What is Bansuri?
{{Infobox instrument |name='''Bansuri''' |names=Baanhi, Baashi, Bansi, Basari, Murali |image =Bansuri bamboo flute 23inch.jpg |caption =A 23-inch-long bansuri bamboo flute for concerts. |classification=[[woodwind]] instrument |range= 2.5 octaves (six-hole), 3 octaves (seven-hole) |musicians= [[:Category:Indian flautists|List of Indian flautists]] |sound sample = [[File:Sample2.ogg|thumb|center|A Bansuri recording (54 sec)]] }} [[File:Venugopal2.JPG|thumb|Krishna with a ''bansuri'' is sometimes referred to as ''Venugopal''.]] A '''bansuri''' is an ancient [[Transverse flute|side blown]] [[flute]]. It comes from [[India]] and [[Nepal]]. The flute is an [[aerophone]] created from [[bamboo]] and a [[material]] similar to metal. It is used in many nepali songs. A ''bansuri'' is [[Custom|traditionally]] made from a single piece of bamboo. The piece is hollow and has seven finger holes. Modern ''bansuri'' can be made with [[ivory]], [[fiberglass]] and different metals. A ''bansuri'' with six holes cab play two and a half [[Octave|octaves]] of [[music]]. The flute is normally between {{convert|30|-|75|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. It is about as thick as a person's [[thumb]].{{Sfn|Ashok Damodar Ranade|2006|pp=284–286}}<ref>{{cite book|author1=Bettina Bäumer|author2=Kapila Vatsyayan|title=Kalatattvakosa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPoIZaGGtiMC&pg=PA181|year=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1402-8|page=181}}</ref> One end of the flute is closed. The blowhole is a few centimeters from the closed end. Longer ''bansuris'' play deeper [[Tone|tones]] and lower [[Pitch (music)|pitches]].{{Sfn|Ashok Damodar Ranade|2006|pp=284–286}} The early designs have no [[Machine|mechanical]] keys. The [[musician]] makes the notes they want by covering and uncovering finger holes.{{Sfn|Ashok Damodar Ranade|2006|pp=284–286}}<ref>{{cite book|author1=Dorothea E. Hast|author2=James R. Cowdery|author3=Stanley Arnold Scott|title=Exploring the World of Music: An In