How to choose a bansuri

Start with the music you play, then the scale, then the length. A bansuri is a bamboo flute. Lower keys such as C and D use a longer tube and sound deeper. Higher keys such as G and A are shorter and brighter. If you are buying your first concert flute, a middle D or E is the usual place to begin.

Holes

Hindustani bansuris in this shop have six holes. Carnatic flutes have eight. The extra holes change the fingering, so pick the system you already study. Browse Hindustani middle flutes or Carnatic middle flutes.

Length

Length follows the key. On our Hindustani middle flutes, D is about 17 inches and F sharp is about 15 inches. A small A is about 13 inches. Bass E is about 29 inches, and bass G is about 23 inches. Longer flutes need more air and a wider hand stretch.

Beginner set or one concert flute

One well-tuned flute is enough if you already know your key. A Hindustani middle flute in D or a Carnatic middle flute in D covers a lot of common repertoire. If you are still trying keys, look at the set of 10 essential flutes or the Hindustani full set with box.

Right-hand fingering is standard. Read right-hand vs left-hand before you order if you play the other way.