Fujara

The fujara (pronounced foo-ya-ra) is a large overtone flute that originated in central Slovakia and was traditionally played by shepherds for recreation. It is as a large sophisticated fipple flute of unique design ranging from 150 to 170 cm long and tuned in A, G, and F. A fujara has three tone holes located on the lower part of the main body and the sound is produced by a fipple at the upper end of the main body of the fujara. The air is led to the fipple through a smaller parallel pipe, called vzduchovoď in Slovak (meaning 'air channel'), mounted on the main body of the instrument.

While it is possible to play the fundamental frequency on fujaras, the normal playing technique is based on overblowing the instrument. Because of its aspect ratio (great length versus small internal diameter), the overtones created permit one to play a diatonic scale using only the three tone holes. The fujara is played standing, with the instrument held vertically, usually braced against the right thigh. The body of the fujara is hand carved from young elder wood and decorated with unique Slovakian ornaments. An amazing experience of sound!