The kaval is an instrument from southern Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Bulgaria. It is played at a forty-five degree angle. Your shoulders should be relaxed. In order to play, you must relax your lips. It takes time to produce a note, but if you practice every day, you will recognize that you can produce very beautiful sounds. The kaval is a very long wind instrument with many more holes than the traditional bamboo flute (approximately 27" long!) You can play many different registers on the kaval! There is a high register and a lower register on the bamboo kavals that I make. The traditional wooden kaval can play four registers. If you practice for a while, you will be able to produce the higher register. If you are familiar with playing the classical flute, then you will know that to produce a higher pitched note, you must blow harder and tense your lips more (your lips are wider and more relaxed when producing the lower register note). To play the kaval, you need to hold the lower end of the flute lower than your shoulder level.

As for your finger placement, your first three fingers should cover the first three holes, and your thumb covers the bottom hole, which is the first hole before the mouthpiece. Your other hand covers the last four holes. It is easiest to play your first notes without covering any of the holes. You have to practice doing scales until you can play all of the notes. Don't get disappointed and keep practicing every day.

There is also another technique that you can use when playing the kaval. I know very few people who can do this. You basically play the kaval like a recorder. You must keep the kaval straight downwards like you are blowing into a beer bottle. You have touch your tongue against the back part of your front teeth. The tongue touches the top edge of the flute. Be sure to blow down. Your mouth should not be open all the way. This is much harder than playing the kaval at a forty five degree angle, so I don't recommend it.

I recommend playing the bambooval first. It is shorter and has fewer holes. You can play up to three registers. It is shorter, and you don't have to worry about covering so many holes. Then get a bamboo kaval after practicing for a while. Bamboo kavals are not necessarily any better. A real master flute player can make the most simple bamboo flute sound beautiful.