Shahnai

The northern Indian Shahnai is like the southern Indian Nageshwaram a double reed instrument. It is similar to the western oboe. The sound is produced by holding two reeds, that are bound together and tautened in a special way, between the lips and blowing them with a high pressure.This then produces a distinctive sound. The double reed is put onto a metal mouthpiece which is set into a wooden body with finger-holes that widens out downwards. This body opens out into a small, still wider metal funnel.