The Chromatic Bansuri

A cross-cultural guide to learning the North Indian Bamboo Flute

by Joshua Geisler

Discover everything you need to know about bansuri technique so you can play any style of music with the soulful and haunting sound of the bamboo flute.

Topics covered include:

  • Fundamentals:
    • Hand Position
    • Breathing
    • Embouchure
    • Tonguing
    • Tone Production
  • Fingering System
    • Find the best fingering for any scale, raga, arpeggio, or melody by understanding a few key concepts. Learn the most efficient way for the human hand to play the bansuri. More than 50 pages of exercises are given that lead from the beginning to the master level.
  • Indian Ornamentation
    • Study the Indian Classical ornamentation techniques taught by Pandit Raghunath Seth and Steve Gorn.
      • Gamak
      • Meend
      • Murki
  • Intonation
    • Learn why Indian music is more in tune than Western music and how to bring the subtle beauty of Indian intonation practice (sruti) into music with chord changes.

The Chromatic Bansuri Cover

PDF download: $27

About the author

Joshua Geisler is a New York based multi-instrumentalist who plays the Bansuri (North Indian bamboo) and Native American flutes, guitar, keyboards, percussion, and electronics. His syncretic approach to composition and improvisation is at the same time innovative and grounded in traditional training.

Josh was the bandleader of Cirque du Soleil’s “TOTEM”, with whom he toured for 9 years, performing 2650 shows in 45 cities around the world. A veteran performer, he has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, Fuji TV Japan, and countless stages and festivals around the world, with over 4500 concerts in the course of his career.

His pedigree also includes extensive studies in India with Bansuri legend Pandit Raghunath Seth and Sarod Maestro Pandit Vikash Maharaj, years of freelance gigs with a wide variety of artists, including Pop legend Paul Simon, as well as a degree in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music.

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Joshua Geisler author of The Chromatic Bansuri

Testimonials

“Joshua Geisler’s Chromatic Bansuri is an innovative and important resource for anyone seeking to expand their proficiency on the Indian Bansuri bamboo flute. His clear and systematic approach to alternate fingerings opens up numerous possibilities for jazz and world music musicians as well as students of Indian music. I have found this book to be a significant complement to the traditional approach to the bansuri, and it is my pleasure to recommend it.”

Steve Gorn, bansuri virtuoso

“This book is fantastic! I’ve got to give kudos to Joshua–he is a really gifted writer. Technical writing is not an easy thing to do, and his style is both articulate and accessible, and the material is totally comprehensive. I’ve been working my way through it chapter by chapter, becoming progressively more impressed as I go…If anyone is thinking of learning to play the bansuri, short of getting lessons with a master of the instrument, this is probably the best investment you can make. I especially like it because it tackles classical bansuri playing as well as discussing how to use the bansuri in more contemporary “Western” music. Really useful stuff.”

Geoffrey Eliis, ellisflutes.com

“In studying your wonderful book on playing the Bansuri it is obvious to me that you have a gift for imparting complex technical information in a clear and accessible fashion. As a professional musician and teacher I have observed over the years that there are not many fine players who are able to communicate precise, detailed explanations of the concepts and mechanics relating to the playing of their instrument. Considering that the art of the Bansuri is primarily an oral tradition, your achievement via the printed word is even more noteworthy! Perhaps you should consider publishing an instructional DVD (or two) to complement the book. I’ll be your first sale.”

Ron Strauss, Violist

"I received your book a couple of months ago and have been burning through it. It's been a big help with my playing so far and I tend to not find myself playing the bansuri without having your book open as well."

Matt Webber

"Thank you! I was surprised to receive an Email directly from the author of the book, it is a good occasion to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I find the book exactly what I was looking for, I love the simple diagram for the fingering chart, straight to the point and easy to follow wile playing."

Chris Merlin