Sathiya Tune..

Flute Notes for Sathiya Tune

Single quote represents higher note

R D' P' D' P' D' P' D' N'S'N'D'

R D' P' D' P' D' P' D' N' D' P' G

R D' P' D' P' D' P' D' N'S'N'D'

P'D'P' GMG RSR

Flute Notes for Kabira song

("..." Indicates to stay on the note)

P P R S...NDP P D

P P R S...NDP P D

DD.D G G MG RSN N S S GR

P P R S...NDP P D

P P R SS...NDP P D

DD.D G G MG RSN N S S GR..S

Zara zara from RHTDM

N S N S  S N S R S NS

S N S R S NS

N DN R S N

N S N S  S N S R S NS

S N S R S N

D S N DN P D

D' S' N' P'

P' N' D' M

M P' MG S' N' D'N' D'N' D'  (D'N' D'N' are played faster)...repeat again

2nd stanza

S R R GR GR GR GR S N

N R R G S S NSD

D R R R R S N  S R G M R G...repeat above lines again

G D' D' P' G

G N' N ' D' G

G G S' R'S' N' D' P' D'P'D'

G D' D' P' G

G D' D' P' R

R R M G R S N DN S N

3rd stanza

G M P' D'

D' P' D' N' S'N'  D'

D' P' D' N' S'N' D'

D' P' N' D' M G

S' S'N' N' N'D' D' D'P' P' P'M M G G R R S R G....repeat 2nd stanza.

Flute Notes for Jiya dhadak dhadak

S R G R G R G M G RS

S R G R G R G M G RS

R R G R S D R

R R G R S D R

R R R S R G R S G R S

P P S D D S D D

P P S D D S D D

P P S D D S G R S D P   Repeat last three lines again

Flute note in intro tune of zara zara from RHTDM

R G G G M G R R S N

N S R S N D D D    Repeat once more

D S S S S R R R R G..P' D' N'

D' P' M G MG RGRM..R S N

Some tips for beginners...

I have seen many beginners asking which flute to buy?...how do i get the sound?...I am not able to get the transition from ma to pa...etc etc...This write up may help you in getting the answers for the above questions..

If you are a beginner i recommend a medium sized flute for example the C scale flute...The length is apt for a beginner and you can practise on the flute until you can blow a note properly for atleast 20 sec. Now once you are comfortable with your flute you can go in for flutes with more length. Do not buy lengthy flutes at the start because it will be difficult for you to play considering  the fact that the air should pass through the entire length of the flute. Once you have bought the flute the next big step is to make a sound. Making a sound on the flute can be tricky as some players think that they have got a sound but what they would have got may be an airy sound. The first sound to be produced is 'ma' with all holes open which would be the easiest to play whereas 'pa' with all holes closed would be the most difficult to get. Playing lower 'pa' is the most difficult note and once you can play that with ease then you are an inch closer to becoming a flute player. So how do you know whether you have got the sound. The trick here is to play the note for 2 sec the again play the note giving the interval. Play it atleast 10 times and make sure you get the lower octave every time. Most probably 4/10 times you will play the higher octave which is not what you want.

Transition from 'ma to 'pa can be very tricky for beginners especially for those who have not practised the lower and higher octaves. There is no special guide on how to do this. All i can say is practise..You can try different variations like higher 'pa' to 'ma' or 'ma' to lower 'pa' . If you are finding difficulty in playing lower and higher octaves combined then you can adjust the flute to create a high pitch. This can be done by moving the flute inwards which will give you a higher pitch. The standard method however is to blow by reducing the area between your lips to produce a faster blow of air. This can also be practised by blowing to the back of your hand. Do not blow more air into the flute which is not going to produce anything. The only thing that is going to happen is that you fall out of breath very soon. Understand your flute and practise well...!

Tips to maintain a Bansuri in good shape

Bansuri being a wood instrument must be given good care. Bansuri's are prone to cracks sue to thermal stress and also expansion under cold climatic conditions. This affects the tune and pitch of the flute. Here are some tips you could follow to maintain your bansuri in shape.

1) Avoid playing under cold climatic conditions. This is said because when you blow into your bansuri you are blowing in hot air whereas the climate outside remains cold. This is will cause your bansuri to expand from the inside and also develop cracks.

2) If you find cracks on the bansuri apply glue immediately and make sure to keep it for a day for the crack to get completely bonded. A glue with low viscosity is preferred in this regard. 

3) Oiling the bansuri is regarded as one of the best techniques to maintain your bansuri in shape. Different oils have been listed. Mustard oil or walnut oil are mostly used to oil the inside of the bansuri. Oiling can be done by using cotton attached to a stick. Make sure that the cotton is firmly bonded to the stick or else the cotton may go inside and you may find it difficult to remove it. Please do not oil the threads (if your bansuri has it) and also near the blow hole. The frequency of oiling can be around 3-4 times a year.

4) If you are a person who takes your bansuri wherever you go then be extra careful. For example leaving your bansuri in car in summer and then blowing into it can cause you bansuri to crack considering the extreme temperature and the moisture in the blow.

5) Take good care of your bansuri. Small hits on the wall, frequent dropping can cause damage to the pitch and tune of the flute. People take care in the initial stages when the bansuri is new but later on handle it with no care. If possible find a cover for your bansuri which will protect it to a greater extend.