Bansuri is the Indian version of a keyless wooden flute. It was commonly used by the cow herders and the gypsies. It got its recognition in the main stream of the classical music segment much later. You have both the end blown and the side blown version of the Indian Bansuri, but this website deals with the side blown version of Indian Bansuri.
Bansuri Flutes are classified as Soprano, Medium and Alto varieties depending on their length. Soprano flutes are high pitched and have a size that ranges between nine inches to fourteen inches. The are used by players to produce sounds of higher octaves.But they generally suit the body frame of slender people. Medium flute are moderately pitched and vary between sixteen inches to twenty one inches in size. They produce moderate tones. Alto flutes are low pitched flutes which are popular for its extra long size which measure anywhere in between twenty two inches to thirty eight inches and above. They are usually played by men with wider arms and hands. They prouduce sounds of lower octaves.
What makes Indian Bansuri different from the average transverse wooden flutes? I think its the quality of wood from which its made and the way they are tuned to produce the sound thats suited for indian classical music. As far as this website is concerned there is no hard and fast rule only to use Indian bansuri. You can use any wooden flute that has atleast seven holes in them. Flutes are tuned to notes of each octave and hence sound very different from one another. So do not be surprised if your flute produces a very different sound when you play after reading the notes given here.
This is a very breif manual that gives you guidance to play flute from my self learning experience. If you find this manual useful in anyway, kindly make a donation of two dollars as a token of appreciation to another needy person who may benefit in the same way.