Ney Lessons
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Ney Lessons - 6 -
Middle Sounds
Middle Registers and the Concept of Flat in Turkish Music
In this lesson, we will study the middle registers and the concept of flat.
The notes we refer to as middle registers on the ney are:
Re, E flat, Fa, F sharp, Sol, A flat and La.
You can see the positions of the middle register notes on the staff below.
In the staff below, you can see the natural notes of the middle register.
Re, Mi, Fa, Sol and La notes:
In the staff below, you can see the flat and sharp notes in the middle register.
E flat, F sharp, A flat notes:
In summary, you can see all middle register notes in the staff below:
I am not listing the note names again here, as you are expected to already know them.
Positions of Middle Register Notes on the Ney:
Important Note:
To produce these sounds, we need to blow a bit stronger (with more intensity).
When we blow harder, our lips will naturally become more tightened.
On the ney, as in other instruments, the same pitch can be produced from different positions.
This can be compared, to some extent, to flageolets.
However, flageolets are not exactly the same as producing the same pitch from different positions.
Flageolets are harmonic sounds produced on string instruments by lightly touching the string with the finger and bowing without applying pressure.
The video below shows an example of a flageolet:
In universal music, there is no specific term used for producing the same pitch from different positions.
Therefore, I have compared this technique to flageolets and used this term as an approximate explanation.
RE NOTE: We already know this note from previous lessons.
However, this time we will play the Re note with all holes closed.
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb, Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
LEFT HAND: Thumb, Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
In other words, all fingers are closed.
Please examine the image below:
ATTENTION!!
As you remember, we previously played the Neva note with the following position:
Finger Positions were:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb and Middle Finger.
LEFT HAND: Middle Finger.
Please examine the image below:
This means that we can produce the Re note (on the 4th line) from two different positions.
Please watch the video below:
E FLAT NOTE: In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called NİM HİSAR.
We will explain the concept of flat in more detail shortly.
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb, Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
LEFT HAND: We close 3/4 of the Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
Note: To produce the E flat note, we slightly turn our head to the left.
Normally, this note tends to stay sharp (higher in pitch).
By turning our head slightly to the left, we lower (flatten) the sound.
Video:
Our posture and blowing position for Neva and Nim Hisar notes:
E NOTE: In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called HÜSEYNİ.
As you see on the staff, the E note is located in the fourth space:
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb, Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
LEFT HAND: Index and Middle Fingers.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
FA NOTE: In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called ACEM.
As you see on the staff, the Fa note is located on the fifth line:
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb, Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
LEFT HAND: Index Finger.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
F SHARP NOTE: In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called EVİÇ.
As you see on the staff, the F sharp note is located on the fifth line:
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb, Index, Middle and Ring Fingers.
LEFT HAND: Middle Finger.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
HIGH SOL NOTE (Above the staff): In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called GERDANİYE.
This Sol note is above the staff and is referred to as “high Sol”:
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb, Index and Middle Fingers.
LEFT HAND: Middle Finger.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
HIGH A FLAT NOTE: In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called NİM ŞEHNAZ.
As you can see, the A flat note is above the staff; it may also be referred to as high A flat:
The A flat note is also equivalent to the G sharp note.
In other words, it is the same pitch.
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb and Index Fingers.
LEFT HAND: Middle Finger.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
HIGH A NOTE:
In Classical Turkish Music, this note is called MUHAYYER.
As you can see, the A note is above the staff; it may also be referred to as high A:
Finger Positions:
RIGHT HAND: Thumb and Middle Finger.
LEFT HAND: Middle Finger.
Please examine the image below:
Video:
Now let us look at some short exercises related to the middle register and practice them repeatedly.
Small Exercises 1:
Metronome: 60
Video:
Important Note: Playing these exercises only once will not be enough.
At first, practice them at a slow tempo, then faster, then even faster, and finally at the fastest tempo.
Small Exercises 2:
Metronome: 60
Video:
Small Exercises 3:
Metronome: 60
Video:
In the video below, the final Re note is produced with all holes closed:
In the following video, the final Re note is produced with all holes open.
Both ways of playing are valid.
Use whichever position feels easier for you.
Small Exercises 4:
Metronome: 60
Video:
The Concept of Flat in Turkish Music
Flat: It is the sign that lowers a note by a semitone or makes it flatter in pitch.
Flat Sign:
It is shown in this form.
The order of flats on the staff is: B, E, A, D, G, C, F.
The sequence of flat signs:
Flat signs used in Turkish Music:
Interval Name |
Comma Value |
Flat Sign |
Symbol |
Comma |
1 |
 |
F |
Bakiye |
4 |
 |
B |
Small Mücennep |
5 |
 |
S |
Large Mücennep |
8 |
 |
K |
Tanini |
9 |
 |
T |
Augmented Second |
12-13 |
- |
A |
NEY LESSONS |
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In Turkish Music, comma values of 1, 4 and 5 are generally used most frequently.
In other words, the commonly used comma values are comma (F), bakiye (B), and small mücennep (S).
We have now completed this lesson as well. Our end-of-lesson goals are:
- As I always emphasize, never move on to the next lesson before completing the current one.
- We now know the notes in the middle register.
- We also know the E flat and A flat notes.
- We are able to play the short exercises from memory.
In the next lesson, we will do exercises using the notes we have learned.
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