Description
The Professional Kaval by Ali Riza Acar is a rim-blown Turkish kaval turned from plum wood in the Istanbul workshop of woodwind maker Ali Riza Acar. It is open at both ends and has no reed or block: the sound comes from the player’s breath split across the sharpened rim of the upper end, the same principle that gives the ney its breathy, human voice.
Plum Wood Body
Acar makes this kaval from plum wood, a dense fruitwood that takes a smooth finish and gives the instrument a warm, rounded tone in the low register. The body carries a reddish-brown finish with turned rings along its length, and the playing holes sit in the lower half of the tube, where the fingers fall naturally when the kaval is held slightly to the side.
Every kaval is shaped by hand, so the bore and the hole placement are set by the maker’s ear rather than by a machine template. That is what separates an instrument that answers evenly across its registers from one that sounds stiff.
How the Kaval Is Played
The player rests the rim against the lips and directs a narrow stream of air across the edge. The Turkish kaval has a row of front finger holes and a thumb hole at the back. Changing the angle and pressure of the breath moves the instrument from its soft, breathy low notes to brighter, more focused upper notes, and half-covering holes gives the sliding ornaments heard in Anatolian folk melodies.
Available Keys and Custom Orders
This kaval is available in the keys of D, C, B and A. Other keys are made on request, with a preparation time of 3 to 10 days. The length of the tube changes with the key, so the price varies depending on the key you choose.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maker | Ali Riza Acar, Istanbul |
| Material | Plum wood |
| Type | Rim-blown flute, open at both ends, no reed |
| Available keys | D, C, B, A |
| Other keys | Made on request, 3–10 days |
| Price | Varies by key |
About the Maker
Ali Riza Acar has spent around five decades making Anatolian and Turkish woodwinds in Istanbul: kaval, mey, duduk, zurna and ney. He learned the craft in the workshop of his father, known as Dudukcu Nuri — “Nuri the Pipe-Maker” — and still works each bore by hand.
Who This Kaval Is For
This kaval suits flute and ney players who want an Anatolian voice, folk musicians building a repertoire of turku melodies, and wind players exploring Balkan music. Beginners are welcome, but a rim-blown flute asks for patience: the first clear tone usually takes a few practice sessions, because there is no mouthpiece to guide the air. Players who want the instant response of a recorder may prefer a fipple flute.
Musical Traditions
In Turkey the word kaval covers the whole family of shepherd’s pipes, and the instrument is closely tied to the pastoral music of Anatolia. The kaval is also played across the Balkans, in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Greece and neighbouring regions. Explore the full kaval collection or browse all wind instruments from Tapadum.
Care
Breath leaves moisture inside the bore. After playing, let the kaval dry at room temperature before putting it away, and keep it away from radiators, direct sun and car interiors. Sudden changes in temperature and humidity are the main risk for any wooden flute.
Tune Your Kaval
Use our free online tuner at tuner.tapadum.com — its chromatic mode shows each note as you play, which helps when you practise breath control and half-holing.
