BLEMISHED Professional Bansuri Flute in D, approximately 32.25 inches in length. The Professional Bansuri has a mouthpiece that is played in a similar way as the western transverse flute. It is made from a single piece of bamboo with seven holes. The pitch indicated for the bansuri means the flute will play that pitch with the first 3 holes covered. The dominate hand plays the lower three holes. The seventh hole is optional and rarely played. Its main purpose is to give greater accuracy in the upper octaves. It may be played on the rare occasion when you need to play the Ni in the lower octave.

The bansuri is a transverse flute from India, literally from the words bans (bamboo) and suri. It is one of the oldest musical instruments. All half notes, accidentals and microtones are produced by a unique fingering system. The finger holes have to be precisely covered either fully or half by the phalanxes of the fingers and not by the fingertips. This technique also simplifies the playing of longer bansuris. The standard quality of the Indian bansuris produce a quite beautiful sound, but their tuning is often not exactly to the western standard notes. It can happen that they sometimes sound slightly out of tune to the western ear.

This Professional Bansuri flute is hand crafted. Becoming a perfect flute maker takes a long time. One must know the materials as well as the craft; and one must have patience. Each flute requires years of preparation and then concentrated attention to details. The professional Bansuri flutes are made from only one type of bamboo, called cinchor. This bamboo only grows in the interior forests of Assam. Only straight Bamboo of 3 to 4 years old and of the proper diameter can be used. The cut bamboo is then treated, dried and stored for years until it is properly seasoned. The longer it is seasoned the better the flute. The correct notes are achieved by piercing the seasoned bamboo with hot iron rods in precise positions along the length.

Please be advised that the longer the flute, the wider the required finger span. If you have smaller hands, you may be unable to reach all of the finger holes. The following measurements are in inches, and can vary slightly (LH = Left Hand, RH = center Hand).

Model #	Length	LH 1st-3rd Fingers	RH 1st-3rd Fingers
FLPA	22.75”	3.00"	2.50"
FLPAS	22.75”	3.00"	2.50"
FLPC	36.50”	4.25"	4.25"
FLPCS	36.50”	4.25"	4.25"
FLPD	32.25”	4.00"	4.00"
FLPDS	32.25”	4.00"	4.00"
FLPE	29.50”	3.75"	3.65"
FLPF	24.75”	3.25"	3.00"
FLPG	28.50”	3.50"	3.25"

Scratch & Dent Savings!!! Product codes ending in "-2" are Blemished. They are New and Unused with Superficial blemishes that may include, blisters in the finish, scratches, dents, stains, discoloration, rust or pitting on metals, imperfect glazes, non-structural repairs such as putty in nail holes, or other surface marks. The irregularity does not affect the playability or sound quality of the instrument. These are a good value.