, while your right hand is at the end, between the flute and your body.
Hold the flute with both hands, ensuring no holes are covered. Lift it to your mouth. Blow gently, creating a sound similar to blowing into a bottle. It’s a soft, gentle sound at first. Try rolling the Bansuri slightly away from and towards you to change the pitch – this sharpens and flattens the sound. Find your “Sweet Spot” this way; it’ll have a round, full quality. (Note: No holes are closed during this.)
This is crucial. Let’s work as a right-hander. Each finger has three segments: the tip finger pad, middle finger pad, and palm finger pad (the pad closest to the palm).
LEFT HAND (closest to the mouth hole):
RIGHT HAND (furthest from the mouth hole):
Remember this order; it becomes natural as you practice.
Sa (Top 3 holes):
Close only the top 3 holes and blow.
Blow gently for a low note and with a bit more power for a high note.
Re (Top 2 holes):
Close only the top 2 holes and blow.
Blow gently for a low note and with a bit more power for a high note.
Ga (Top 1 hole):
Close only the top 1 hole and blow.
Blow gently for a low note and with a bit more power for a high note.
Ma (Top 1 hole, partially closed):
Close the top 1 hole and lift it slightly with your index finger (the hole closest to the mouthpiece). Play this hole as a half-hole. Use your index finger pad tip to lift it slightly and listen to the sound. Experiment with blowing gently or harder to explore different pitches.
Pa (All 6 holes closed):
Close all 6 holes and blow with some power. Try both high and low notes.
Da (Top 5 holes closed):
Close the top 5 holes and blow with power. Experiment with high and low notes.
Ni (Top 4 holes closed):
Close the top 4 holes and blow with power. Experiment with high and low notes.
Pa Da and Ni LOW:
These are the trickiest low notes. Approach this part like meditation, as is the nature of the larger flutes.
Blow gently. Relax, focus, center yourself, breathe, and the notes will come.
This is the scale from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni and back to Sa (High) and then backwards. My old Bansuri teacher Krishna used to say it’s like walking up and down stairs without breaks -continuously up and down. I disliked it initially, but it laid the best foundation for me as a beginner. He understood it better than I did back then.
Be aware of any tension in your hands; stop and shake them. Breathe and start where you left off, or take a different approach. Be creative, and let your heart guide you – it’s the best teacher with Bansuri. Have fun and enjoy the journey.
With practice – just 20 minutes in the morning with a cup of tea for three weeks continuously – you’ll see significant improvement. Discover your melodies and tunes. Watch your breath, put on some music, see if it’s in the same key as your flute, and play along. Be creative, have fun, and even laugh at your mistakes. They’ll come and go, teaching you valuable lessons.
That’s the gift of learning – it’s all about embracing the process. Relax, enjoy, and let the magic of Bansuri unfold within you.
Blessings, Arjuna