Bansuri

The bansuri flute is a transverse flute from India, literally from the words bans (bamboo) and suri. It is one of the oldest musical instruments. Bansuris are made from a single piece of bamboo with seven holes. 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 fingering 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 western standard notes. Bansuri Flutes can sometimes sound slightly out of tune to the western ear.