How to Play Interdental Flute (Ney, Qurai, Pueblo, Tsuur)

Here are some tips on playing the interdental style flute. There are very few resources available in English, and the ones available could be improved upon. So here is my explanation and demonstration, let me know how it goes!

[@РасимЯмалов-ы4ц]

Спасибо огромное что, популяризируешь наш национальный башкирский духовой инструмент

[@bashkortmemes8775]

Thank you for sharing with bashkir national instrument QURAI 🙏

[@EricRaum]

I love Bashkir music!

[@lucindaerdenechimeg5847]

Just bought my first ever Tsuur from a Music shop in UB Mongolia. I can't believe it's made out of a big dried out piece of rhubarb ... So special xo

[@EricRaum]

Very interesting, I did not know that either, hope it is coming along for you!

[@itachi58kun]

Ma Men ! Finally a very good video tutorial about tsuur / shoor flute . Thanks 🙏

[@EricRaum]

Thank you brother, trying to fill in the gaps I came across when I was trying to learn! Dig your music

[@ramalshebl60]

"half of one bald eagle feather for my american friends" LOLLL 😂😂😂😂

[@EricRaum]

You're the first to catch that :)

[@arkanesky]

Hi, Eric! I just got a tsuur. What a great tutorial - the indisputable best out of the numerous I watched! A flute luthier truly has a special tatlent in breaking down the mechanics so cleanly. To clarify, at 2:44, are you using the holes to riff so cleanly, or is that mostly just changing your tongue position? After a few days of reviewing your video and reading some Persian ney papers, I can get a note out of every hole (although I don't have fine control over the octave yet - the air stream is clearly very responsive to my [un]controlled breath so changing fingering can cause it to jump up/down an octave in addition to hitting the new note), but other than slightly bending a note by moving my tongue/angling the flute I'm not quite clear on how to do such smooth note-to-note transitions. I don't know if that other fella took you up on your offer to send a video to you to review, but I'd love to take you up on it if they didnt! Thanks again!

[@EricRaum]

Hello my friend, congrats on diving into this new rewarding challenge! At 2:44 I am indeed changing notes with my fingers. You have a good eye to notice I am slightly changing my mouth shape as I change notes. I do this unconsciously but it aids each note's clarity. I understand that Ney players bend their notes with mouth changes, but I have yet to reliably take that approach. More so I will change mouth shape to change tone. Yes, do please send me a video to review. I did review the other gentleman's video, and he eventually even travelled to my home and we shared a meal and Tsuur playing tips. [e-mail]

[@sharlynejadyskico1240]

Cool 👍

[@leandrobellido3616]

Great video, a clear explanation for a flute that costs a lot to get information.

[@EricRaum]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mybabyandme08]

Incredible

[@CrazyBoy-of1hp]

I love Music ♥️♥️♥️

[@virginiwoolf]

Yes! Music is a blessing.All kind of music ❤️

[@mostess1]

You say “Summary of Part 1”, any chance we can get more? I found this video VERY helpful getting my first notes out of the Tsuur I just started playing. More in depth of breath pressure, direction. Examples showing what it should sound like without touching any holes? Thanks for the wisdom already!

[@EricRaum]

Thank you, Jake, this is a good idea

[@EricRaum]

Jake shoot me a video on Instagram messages of where you are at and I can try to give you some personalized advice. Not many people pursue this so I’m happy to help

[@leandrobellido3616]

Hi, if it's not a bother, could you share the measurements of the tsuur? I mean the diameter of the tube, length, distance of the holes from the end. It would be a great help for me to make one, thank you

[@virginiwoolf]

O God. It's hard! And no sound just hissing 😄 But once I've decided to learn that, I will keep trying.Thanks

[@EricRaum]

That is so good to hear! It is very hard right up until it isn't... keep moving that tongue around ever so slightly!

[@deivomallcu4930]

Muchas gracias por la explicación. ¿Cuál es la afinación del instrumento?

[@EricRaum]

I am not sure the root note, but it is chromatic, up 1/2 step with each note

[@ganjaman8001]

I'm sad your video was super good but I trying and trying and no sound Comme...

[@EricRaum]

Spend time in a very, very slow movement of the tongue, move it in one direction only, very slowly. If you can hear even a slight sound, stop there and start to move very slowly in a different axis... So if you were moving up and down and it starts to make a sound, move side to side from that point to tune it in

[@ganjaman8001]

I have the whistle at the octave high but lower was difficult thx for help

[@BrennaCorbit]

Is it possible for you to show us what the end of the flute looks like? I can't see it in the video. Thank you.

[@EricRaum]

The end I am playing on with my mouth or the other end? The other end is just a cut off pipe, ie nothing special, just the pipe cut at 90 degrees

[@BrennaCorbit]

The mouth end.@@EricRaum

[@EricRaum]

Check out this video: www.tiktok.com/t/ZPR78djEQ/

[@BrennaCorbit]

Thank you. That was quite helpful. I can't wait now to get to the hardware store.@@EricRaum

[@robabnawaz]

I got at least a slight tone......very very hard

[@EricRaum]

Great work! Once you find the first hint of a sound, make VERY SLIGHT movements of the flute from the bottom… so keep the mouthpiece in the same position, but move the bottom of the flute left right/up down to see if you find a sweet spot where the sound improves in clarity

[@IntoTheNothing1]

Do you make these?

[@EricRaum]

I made the ones in the video, I have a video showing how to make them out of inexpensive water pipe. I also sell flutes at RaumMusic.com that you can play in this style as well as like a Native American Style Flute (the Copper Flute)

[@temking8742]

Nice video it's helpful👍😁 and you looks like Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam😅

[@EricRaum]

Hey, I'll take it! :)

[@SSloath]

But like...what if I can't get a single note?

[@EricRaum]

Keep moving your tongue around VERY slowly!