Tubdi

Tubdi a flute-like folk wind instrument. It is usually played to accompany tricks performed by snake-charmers. Tubdi is made of a gourd-shell fitted with two tubes that have a number of holes on them. The instrument is played with the help of the fingers that stop and release its holds in harmony.

On the other end of the shell, there is a blow-hole. The player blows the shell through this hole and keeps the hollow filled with air. This is why when a tubdi-player inhales, the instruments keeps playing. This is where it is different from normal flutes.

Tubdi cannot produce high-scaled and varied sounds as a flute does. Unlike the flute, its tone is incessant and somewhat monotonous. The holes of the tunes are fitted with the shell side by side, at a little distance. Someone can also play tubdi with his nose; but in such instances, the instrument is called nasabangxi or a nasal-flute. Tubdi resembles the bag-pipe of the West in a number of ways, at least as far as playing style and sound are concerned. [Wakil Ahmed]