Turkish Ney, Armenian Blul, Bulgarian Kaval | Tone Color Comparison

[@CengizArslanpay]

As a professional kaval and ney player I would say you could only hear the difference significantly when these instruments play the music they are originated from. We call their difference in play style in the makam music tradition "the attitude" of the instrument. For example with kaval you can blow harmonics, stack up octaves and fifths. With ney you have a wide morphing possibility between the the noisy and fluty sound. I don't think that this demonstration shows the capability of these instruments well. But it's a nice try! :)

[@AshleyJarmack]

Hi! Thanks so much for your thoughts and taking the time to listen. I absolutely agree. 👍This video is geared a bit more towards composers that have asked to me play in hybrid....or shall I say...styles not traditional to the regions from whence the instruments originate, and wanted to hear a difference (or lack thereof) in sound color. 😉

[@pgenevski]

Indeed. I can only speak about Kaval and while you can make it sound as a flute, this is just a tiny bit of the instrument's capabilities. To get a good sound out of the Kaval, you should aim at better control of the air flow. Try doing long, but stable tones for a while and see if it helps.

[@serseriherif9530]

Especially for ney, in the traditional style of playing, there is an effort not to make it sound like a flute... the flute should really be 'saturated' with air so as to get a really full tone. The emphasis is on long tones and slow longwinded exploration of the makam. Besides the classical turkish style there is the arabic style with a more 'flutelike' approach and more ornaments playing faster music. Finally you have the iranian ney with a very different technique ('hissing' in the ney) with heavy microtonal tuned notes and less holes making it very hard to play western classical melodies. Similar characteristics apply to kaval playing but here there is mostly the balkan style vs middle eastern style. In this last one we strive for an agressive tone by blowing really hard and using tongue staccato This means that you can play a ney like a middle eastern kaval or a kaval like a turkish ney etc it all depends on the styles you study most.

[@andsalomoni]

I have a question: with the Ney, since it seems "narrow" for its length, you play in the low register (the "fundamental") too, or you start from the register of octave as the lowest one?

[@branlan895]

Have you tried playing the Persian ney playing style? Lot of fun once you figure out how to do it.

[@AshleyJarmack]

I have wanted to learn but have yet to purchase an instrument. Do you have an instrument maker that you recommend?

[@branlan895]

@@AshleyJarmack i got mine from salamuzik website but you can probably play a turkish ney without a baspare and play it like a persian ney. the turkish ney and persian ney have different fingerings tho.

[@jcortese3300]

I'm so glad to find you! I bought a kaval because the embouchure fascinated me, and while I can make a good sound on one (I can even get a few notes in the low register), I continually run out of air while playing. I'm positive I must be using way more air than is necessary. I'm going to look through your other videos and see what else I can find -- thank you for uploading this!

[@williambarela2791]

Thank you for making this video. I love these instruments and like others I'm fascinated with their embouchure. I have spend the last six months trying to learn as much as I can about them. In another life, I studied the physics of waveguide photonics. The same principles apply for sound based waveguides. Thus, assuming a rigid tube, the diameter of the flute is the principle variable which determines the set of higher order modes (i.e., overtones of a given note). Playing these instruments "cleanly" results in mostly only the fundamental being excited. As a result, they will sound very similar. It is when traditional techniques of driving the signal to almost breaking into the next overtone that one hears a more complete series of overtones which mix with the fundamental to give each instrument its characteristic timbre. A cool app with helps you visualize this is Spectroid.

[@MrDreeyef]

hello ashley , i'm a woodwind enthusiast and i love the videos where you present all the various beautiful wind instruments . i just want to let you know that a ney without baspare is simply called the arabic ney . the arabic ney has no baspare , and some times pitched a little differently on few notes because the arabic music and turkish are very similar but there is few differences despite of evrything . to trully notice the difference each of these instument must be played in its traditonal way and that is the only way to truly see the difference . but its nice to show people in this world all these beautiful instruments . here is a few other instument that use the same oblique embouchure . saluang - indonesia kawala - egypt/arab world dilsiz kaval - turkey gasba - north africa ( morroco , algeria ) . and bravo on your embouchure that's true it is maybe the most dificult embouchure i had to learn in my life . keep the good work going

[@marklammas2465]

Please do more Turkish Ney videos, with further explanation. I've had a ney for years; it's the one tube I have which I haven't cracked yet. Somewhere around I have a CD of Neyzen Tevfik playing.

[@dpfr8543]

Great sound. Congratulations.

[@sarkprojects612]

Please make a video describing how to play the instruments, It is very hard to play the Blul. Love your videos

[@menekse3194]

hi Ashley thank you so much for your presentation all of them great. Could you please play the ney more? I'm grateful thank you.

[@purklang]

All of these are beautiful instruments, but my favourite ist the sound of the nay with the bamboo sound characteristic. Thanks for introducing.

[@TheWriter86]

I just bought a turkish Ney today!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I still haven’t gotten a sound out of it. Haha but I’m going to keep at it!!!

[@ms1nan]

Could you make a sound?

[@Alfredel2]

Wonderful job Ashley. I am more familiar with the Turkish instrument than I am with the other two. That said, the Turkish instrument sounds a bit lighter and more breathy while the Armenian and Bulgarian instruments have a darker tone to my ear. I prefer the Turkish instrument because of the familiarity and because I listen to a lot of Turkish music that uses the instrument.

[@AshleyJarmack]

Thanks so much for listening! Yes, I agree that the Turkish ney has a bit lighter and breathier sound. It's quite nice. I love them all for their own unique qualities.

[@owenking5548]

thank you for sharing the flutes, i ve been always confused about these magical instruments. now i am clear to tell them.but they sound quite similar right?

[@IAMKUNLEOLUSESI]

Hello Ashley, i am so happy to discover your website. I am an audio engineer and a touring woodwind player. I guess you play more woodwinds than myself except the shofar. I have a duduk i got in Jerusalem in 2019 nut not sure i like the embouchure. Do you know of any woodwind or double reed instrument or flute from anywhere in the world that can give me duduk same sound? Thank you again

[@javiergonzalez-trumpet299]

Very cool Ashely. I’m curious to know what difference in air resistance(if any) there is between them and if that contributes to the different sound qualities. Obviously they sound similar but there is enough of a difference. The Armenian Blul seems to have the “darker” maybe more “pure” voice like sound of the 3(at least hearing it through my “in ears”). Would you say the Blul feels like it has more or less air resistance? Maybe the extra finger hole allows for more overtones? What are your thoughts?

[@AshleyJarmack]

Thanks so much! There really isn't a huge different in air resistance. I suspect the sound difference is more due to the type of material each instrument is made out of as well as subtle differences to the shape of the bore inside the blowing end. The blul is made from Apricot wood, and the Kaval, of some lighter wood (not 100% sure what the maker used in this case). I have a different Kaval that seems to resonate differently (more core), and is made out of a much darker colored wood. The reason I didn't include it in the video is because it arrived cracked. It had a lovely sound though. And of course the ney is made of cane with a baspare made of horn. I have found that overall my flutes made of bamboo or cane have a lighter and breather sound than the wooden instruments. I'm happy that the mic picked up the sound colors enough for the differences to come through. I agree about the blul. I was able to get more core when I played it. The additional finger holes allow for more chromatic options, but I don't think that it's making the instrument ring more. All of that being said, that's just my opinion. There could be other factors I'm missing...

[@javiergonzalez-trumpet299]

@@AshleyJarmack Awesome. Thanks for the response Ashely.

[@Obin127]

@@AshleyJarmack I recently started playing the kaval myself, the one that I have is made out of dogwood (key in D) with a black buffalo bone mouthpiece, it has a very dark/warm tone to it and is abit on the weightier side

[@dahlavibez5726]

Hi Ashley probably years till u reply. But would u say this embrochure is similar to Shakuhachi?

[@AshleyJarmack]

Hey thanks for the question. The embouchure is nothing like the shakuhachi.

[@alexanderganchev9198]

Hi Ashley, I really liked your video. I am Bulgarian and I was wondering if you can play traditional Bulgarian folklore music like ръченица (ruchenica) or дайчово хоро (daichovo horo).

[@AshleyJarmack]

Thank you so much! I have actually been trying to learn traditional Bulgarian folklore music. Right now I am just listening to songs and trying to copy that I hear. Thank you so much for the song suggestions. Do you have a good source for sheet music for Bulgarian songs?

[@lool1575]

@@AshleyJarmack i play the Bulgarian kaval, and the way I was taught is exactly as you do, listening to the music and repeating what you hear!

[@witv1]

@@AshleyJarmack You will find lots of sheet music in the Files section of our Facebook group. Congratulations and all the best in your travels through the wonderful world of kaval music.

[@AshleyJarmack]

@@witv1 thanks so much! I will definitely take a look. ☺️🎶

[@andsalomoni]

With the Ney, is it possible to play the fundamental register? (in the video you seem to play in the octave register)

[@karenmukayelyan8885]

Hello Ashley. I'm the MKS master who made your blul. I am very glad that you presented the Armenian Blul.

[@AshleyJarmack]

Oh my gosh! It's so nice to e-meet you. I'm a HUGE fan of your instruments. I can't even tell you how much I love your blul. Absolutely gorgeous instrument. Excellent craftsmanship! A friend of mine in Armenia helped me make the purchase since I couldn't find a way to contact you directly. I am very happy to finally make your acquaintance.

[@DougYeager]

I would welcome a link to find upyour instruments

[@shereflute8681]

Great video Ashley! I think I like the sound of the Turkish Ney the best. I’m not sure why as they all sound similar. I’m wondering if you are more relaxed playing the Turkish instrument and that’s why I prefer it😁

[@AshleyJarmack]

Haha. Thanks Shere. Actually the ney does had a bit of a lighter and breathier sound. I don't necessarily feel more comfortable playing Turkish ney over the others...I guess it depends on the day. Lol ;-)

[@MalusTheAppleTree]

Amazing energy 😊❤☀️🌊

[@AshleyJarmack]

Thank you! I really love my instruments and love to sharing with people who are interested🥰

[@jjouba]

How different are the mouth piece in these 3 flutes? I know that the ney have a little hole inside the mouth piece to correct the harmonies. what about the kaval and blul?

[@nepaleseflutebasuriofficia5727]

Wow

[@AshleyJarmack]

Thanks! :-)

[@mooflaghero1]

I think that I liked the sound of the Armenian instrument the best. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@AshleyJarmack]

Awesome! Thanks so much for watching/listening :-)

[@szeklergeneral4266]

i think it would have been a good idea to also use the romanian kaval for comparison

[@megibg890]

ONCE UPON A DECEMBER!!

[@axiosw0774]

Thank you for playing the Armenian Blul - I want to see you do more videos and try the Armenian Shvi too - it's like a recorder I guess, but better? Also, where did you get your Blul? I want to get one too - was just curious and in what scale would you recommend? - I am used to 7(with thumb) fingers closed being D/RE

[@AshleyJarmack]

Thank you for reminding me to explore my shvi more! I do have a few, but don't usually use them in videos. I absolutely should. I ADORE duduk. I have quite a few. I have a few older videos where I play them. I have been wanting to post some more videos of them, but I have been going through an embouchure change and wanted to wait until I felt settled in the new way that I play. ;-)

[@axiosw0774]

@@AshleyJarmack Please do so haha I feel lazy reading the book haha I saw you playing, you r pretty good You can try and play Dle Yaman, that's like one of the primary songs made for duduk

[@soslothful]

So these instruments do not have a fipple and block like a penny whistle, the windway is more like blowing into a bottle? If I had watched the video with eyes closed I would not have recognized the change in tone which seems very close flute to flute.

[@dwudcuqoyl1465]

I play the ney( I choose to go with plastic since its easier to clean and requires no oiling) I found out first hand how difficult it is to play took me about 10 months to even get a simple tone out of it)

[@AshleyJarmack]

Completely makes sense in regards to plastic vs. horn. I have both but prefer the sound of the horn. By far the trickiest flutes I've learned to play. 👍😉

[@dwudcuqoyl1465]

@@AshleyJarmack I also mean the ney itself way more resonant in special plastic then wood( reed) its pvc but special kind ( still handmade but sounds sharper) way easier to clean too like all you need is a cold air hairdryer and your good no oil no mess

[@AshleyJarmack]

@@dwudcuqoyl1465 oh NICE!! Is there a maker/seller you recommend? I'd like to look into them.

[@dwudcuqoyl1465]

@@AshleyJarmack I like Sala music( the Kiz ney is best also cost quite cheap)

[@dwudcuqoyl1465]

Also realize that si (daqat si) = key of B in western music vs si in western music = key of G

[@kotekpsotek3224]

hello which is simple to learn play?

[@zokimirchovski2968]

Just a small correction, it's macedonian kaval, not Bulgarian but anyways

[@seepsee2434]

I cant remember the name of the song but its so familiar, what is its name?

[@loserchicken69]

Once Upon A December

[@pianomanzamora]

I love it!!! I have had the experience of learning and playing the ney, in its three versions, Turkish, Persian and Arabic, and each one has something special, and I hope one day to have a Kaval, I am fascinated by the sound and the embouchure of these flutes. I would love to know if you have had the opportunity and you have a Persian ney, what do you think, because its embouchure is even more different and peculiar than any other flute. I admire you and love your work, greetings from Mexico.

[@AshleyJarmack]

So far, the only ney that I have had the opportunity to learn is the Turkish ney. I would love to learn the Persian and Arabic in the future. The embouchure for the Persian IS quite different...which is partially why I haven't yet picked it up ;-) Thanks so much for watching!

[@TheKiwibird321]

I vote for the second one, Armenian one because it was less airy and projected more

[@AshleyJarmack]

The blul is quite a nice flute. Thanks so much for listening/watching :-)

[@zaboybagoi8636]

Ney is Persian,Kaval is Turkish instruments.Ney is invented in Khorosan/Iran. Kaval is invented in Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey

[@ms1nan]

Ney cane grows in the Mediterranean region. For this reason, Türkiye and Egypt model has become widespread.

[@MidnightGeekSS]

I like the Armenian Blul the best it has a haunting sound

[@AshleyJarmack]

Yes, it is quite lovely. Thank you so much for watching! :-)

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Is the blul fully chromatic? I play the kaval and I have made an aluminium pipe mouthpiece for a cheap western flute and learnt to play it specifically so I could play the lowest register and transition upwards without skipping notes, but I really prefer the finger-hole layout of the kaval, so maybe the blul would be preferable?

[@AshleyJarmack]

It's not fully chromatic. On a D blul, the notes in the lowest octave are D E F F# G G# A A# B C#. The second octave starts on D, BUT if you start on second octave E and overblow a 5th starting around B, you can get that C natural and D# (top of second octave bottom of third octave).

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

@@AshleyJarmack Thank you so much, that was just what I needed! 😁 Btw, from my point of view, that is fully chromatic! ( I'm used to half-holing with my pinky and thumb) Now, I just gotta go save up some money :D

[@AshleyJarmack]

@@rasmusn.e.m1064 yay! Happy to help. Yes, save up and get a good blul with a good scale. 👍 Less frustrating to play that way ☺️

[@axiosw0774]

​@@AshleyJarmack Where did you get your Blul? I am Armenian, and want to get one too - was just curious and in what scale would you recommend? - I am used to 7(with thumb) fingers closed being D/RE

[@AshleyJarmack]

@@axiosw0774 Hi! The way I purchased my blul is quite a story. They're made by MKS. I have a friend who, knows a friend who knows the maker. I have three, in the key of C, D, and F. I love my blul, but I don't know how to direct you to the exact ones that I have. I have been told that Nurwind is now making quite nice blul. They are not yet advertised on their website. If you'd like additionally information, please contact me by one of the ways listed in the +connect with me+ section of the description below the video. :-) Thanks so much for watching!

[@hic1728]

Hello ashley blowing thechniq of the turkish ney is wrong.when u blowing the ney u must make vibrato with your lips.

[@AshleyJarmack]

Yes thank you. There are multiple ways to do vibrato on Ney. I am working on learning the lip vibrato but do not feel confident in it yet. I was told that the some people also do vibrato the way I am currently doing it. Thanks so much for watching!

[@breakfastplan4518]

Great video. But the Kaval should sound REEDY not windy. haha I'm Currently in Beautiful Bulgaria studying this instrument! What a magical flute!! /watch?v=S6NfJfuCdHw

[@hyvncl]

Turkish ney is not Turkish. Its desert based and arabian. Others are kavals and savanna based ethnoecologically ...

[@x3kuuta]

Are you ok? She literally hold in her hand the Turkish ney, not any typical flutes/ney/kaval but specifically the *Turkish one* , there is 13 different specific flute in the family of Turkish ney, each one has their standard. The keyword is Turkish if you didn't understand.

[@x3kuuta]

@@hyvncl Get yourself checked, read some history book about instruments. You can first start as easy as Wikipedia ; Turkish Ney, then later on continue with differents books from different historians and sources.

[@x3kuuta]

@@hyvncl Ney name Length Dügah tone (old name) Dügah tone (Turkish) Dügah tone (piano) Bolahenk Nısfiye 520 mm Hüseyni La E  / Mi Bolahenk-Süpürde Mabeyni 550 mm Hisar Sol diyez E♭ / Mi bemol Süpürde Ney 580 mm Neva Sol D  / Re Müstahsen 620 mm Nim Hicaz Fa diyez C♯ / Do diyez Yıldız Ney 665 mm Çargah Fa C  / Do Kız Ney 710 mm Buselik Mi H  / Si Kız-Mansur Mabeyni 745 mm Dik Kürdi Mi bemol B♭ / Si bemol Mansur Ney 780 mm Dügah Re A  / La Mansur-Şah Mabeyni 820 mm Zirgüle Do diyez G♯ / Sol diyez Şah Ney 860 mm Rast Do G  / Sol Davud Ney 910 mm Irak Si F♯ / Fa diyez Davud-Bolahenk Mabeyni 970 mm Acem Aşiran Si bemol F  / Fa Bolahenk Ney 1 m 40 mm Hüseyni Aşiran La E  / Mi

[@x3kuuta]

@@hyvncl Even Mongols and other Turkic community has extremly similar instrument called choor, sybyzgy, kurai etc.... Do, Re, Mi Fa, Sol, La Si.. si.. si..git, zoruna gidiyorsa. Anladin?

[@TothTimea32]

blablabla and no sound! pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff