An overview of the double octave blowing technique in Carnatic flute playing, one of the most ancient instruments in Carnatic music.

1. Double Octave
Blowing
Copyright of Aadishabdam. All rights reserved.

2. Acknowledgements
• Aadishabdam is grateful to the originator of this technique,
the celebrated prodigy, Shashank Subramaniam, for
contributing this technique in Carnatic @lute playing

3. Introduction
• Several basic @lute playing techniques are known to
Carnatic @lute
• Some popular techniques are:
• 3-@inger system (ancient times)
• Parallel-@ingering (late 18th century)
• Cross-@ingering (19th century onwards)
• It is interesting to note that the cross-@ingering technique adopted by
Mali

4. The Technique
• Double octave blowing is a technique that is
used for delivering a note of 2 different
octaves simultaneously
• The 3 octaves are basically:
• Thara-sthayi
• Madyha-sthayi
• Mandra-sthayi
• Note: Anumandira & Adithithara sthayis are not generally
achievable in instrumental techniques

5. The Technique
• Though double octave blowing seems easy, an almost
consistent blowing speed is important to achieve the
desired sound with shruthi
Cross section of the interior
of the flute hole
Direction of air-flow
(2-ways)
Lip-position

6. The Technique
• As seen in the @igure, there are several factors involved in
playing this technique
• The tilt angle of the playing posture from the lip
• The lip position
• The speed of blowing

7. The Technique
• Each @lute is unique in its own way, since
every single @lute is hand-made & no 2 @lutes
produce exactly the same sound for all the
notes
• As a rough guide the following can be taken into
consideration
• Maintain a @lushed lip position to the @lute hole
• Play each octave of the note separately @irst
• When playing simultaneously, check the shruthi
• The double octave @ingering can change depending on the
@lute make & type which under physical make up
variations, do not yield the right pitch of each note

8. The Technique: From a Guru
• Though the double octave technique, is a new & a
revolutionary but advanced method of @lute playing, it is
important that the basic techniques are not overwhelmed.
• It is therefore important to learn the correct techniques
from a competent @lautist before attempting

9. Conclusion
• This presentation merely serves to meet the
introductory needs of the technique of double
octave blowing
• It is not designed to downplay the role of the
guru teaching the instrument, but to merely
enhance it
• It is therefore important to realise that the
practical guidance of a guru is far more re@ined
than those written in words