Anyone play the Ney (Bamboo vertical flute from Egypt)
I have one but I am really struggling to get a sound out of it 
Any tips?
I haven’t ever played one. I just want to say that I don’t think the topic is OT.
A ney IS a flute and by the looks of it the ney has a simple flute fingering system
like most pan-Eurasian simple system flutes.
You know, this isn’t the ITM forum where even the bodhran is almost OT! 
Hello,
the first time I post on this forum, it is OT! Hello anyway, I am Matt from Paris.
To get a sound, try the lip position you have when you whistle (is that the correct english word?), then put your mouth on the upper hole so that the air stream is directed to the left border of the embouchure hole.
Very difficult actually, especially the lower octave.
I play the ney for some years now and this is a fingering chart I could give (just to show the differences with a simple system flute):
(This is for the C ney, that orientals call D, or doukah nay)
1st register (1st octave)
(x) xxx xxx C
(x) xxx xx0 D
(x) xxx x00 E flat
(x) xxx 000 E half flat (!)
(x) xx0 000 F
(x) x00 000 F#
(x) 000 000 G
(0) 000 000 B half flat
To get the notes between G and B, you have to half-hole the thumb hole.
2nd register (2nd octave)
like the first register.
3rd register (12th)
(x) xxx xxx G
(x) xxx xx0 A
(x) xxx x00 B flat
(x) xxx 000 B half flat
(x) xx0 000 C
(x) x00 000 C#
(x) 000 000 D
4th register (third octave)
like the first register
You can even play in the fifth register, one third higher, on very good neys.
Hope this helps.
Matt
I have one but I am really struggling to get a sound out of it
Any tips?Here’s a tip:
Quit blowin’ it and use it as a walking stick? >>
NEEEY Lad. Tha’s wrang 'bout that yen, ye daft owd bugger!
That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day…
Nearest thing that I’ve played to the Ney is the Chinese Xiao (which is really more a Shachuhachi type thang).
I certainly like the sound of the Ney-Turkish virtuoso Akagunduz Kutbay(sp?) featured on some recordings by Turkish Jaz drummer Okey Temiz’s group in the 70’s/early 80’s.
Okay made a nice recording with Don Cherry-‘live at Ankara’-can’t remember if Cherry played Ney(he played almost every other 'Ethnic 'Flute in his career).