Understanding Meend on the Bansuri – The Art of Musical Glides

Meend (मींड) is one of the most expressive and essential ornamentations (alankars) in Indian Classical Music, especially important in instruments like the bansuri (bamboo flute). It refers to a smooth, sliding transition from one note to another — like a musical glide or glissando, but more nuanced.

🎵 What is Meend?

• Definition: Meend is a continuous glide between two notes — not jumping from one swara to another, but smoothly sliding over the microtones (shruti) in between.

• It’s like bending or dragging the note, very similar to how a vocalist would slowly move from one note to the next.

🌬️ How Meend is done on Flute (Bansuri)?

Unlike string instruments where you can literally slide your finger on the string, on the flute, Meend is created by controlled blowing and gradual finger movement over the holes.

📌 Techniques for Meend on Bansuri:

1.⁠ ⁠Gradual Opening or Closing of Holes:

• Instead of lifting or closing a finger hole abruptly, you partially uncover/cover the hole slowly to create a continuous pitch transition.

• For example:

• Moving from Sa to Re — Instead of just lifting a finger, slide the finger slightly or roll it off the hole slowly, allowing the pitch to shift gradually.

2.⁠ ⁠Controlled Breath Support:

• Use consistent and smooth airflow so that the glide sounds natural and connected.

• Avoid any sudden increase or break in air pressure.

3.⁠ ⁠Jaw and Lip Movement (Advanced Players):

• Slightly tilting the head or modifying the embouchure can assist in bending the pitch more subtly.

🎶 Example Meend Exercises (Basic):

Try this:

• Low Sa to Pa (Dhaivat on D scale flute):

• Finger-wise: Slowly transition from all holes closed to only the top 3 closed.

• Feel the glide: Sa → Re → Ga → Ma → Pa in one smooth flow.

Phrase-Based Example (in Raga Yaman):

• Ni (Komal) → Sa → Re (Tivra)

• Start from Ni, slowly glide into Sa and then Re without breaking the sound.

• It’s used very beautifully in alaap portions.

💡 Tips for Practicing Meend:

1. Go slow — speed will ruin the smoothness.

2. Use a mirror to observe finger lifting.

3. Record yourself to check how natural the glide sounds.

4. Start with short meends (Sa to Re, Re to Ga), then try longer meends (Pa to Sa).

🔊 Meend in Raag Performance:

In a raag, meends are used to maintain the mood and raga integrity — especially where certain notes are not supposed to be hit directly (like in Yaman, Marwa, Bhairav). The glide gives emotional depth and soulfulness to the rendition.