Is Your Bansuri Tuned Correctly?

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Bansuri Q & A Episode 011: Is My Flute Well-Tuned?

QUESTION:
“As a beginner while making a flute purchase, how do I check whether it is tuned, though the seller may say it is already tuned?”
-- Praddyot Sikdar, India

ANSWER:

(1) Determine the pitch of Sa:
Use a tuner to determine the pitch of the Sa you naturally blow when you play that flute (Sa is at three holes closed).
Let’s take an F flute as an example. When you blow Sa, does it register on your tuner as a perfect F? Or is it sharp (e.g. F+12)? Or flat (e.g. F-33)? If the Sa is sharp or flat of standard tuning, are you willing to play at that tuning? If not, put the flute down and seek a different flute. If you are happy with the tuning of the Sa though, proceed to step 2…

(2) Determine whether the notes of the flute are in tune with each other:

-- Turn on your tanpura (using Pa so that it plays Pa Sa Sa Sa) and tune it to the exact pitch you determined your Sa to be at in Step 1.
-- Play Kalyan scale arohi and avarohi (SRGMPDNS up; SNDPMGRS down; where Ma is teevra Ma). Do any notes sound off? If it is a 7-hole flute, does middle teevra with all holes open sound like the same pitch as middle teevra ma with all 7 holes closed? Now go to the low octave and the high octave (up to high Pa at least). Ensure the notes sound like they should. If they do, and you like the tone of the flute and it looks well made, buy it if the price is right!

(3) You could use a tuner that is set to Just Temperament to test every note of Kalyan Scale on your flute…but you must understand both the technology and the differences between Equal and Just Temperament. Technology is great…but you must understand it if you are to trust it.

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Recorded August 10, 2018 in Manassas, VA.
Tanpura is set at F (+8 cents).

Flute made by Anubodh:
http://bansuribliss.com/anubodh

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