Wind & Percussion
Bansuri flutes, shehnai, algoja, morchang and chimta. Wind and mouth instruments from our own workshop and from Sarfuddin in Delhi, checked for pitch and finish before they ship.
Choosing yours
The bansuri is where most people start, and scale is the decision that matters. Medium flutes in C, D or E are reachable for most adult hands. Bass flutes in A, G or F give the deep meditative tone of Hindustani classical but the finger stretch defeats many beginners.
A shehnai is a double reed oboe, loud, bright and associated with weddings and processions. It is harder to start than a bansuri and much harder to play quietly.
The algoja is a pair of flutes played together, one holding a drone while the other carries the melody, using circular breathing. It is a Rajasthani and Punjabi folk instrument and it takes real commitment.
Morchang and chimta are the small percussion in this group. A morchang is the jaw harp, played against the teeth with the breath shaping the note. A chimta is a pair of steel tongs with jingles, used in bhangra and kirtan and about as approachable as an instrument gets.
Care and climate
Bamboo moves with the weather more than any other material we work with. Keep flutes out of direct sun and away from radiators, since dry heat causes splitting.
Oil the bore two or three times a year if your air is dry, using almond or mustard oil on a cloth pulled through. Let a flute dry after playing rather than sealing it wet into a bag.
Reeds on a shehnai are consumable and need replacing periodically. Metal instruments need only a wipe and dry storage.
Questions we get asked
Which bansuri should a beginner buy?
A medium E or F natural. The finger spacing is reachable for most adult hands and the pitch sits well for practice. Bass flutes look impressive but the stretch defeats most beginners.
Is the shehnai hard to learn?
Harder than the bansuri. It is a double reed instrument, naturally loud, and difficult to play quietly. Most people come to it after another wind instrument rather than as a first one.
How do I stop a bamboo flute cracking?
Keep it away from direct sun and heat sources, oil the bore two or three times a year if your air is dry, and let it dry after playing instead of sealing it wet in a bag.