The Ney or Nay Flute is a development of the Kawala flute adapted for Arabic music. The Ney flute has 7 holes, one of which is on the back. Its tuning is adjusted for Arabic oriental music, which makes use of quarter tones. The sound is produced by tilting the flute against the lips, forming an angle over the edge of the mouthpiece; it requires embouchure training and air support to produce a satisfactory sound, and it is possible to reach 3 octaves with ease and up to 4 octaves with skill. When we master the embouchure, it becomes an extension of the voice! It is one of the oldest, simplest, and most powerful flutes that exist. The Ney flute was played by Egyptians thousands of years ago, with its use documented in tomb paintings around 2700 BC. There are basically three styles of Ney flutes: Egyptian Ney (Arabic), Persian Ney, and Turkish Ney.
The term “Ney” (or Nay) refers to the traditional rim-blown flute of the Middle East. “Ney” is the most widely used international spelling, while “Nay” is an alternative transliteration from Arabic. Both names designate the same instrument.
















1 review for Arabic Ney Style Flute – B (Rast A)