nai

panpipe

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The nai is a Romanian wind instrument that is a type of panpipe. It consists of cane pipes of different lengths tied together and is played by blowing across the top, with each pipe producing a different note. The nai typically has about 20 pipes tuned diatonically, and semitones are achieved by tilting the pipes. While panpipes have a long history and are found in various cultures worldwide, the nai is particularly associated with professional musicians in Romania.1

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panpipe
…lăutari (fiddlers); their panpipe, the nai, typically has about 20 pipes tuned diatonically (i.e., to a seven-note scale), semitones being made by tilting the pipes toward the lips. The panpipe also has a long tradition in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
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…lăutari (fiddlers); their panpipe, the nai, typically has about 20 pipes tuned diatonically (i.e., to a seven-note scale), semitones being made by tilting the pipes toward the lips. The panpipe also has a long tradition in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Read More