How to Play a Flute / Bansuri ....

The Flute is a musical instrument of wind instrument family. Flute belongs to aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produce sound from the flow of  air across specific holes or openings. A Musician who play flute is called a Fluter or Flutist or Flute Player.

Flute / Bansuri ( Indian)  is an old and traditional type wind instrument which has been used by the music artists all over the world. 

Flute is mainly made from bamboo and some other type are made from stainless steel. A red hot rod is used for making holes on the flute. The holes are made with some specific dimensions and the size of the hole is determined by the size of the flute that means mainly based on the Diameter and the length of flute. 

In Indian Flute there are mainly two types...

1. 6 holed Type 
2. 8 Holed Type

6 Holed Type Flute 

6 holed type flute has 6 holes and this type of flute is mainly used for play light musics and light solo songs...

8 Holed Type Flute

8 Holed type flute has 8 holes and among them 7 holes are used and last one is left for supporting other holes for wind flow. This type of Flute is mainly used for Classical Songs.

Finger Positions of 6 Holed Flute

In 6 Holed type 3 fingers (Index, Middle, Ring) of both left and right are used..

Finger Positions of 8 Holed Flute

In 8 holed Flute 3 Fingers ( Index, Middle, Ring)  of left hand and 4 Fingers (Index, Middle, Ring, Small) of right hand are used...and one hole is left as open always... 

Finger Positions for Swaras..

For Eastern  Type: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni,  Sa

For Western Type: Do, Re, Mi, Fa,  So,  La,  Ti, Do

For 6 holed Type Flute

Above figure shows the finger pattern of Swaras

Sa    : Left Index finger & Left Middle finger ( Closed)

Re   : Left Index finger ( Closed)

Ga   : All Fingers open

Ma  : Left Index finger Open all other fingers Closed

Pa   : Right Ring finger Open all other fingers Closed

Dha: Right Ring finger and Right Middle finger are Open and                  

         all other fingers Closed

Ni   : Left Index finger, Left Middle finger, Left Ring finger  

         are open and remaining fingers are closed.

Sa  : Left Index finger & Left Middle finger ( Closed) with 

         high flow of air

For 8 holed Type Flute

Sa    : Left Index finger & Left Middle finger ( Closed)

Re   : Left Index finger ( Closed)

Ga   : All Fingers open

Ma  : Left Index finger Open all other fingers Closed

Pa   : Right Ring finger and Right Small finger are Open all 

         other fingers Closed

Dha: Right Ring finger,Right Small finger, Right Middle 

         finger are Open and all other fingers Closed

Ni   : Left Index finger, Left Middle finger, Left Ring finger  

         are open and remaining fingers are closed.

Sa  : Left Index finger & Left Middle finger ( Closed) with 

         high flow of air