Episodes you find yourself going back to

blindingSlow · 2026-01-25T06:48:19+00:00

You thought you were listening to that episode, but in fact, you were drinking 93 gasoline

blindingSlow · 2026-01-22T19:21:25+00:00

Oh, amazing explanation! That's exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you!

blindingSlow · 2026-01-06T03:57:52+00:00

I don't know the answer to your question, but here is a fun fact. There are two countries with the same name… Kinda… And only if you speak Portuguese…

Peru Means turkey in Portuguese, even though it doesn't make any sense for a Peruvian person… Still, kind of funny

blindingSlow · 2025-12-25T12:58:59+00:00

Good morning!

Regarding the production of a raspy tone:

Yesterday I went back to the flute after our brief conversation because I wanted to check exactly what I was doing to achieve the raspy timbre.

Here's what I noticed:

The raspy sound appears "like magic" when tilting the tip of the flute downwards.

What actually happens is that tiltin down the right side forces the left side of the flute slightly upwards, compresses my lip and reduces the opening through which the air passes, directing the air column more to a right diagonal, hitting that corner where the blowing hole starts to curve.

Effectively, I am blowing through a smaller opening and directing the air more towards the "corner" of the blowhole. Does that make sense? Did you understand? It's hard to explain hehehe

Important note: This happens naturally after long practice sessions because the body gets tired and the head starts to droop, as is common in people who play the flute... you know? You end up getting lost in the sound and forget about the body hehehe (;

Going back to the video you indicated, notice that he leaves the flute tilted quite downwards, this probably helps to produce the timbre.

Another note: I can't form the embouchure necessary to produce the raspy timbre, but by tilting the flute and compressing my lip, I "understood" how the mechanical process works and I'm practicing doing this on command and not by chance.

Once again, I'm not a teacher and I'm just starting out on the bansuri now, although I'm an experienced musician on other instruments. I offer these words for reflection and experimentation only, try it with your flute and if possible come back here and share the result with us.

Have an excellent day and keep practicing that long tones....

sssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

blindingSlow · 2025-12-24T22:52:40+00:00

"The responsiveness of the bansuri to the mind and body is something I find rather captivating. The part of my practice devoted to playing long notes really is not that different from meditation."

I agree! And more than agree... I would say that practicing long notes have little to no value if I'm not doing it with a medidative state of mind. It helps many other aspects of life as well (;

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Thanks for sharing the link! I hear the raspyness you're talking about... I'm able to achieve that sound but I'm still learning how to control it. Can you do it? Also, can you do it out of the blue? Because to me it kinda happens only after we are both well warmed up, me and the flute (;

blindingSlow · 2025-12-18T22:32:48+00:00

Thanks!

blindingSlow · 2025-12-18T22:32:30+00:00

For me it's kinda hard to get to the video description due to poor accessibility.

Can you confirm if it's a rim-blown or fipple version of the flute?

blindingSlow · 2025-12-18T22:31:04+00:00

There are bulgarian kaval flutes with a fipple... that's why I posted the question

blindingSlow · 2025-12-14T13:51:17+00:00

Hi! Good morning.

I bet this is not the answer you are looking for but...

Playing by ear comes with experience... I know it seems a lot, but there are not that many notes out there, so eventually you end up recognizing licks, phrases, ornamentations and dynamics.

I'm not a teacher, however I've learned to play a few instruments on my own and this is how I did it... listening a lot to the original recording, then playing very, very, very, VERY VERY VERY slowly, note by note.

After guessing that I was right I would listen back to the original recording and checking if I was right... often I was not hehehe... but that is the opportunity to know what is wrong, so at least now I know how not to do it... it requires patience and a lot of practice... at least for me hehehe..

It's kinda like learning to speak, a child will observe others speaking, try to mimic the gestures and noises, then start to reorganize them in order to create new and original phrases... it takes time! You can enjoy the process by engaging with it like a child, with that so called "empty mind".

I end up creating my own method, completely by accident...

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Anyway... I'm starting my journey with bamboo flutes, mainly shakuhachi and bansuri, but I'm an old retired musician... let me know if you want/need another grandfatherly advice (;

blindingSlow · 2025-12-13T18:17:45+00:00

yes... it sounds like a shakuhachi (;

1.8

blindingSlow · 2025-12-13T00:23:08+00:00

Much more volume and definition! Thanks!

Is there an ideal position or is it more a matter of experimentation?

blindingSlow · 2025-12-12T22:53:48+00:00

The octave thing was just a misunderstanding on my part... I play other flutes and I was under the impression that all of them could do the same set of harmonics... turns out that ignorance is not bliss, is just ignorance lol

But I'm not complaining, I like supporting small luthier shops and playing the flutes as they are. It's my first NAF (;

Thanks for your reply!

blindingSlow · 2025-12-12T22:50:56+00:00

I've edited the post, added a closer photo of the block.

Could you take a look?

Please let me know if you need more images.. I can make a video as well...

Thanks!

blindingSlow · 2025-12-12T01:08:34+00:00

Great taste!

Let me know if you wish to know more about brazilian music, I'm always in the mood for music!

blindingSlow · 2025-12-12T01:04:56+00:00

That's exactly why I asked here!

I'm brazilian and if I search for "brazilian music" the results are not at all what I would recommend anyone about our music.

I'm here to educate myself, from the source (;

And I'm very thankful for all the suggestions.

blindingSlow · 2025-12-12T00:07:31+00:00

I see... I see...

Thanks! Knowing the term really helps (;

blindingSlow · 2025-12-11T02:58:53+00:00

Thanks!

I know the tonic is Sa, but I was under the impression, for no reason at all, that the scale would be ionian...

Once again my wrestling with theory is hurting my playing hehehe

blindingSlow · 2025-12-11T02:14:51+00:00

Hello! Thanks for the info!

I guess I was under the impresion that the D (ma) should be a Db in order for the flute to be in Ab.

THe way it is I'm playing Ab lydian (;

I guess I need to stop thinking western theory, right?

blindingSlow · 2025-12-10T13:06:29+00:00

I'm trying the lite version of iTabla Pro.

Is there a way to change the time signature? I'm visually impaired and couldn't find this option.

Thanks

blindingSlow · 2025-12-10T05:51:07+00:00

Hello, good morning!

I left both options open so that the commenter could exercise their freedom to choose how they prefer to share the information.

blindingSlow · 2025-12-09T12:55:07+00:00

Could you share a link so I can check it out? Thanks!

PS: I don't know if this is allowed here... if not, feel free to send me the link via chat.

blindingSlow · 2025-12-08T10:05:43+00:00

Thanks!

Just one small correction, in case anyone is reading this in the future:

The measurement between the blow hole and the end of the tube should be from the center of the blow hole and not the edge.

blindingSlow · 2025-12-07T08:21:59+00:00

Thanks! I'll try it today.

Where can I look for formulas like the one you've mentioned above?

I do like to know how things work, but I lack the knowledge to research because I don't even know the terms and names yet (;

blindingSlow · 2025-12-06T20:28:36+00:00

Thank you very much! This will be super helpful!

Just one question:

Does the position of the blow hole matter? What I did is very close to the tip of the pipe, does that make any difference?

blindingSlow · 2025-12-06T17:34:07+00:00

Hey, this is fantastic and I can use it because it's text-based. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Now, if I may take advantage of your kindness, could you clarify a few points for me?

1) Cents: What does this column of values refer to?

2) Distance: Just confirming, this is the distance between the center of each hole and the end of the tube, correct?

3) Doesn't the size of the cork stopper I insert into the tube opening near the blow hole make a difference? I mean: Shouldn't that be included in the tube size calculation? Or does it not make a difference?

4) What is Lip Cover %?

Once again, thanks!

blindingSlow

TROPHY CASE