Selecting a Bansuri
At least 29 different sizes of bamboo flutes are used in various forms of Indian music.
If you are going to buy a flute for the first time, it is very important for you to select a flute with care. Smaller flutes have higher pitch and loudness whereas longer flutes have a more mellow, bass tone, but could be difficult to grip for beginners.
Your choice could also depend on what you want to play on your flute. It is a general perception that longer sized, bass flutes are preferred in classical music whereas smaller flutes are used in folk music and light music.
To help you decide...
Professional flautist Kanchaman Babbar has contributed with a few flute pieces, portraying different moods, on different sized flutes.
Note: All measurements are approximate
According to Ram Ashish some of the more prominent scales in use are:-
| Scale |
Feature |
| G |
Recommended for beginners - medium size, easy to grip, closest to the western flute. |
| F |
Allows you to play the western concert scale (C major scale) comfortably. |
| E (Bass) |
Used by most Indian classical artists including Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia. |
| D (Bass) |
Equivalent to the western bass flute. |
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